A Day at Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon State Park

While Utah is best known for its national parks, its state parks are just as worth exploring. I’ve previously written about Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park near Kanab, which I revisited in January 2025.

On one of our most recent trips to Southern Utah, we explored Snow Canyon State Park, located near St. George in the southwestern corner of the state. The park is part of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, which was created in part to protect the desert tortoise (a federally listed threatened species) and its habitat.

Snow Canyon is a fascinating mix of geological features. The canyon is carved through red and white Navajo sandstone, but you’ll also find ancient lava flows, lava tubes, petrified sand dunes, and more. It really feels like an open-air classroom for geology enthusiasts.

Choosing Our Hike

The park has a north and south entrance, connected by a 7-mile (11 km) scenic road. With so many trails to choose from, ranging from easy walks to more challenging hikes. We decided on a combination of the Hidden Pinyon Trail and the Petrified Dunes.

Based on reviews, this route seemed to check all our boxes for the approximately six hours we planned to spend in the park: a solid but manageable hike with a variety of landscapes and vegetation.

Hidden Pinyon to Petrified Dunes

We parked at the Hidden Pinyon trailhead and set off on our adventure. The hike begins along the paved Whiptail Trail, a 6-mile (10 km) path that is wheelchair accessible and great for biking.

After a short walk, you’ll see a sign leading to a sandy path, this marks the start of the Hidden Pinyon Trail. The sand here can be soft and deep, and some sections are rocky. There is occasional shade along this part of the trail.

Along the way, you’ll find interpretive signs explaining the desert flora (you can also pick up a brochure at the trailhead for $1.00). The trail is popular but easy to follow.

At the next fork, we stayed to the right to reach the petrified dunes. After another sandy stretch with some uneven, rocky sections, the dunes come into view, they’re impossible to miss.

Go ahead and climb them, it’s a fun and unique experience. You’ll notice how foot traffic has naturally “carved” pathways into the rock, with some areas even resembling steps.

At the top, take a moment to enjoy the sweeping 360-degree views before descending on the other side.

We looped back to our car via the paved Whiptail Trail along the canyon floor.

A Midday Break… and One More Hike

After returning to the car, it was time for a well-deserved picnic and a bit of rest.

Later, we decided to explore one more area: the lava flow and lava tubes. This hike starts from the Lava Flow parking lot and stretches about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the first lava tube.

The trail here is rocky and uneven, lava rock tends to be sharp and rough, so sturdy footwear is important.

Lava tubes are essentially caves formed when the surface of a lava flow cools and hardens, while molten lava continues to move underneath. Once the lava drains away, a hollow tube remains.

While interesting from a geological perspective, this part of the park wasn’t my personal favorite. We chose not to enter the first lava tube and continued to the second one further along the trail. Having explored larger lava tubes before, we ultimately decided to skip going inside here.

Wrapping Up the Day

After our hikes, we drove the remainder of the scenic route through the park and simply enjoyed the views. Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any desert tortoises, but that just gives us a good reason to return to this beautiful state park.

Logistics

Location: Northwest of St. George, Utah (north entrance off Highway 18)

Entrance Fees:

• $15 per vehicle (Utah residents)

• $20 per vehicle (non-residents)

Good to Know:

• There is very little shade in the park, bring sun protection and plenty of water

• No food or drink options are available inside the park, so pack what you need

• Facilities are available throughout the park

Activities:

• Hiking

• Biking

• Camping (reservations recommended well in advance)

Accessibility:

• Whiptail Trail is wheelchair- and stroller-friendly

Best Time to Visit:

• Visit early in the day, especially in summer, to avoid heat and crowds, especially in summer

Leave No Trace: Pack it in, pack it out, and help preserve this beautiful place for future visitors.