Snow Canyon State Park

Nice little state park, there is a north and south entrance. $15 for Utah residents and $20 for non residents. You can drive through the whole park in like 10 minutes. Along the way you can do some short little hikes and there’s a few longer ones. Not much parking at all the stops though. Went in August it was extremely hot, maybe sure to bring lots of water and be prepared. Most trails we did were in the sand

Snow Canyon State Park absolutely blew us away. It might not get the same hype as nearby Zion, but it’s every bit as magical in its own right – and far less crowded. We spent the day exploring and could’ve easily stayed longer. This park is a gem for families, hikers, and anyone who loves red rock landscapes without the tourist traffic. The hiking options here are fantastic. We tackled several trails and every single one had its own wow factor. Butterfly Trail led us to Butterfly Rock, which was such a fun, unexpected feature – our kids loved climbing around and pretending it was a secret base (because of course they did). The trail itself was manageable for all ages but still felt like a real adventure. The Lava Tubes were a huge hit too. We brought headlamps and had so much fun exploring the dark caverns. It’s one of those experiences where you feel like you’re discovering something ancient and untouched. Just be sure to wear sturdy shoes – it’s a little rocky and uneven, but so worth it. Then there’s the Petrified Dunes – easily one of the most beautiful and surreal landscapes we’ve ever hiked through. It’s like walking across frozen waves of stone. You can go off-trail here and scramble freely, which made it feel like a giant natural playground for the whole family. The views from the top were stunning, especially as the light shifted in the late afternoon. We also checked out the Jenny’s Canyon trail (short and sweet with a cool little slot canyon), Hidden Pinyon, and the Whiptail Trail, which was a nice smooth walk to wind down the day. There’s just so much packed into this park, and the variety of terrain makes it easy to customize your visit whether you want a relaxing stroll or a full-on hike. The park is beautifully maintained, and the facilities were clean and well placed. Even the drive through the canyon is scenic. Parking was easy at most trailheads, and we never felt rushed or overcrowded. If you're anywhere near the St. George area or heading to Zion, carve out time for Snow Canyon. It’s a place you can explore all day or just drop in for a few quick hikes and still feel amazed. We'll definitely be back – this place is a new favorite.

Very neat hike, wish I had brought a hat, but I forgot it at the Airbnb. No places to hide from the sun except the caves; just keep that in mind. Climbing down into the caves was atmospherically cooler in temperature and just a cool experience overall. This was one of the shorter hikes we did but still, glad it made the list.

An adventurous playground for all ages. Beautiful landscapes just minutes from residential St. George area. If you start early, it doesn’t get too crowded. Bring lots of water and sun protection.

Gorgeous place to spend the day exploring. The kids and I did the petrified sand dune hike and it was stunning. Like any hike, be sure to have plenty of water. This trail had zero shade and it got real hot real quick.

Snow Canyon is an easy State park to navigate, located in Ivins, Utah. The park offers both paved and off road mountain bike trails. The park also provides hiking trails for all level of hikers. Petrified Dunes Trail offers some steep climbing. The reward is a great view of the entire canyon. For serious rock climbers, there are areas for you . Snow Canyon also gives you a small taste of a slot canyon. You can find this slot canyon on the short and kid friendly Jenny’s Canyon trail. Snow Canyon is also dog friendly.

This is definitely a must visit park. The petrified sand dunes are beautiful and fun to climb around. The entry fee is inexpensive. The visitor center and restrooms are accessible. The views are great and the hikes are plentiful. You will not be disappointed.

This state park is one of my favorites, its so beautiful in color and life, I love the diversity of the land scape. You said dunes, petrified sand dunes that look like your in another world! Lava tubes, caves and canyons

There is a pay station in the south entrance where you scan a QR code and then show somebody at a gate and get a receipt. I'm not sure if they accept cash or card at the gate. This state park isn't very big in comparison to others but it's still a beautiful drive with areas to stop with gorgeous hikes and views. We stopped at the Petrified Dunes area which was perfect for my three year old to explore. The views are breathtaking and I would have loved to explore more. There is not much shade at all here so do make sure you bring LOTS and lots of water.

This is definitely a Utah gem! A beautiful red rock canyon that's filled with tons of stunning rock formations and a plethora of multi purpose trails. Snow Canyon had been on my bucket list for quite sometime and it did not disappoint. When driving in, you'll have to pay a $15 fee ($10 for Utah residents) at the entrance (at least if there's an attendant at the station). The attendant will provide you with a map of the park. It isn't a huge park but you could easily spend an entire day exploring here. If you have the time, I'd suggest driving all way down to the end of the park and working your way back to avoid the crowds. The most crowded area of the park is Jenny's Canyon which is right near the entrance. Jenny's Canyon features short family friendly trails that lead to several slot canyons. If you're into slot canyons, I'd definitely check this area out. There's also another beautiful area nearby called Pioneer Names. Here you'll find some neat natural arches that are embedded within the red rocks. While driving through the park, you'll have some amazing views of the beautiful red rock formations. My favorite part of the park to explore was Hidden Pinyon. The views on this trail are absolutely fantastic and there's a fun section where you can actually do some light rock scaling. This trail is filled with the most breathtaking views of sandstone cliffs, cactus, desert vegetation, and the beautiful red stone mountains. You'll be hit with beauty at every turn. It gets extremely hot in the summers and there is little to no shade in the park. Definitely load up on water and sunscreen and make sure that you wear protective gear. Although there were some crowds near Jenny's Canyon, this park was relatively empty during the weekday in the summer. It's so peaceful and enjoyable here. It almost feels like a mini Zion or Bruce Canyon. I did see a few rock climbers here and there are also campsites located all throughout the park. It's well worth the visit, especially if you're planning to visit the National Parks nearby.

Beautiful park with lots of trails to choose from. Most seeming dog-friendly. St. George has a lot to offer. We especially enjoyed the Lava Flow trail. It's mostly a casual walk, but you can climb down into the lava tunnels, which are basically just caves that are now full of bats. We really enjoyed our visit, and the views are incredible. Especially at dusk and seeing all pf the stars. Not sure why, but our Sunday visit had no attendants at the entrance.

Snow Canyon is so beautiful naturally and truly is a hidden gem. They have a trail for every style of hiking whether beginner or vigorous hiker. We absolutely loved seeing this as Southern California Natives, we truly have nothing like this here. I highly recommend this park to everyone.

We did a daytrip to Utah recently and wanted to hike but Zion has become such a cluster to visit, that it didn't seem worth it. Thankfully, a friend recommended we look up Snow Canyon SP, and it ended up being perfect for us. If you don't have a UT ID, there's a $15/car entrance fee. We're not hardcore hikers, but now we have a little +1 in the form of an 8 month old - she's fine in a chest/back carrier but trails with a lot of scrambling were out, and we didn't want to be too far on a loop if she started having a meltdown. SCSP has several trails with family-friendly lengths and difficulty - we did Butterfly Trail, part of Petrified Dunes and Johnson's Canyon (This hike is closed annually from March 15th-September 14th for wildlife and habitat protection). These three had good variety, great views and it was perfect weather. Everyone we encountered was friendly, it was easy to get around and there was plenty of parking. I especially like that the bathrooms were easily accessible. Definitely pay attention to the brochure handed out at entrance, there's a lot of info in there. We plan to come back for more trails next time we're in the area. Camping is available, too!

After hiking in Zion, I wondered if it was worth visiting another park that could compete with my experience there. The answer is that if you enjoy nature, you should definitely stop by Snow Canyon to experience a completely different scenery. Since there is often no one at the entrance booth, it's best to purchase the entrance fee ($15 per car) online before entering the park, especially considering the weak Wi-Fi signals.

Snow Canyon is absolutely stunning--one of the most beautiful places in southern Utah and an unbeatable spot for photography. Every time I'm there, I'm amazed by the scenery. That said, I've had some uncomfortable experiences with the Park Rangers. Despite always being respectful, following Leave No Trace, and ensuring my clients do the same, I've been met with defensiveness when asking questions in person. When I've gone into the office to clarify permit rules or ask about specific locations (even showing reference photos), I've often been questioned about why I'm asking at all, which feels unnecessary when I'm just trying to do things by the book. I always make sure to get the proper permits, but it feels like photographers are unfairly targeted, and the minimum permit fee of nearly $300 seems excessive. The park itself is breathtaking and worth visiting

We were visiting my daughter at St. George, and Snow Canyon State Park is only 8 miles away from our residence. This park has 19 trails, plus 4 trails in the adjacent Paradise Canyon, for a total of 23 trails. Compared with the famous nearby Zion NP, St George is a diamond in the rough. I went to multiple trails. First I went to Scout Cave which is located outside of park entrance. This trail shared the trailhead and parking lot with Johnson Canyon, unattended, Mobile charges In State $10, Out State $15.The trail is basically flat, it passes through a mixture of 3 different surfaces, including ancient lava floors, sandy road, and large rock cliffs. The reward is the beautiful views from the cave, the sunlight shines at cave entrance, making whole cave golden, you can overlook at St George in the distance. On the way back, I went to nearby Johnson Canyon trail which is flush with the rocky slope and is mostly quicksand, flanked by canyons sheltered by willows and Cottonwood. Second time, I drove to inside of the park, many trails are short and family friendly, suitable for all ages, such as Jenny's Canyon, then I went to Lava Flow, turn to Butterfly Loop, and saw two Lava Tubes - volcanic lava caves on the way. Some people try to get in, it's too dangerous. Then I went to watch sunrise at Snow Canyon two days in a row, new year's eve and new year's day, it's just too beautiful and irresistible. When I stood on Petrified Dunes, the first ray of sunshine of 2024 illuminated the surrounding mountains, I had no words to describe the beauty of the landscape. The special landforms of petrified sand dunes under my feet were layered and lined up in rows. The red cliffs in the distance were undulating like being chopped by knifes and axes. It's spectacular. I walked several trails along the way: Petrified Dunes, Hidden Pinyon, Red Sand, Whiptail, and finally went to Pioneer Names, they were all very beautiful and worthy. I can't justify why such a beautiful place is not a national park. To be fair, Snow Canyon is very comparable to Zion. My conclusion is that this park is little smaller in size and most of the trails are relatively short and cannot accommodate too many tourists. Indeed, the locals call it "Mini Zion" and believe that this park would definitely be a national park in any other state. In fact, if Zion NP were not so close, Snow Canyon would probably become a national park.

The last day of our Utah trip, we decided to hike in snow canyon state park. It is convenient, because it it not too far to the Las Vegas airport. I read in the hiking book this is a scenic place so we chose here. It is more than expected. Very pretty place. We arrived early in the morning. I liked the morning section a lot. Later on it was too crowded especially caves. I highly recommended.

Absolutely gorgeous park, well kept and so many things to do and see. I wish they had a week pass for visitors or weekend pass, because $15 is quite a bit each day. Compare the daily fee to the $75 annual fee, not sure what they were thinking with that one. I've yet to see desert tortoise here, mostly bugs and various types of birds, including a road runner. There are many hiking trails for various skill levels, which is fantastic. You could spend days here and still find more to do. Would highly recommend and would come back.

What an astonishing place to explore! This is a complete hidden gem with such beauty in each hike, canyon, or sand dune. Trails connect and you could spend all day here constantly finding something new. I went with: Jenny's Canyon Lava Flow Trail Sand Dunes Wish I could if stayed for more so amazing and I sat in awe with how lucky I am to experience these time lapsing world wonders. Just beautiful Thank you for having me explore in lava tubes, canyons and hanging in the sand absolutely love and hope to come back to explore you more soon!

Whilst red rock canyons and mountainsides dotted with barrel cacti and sagebrush are admittedly not my favorite landscape, one must admit that areas such as these do lend some interesting visuals. The jagged, craggly rocks sliding sideways down the towering vistas mixed with salmon-colored twisted waves of petrified ground and ancient lava tubes is like something out of a sci-fi movie. It was cold, a little bit windy, and raining when we visited unfortunately, but I would definitely geek out on doing some of those trails when the weather permits. We will definitely head back there soon. If you're looking for a quick little scenic drive, it's $10 to go up and back, I thought it was worth it. We did get out and walk around a little bit, but the weather was not our friend that day.

This park has loads of trails, some are barely 100 yards long. We went on a about 4 of the hikes listed on the map - none were super challenging - but maybe we picked them that way :) Spectacular park, very clean, nice rangers. A really cool visitor center with a bunch of hummingbird feeders and rocking chairs. The best hike we did that day was Lava Flow Trail (something like that) - It was really neat and clearly marked - it was a little challenging up and down on rock formation - but not too bad. This whole park was pretty empty on a weekday in September

While the wife and I were visiting St George for a couple days, we got up early and went to Snow Canyon to see what's what before the heat (90+) later in the day. We entered via the North Entrance. We did not plan that, Google Maps guided us there. A very nice gate attendant took our $15 for access, gave us a map and pointed out some points of interest. He asked if we were hiker people and I said, "No, we are mostly brunch people." He did not get it, but I laughed. The wife just shook her head. The first destination was the Petrified Sand Dunes, a 1.2 mile round trip, moderate hike according to the map info. It was a well labeled trail and once you get to the petrified dunes the markers turn in to small metal domes on the ground pointing the back and forth direction of the path they want you to follow. You could always see the next dome. It was a moderate hike with some scaling of the petrified dunes. They were great to walk on, since it was rough and you did not have to worry about slipping. The dunes were very cool and worth the short hike to see. By the time we returned to the car, it was already warm. We cooled off in the car. The goals of the Butterfly Trail is to see the rock formation that looks like butterfly wings and the lava tubes. I read the map as a 1.2 mile round trip, easy hike so off we went. The trail started easy, but soon we were scaling down a moderate decline of petrified sand. This was harder than the pervious trail, so why "easy"? We continued and it was getting hotter. Bring water, see the ProTip below. The trail went back and forth from easy to more difficult and there was some inclines that were burning my out of shape, thighs. The nice thing at this point was we were walking along the canyon, so there was shade. We walked right by the butterfly wings and when we broke out to a clearing I was hot and a bit tired. After a bit and seeing people off in the distance we headed back. We did see the cool butterfly wing stones but neither the wife or I took a pic. We got back to the car and fired up the AC to cool off and drink water. I pulled up the map and re-read the description. The hike was actually 2 miles RT and moderate. I had mistakenly read the description of the hike above Butterfly. We went to the Tortoise Walk Trail. It was short and flat walk to the end. I was expecting a rock formation with a tortoise shape, but at the end was an actual sculpture of a tortoise. About three feet high and 10 feet around. It was OK and I was glad it was an easy hike to see it. After cooling off again and some more water, we headed off to Pioneer Names Trail. A 0.5 RT hike and easy. We passed the entrance and then parked across the street in a little lot. Off we went to find the pioneer names and came across a very cool "almost" arch, see the picture. Looking up from the bottom was impressive and I had to wonder how many times slabs fall off the cliff on to unsuspecting visitors like me. Again, we were against the cliff and it was 15 degrees cooler than in the sun. Easy hike, but way more than 1/4 of a mile, but it was nice and cool so we kept walking. Finally we got there and high above in a shallow, large cave were huge letters and numbers with pioneer names and dates, some back to 1851. You don't get close unless you scale up the moderate climb and some people were up there. I'm not sure if you are supposed to, but we could see the names and took some pics. Some people can't control themselves, so two idiots named Dave and Robert some how managed to put there names up in the same location. What can you say, people are morons sometimes. What I determined was that the 0.5 mile RT hike was from the north start of the trail and we started from the south. It was not much longer, so we headed back the same way we came and got to the car. Next stop, Red Sand Dunes. This was a 0.5 mile RT, easy hike. I made sure to read the descriptions in detail now. Could not find the walking path labeled so we saw the bike path at the rear of the parking lot and walked that way. We walked for quite a bit, much more than 1/4 mile (since it was 1/2 mile RT) when we realized the dunes were just to our left and we had been walking parallel to them. I thought they would be much bigger. We cut through the grass and found them. They were certainly red sand dunes. We walked back the same way, got in the car and started driving south for another stop. As we drove a couple hundred feet on the road, there was a small parking lot and the sand dunes were right in front of it. Cool to see. Easier access if you are brining kids along to play in the dunes. By this time it was about noon and it was pretty hot, so we decided we were done and we headed to the South Entrance to get ourselves back to St George. ProTip: Bring lots of water. Even the short hikes will get you hot and sweaty. Go early to avoid the heat. Go. Have Fun!.

So pretty here - normally you have to pay a daily fee of $10 (in person and/or online) but there's no one to police that. **Honor system** You are able to camp here as well - unfortunately i don't know the fees but i know it would be super amazing because it's PITCH BLACK which is perfect for looking at the stars. Happy hiking!!!

What an amazing state park to explore! We made the 2.5 hour trek from Las Vegas to spend the day hiking and exploring in Snow Canyon State Park and it did not disappoint. The ranger at the pay station was incredibly friendly, the 2 rangers inside the bookstore/gift shop at the campground were also friendly, and the park itself was well maintained. We were also surprised at the cleanliness of the real bathrooms (not pit toilets) throughout the park (equipped w/ flush toilets, sinks, hand soap, and hand dryer) - a rarity in State and even National Parks. We hiked the Hidden Pinyon Trail which was full of beautiful surprises at every turn. The views were beautiful and it was a fun hike with some light bouldering required. We also hiked around and explored the Petrified Dunes which was super cool. There were amazing views every way you looked, but being there close to sunset it was packed with couples taking engagement & wedding photos; which I don't blame them, definitely a gorgeous setting for special occasion photos. We also walked a portion of the paved bike/walking path which offered beautiful views as well. We enjoyed our time and look forward to coming back for a day trip!

Loved our visit to Snow Canyon today, and our highlight was enjoying the beautiful scenery in the wonderful weather and watching two guys rock climb... You have to pay an entrance fee (one per car). For 65 and older its $10 and for under 65 its $15 and it's worth every penny....

What a beautiful place to visit any time of the year. You can dry camp or have hookups for your RV. Many walking trails to explore as well as petroglyphs and the Pioneer Trail names writen on the Red Rock Walls from the pioneers. There are petrified sand dunes, the Butterfly Trail which is an easy must-do hike for the entire family. You have to experience it to appreciate it. St. George, Utah is nearby if you want to stay in a hotel. Lots of restaurants locally as well. Many other trails in the area as well. Please observe the 25MPH speed limit. Turtles, other wildlife and pedestrian traffic are everywhere. Thank you and enjoy

I recently took a family trip before Thanksgiving 2020 with my family to Utah. We did our visit to Zion, which was beautiful. The next day we wanted to visit Kolob Canyon. Unfortunately due to the ice and snow that hit the area the day before, we were unable to visit. I asked the Park Ranger of any other places she recommended and she suggested Snow Canyon State Park. Wow, what a discovery! Our whole family loved spending the day here! The scenery is absolutely beautiful, the variety of trails was fantastic and they even have places to rock climb, if you're into that. It wasn't super crowded, not sure if that is common or if it was due to COVID, but that was just fine by me. There are plenty of picnic areas and an accessible trail that our whole family enjoyed. My elderly parents and I even did a moderate trail to see the lava tubes and that was fascinating. Love, love, love this park! The definite highlight of our trip!

Great place to check out. I recommend seeing it. Tons of red rock all around you, and different trails to hike. It's complete desert though with not a lot of shade so it can be brutal in the heat.

On our first day of vacation, and enroute to south-central Utah, we were anxious to get a taste of what we had come for. So we decided to exit in the town of St. George and check out Snow Canyon SP for a "quick" hiking break. Once we arrived inside the park we realized it wouldn't be so brief. After passing several trailheads leading to gorgeous settings, we were immediately smitten; and we didn't want to leave. Given the name, I had expected Snow Canyon would be at much higher elevation and be more forested (turns out it was named after a man; not the cold, white stuff). What we found was a dry, open canyon - just outside of town - that was originally shaped by a eroded, ancient sand dunes (creating gorgeous sandstone formations) followed by volcanic activity (that added black lava fields and tubes). We nearly leaped out of the vehicle to start exploring; two of my friends made a beeline to a massive, organic-looking sandstone edifice next to the parking lot. The beginning of the prolific Utah photo-shoot had begun. Snow Canyon is not large when compared to other Utah parks, but it does have a lot to offer. It is riddled with trails, and visitors can hike into lave tubes; over fantastic, weathered sandstone topography; to the edge of an old cinder cone; or even to some hidden slot canyons - some with ancient native art. There is also a small campground surrounding the main ranger station (which appeared to be filled to brimming). In addition, we noted at least one paved trail for use by bikes and strollers. We only spent about two hours at Snow Canyon, but we knew we would be back this way. And in fact we did come back for a beautiful morning hike on our return leg west. So Snow Canyon made sort of a "hiking sandwich" for our Utah travels, being the first and last Utah park we visited on our week off.

We stayed one night at the Campground (w/hookups). If you choose a site with hookups, you will be 5 ft away from your neighbor. I heard a TV on one side and talking in the wee hours on the other side. If you are in a hard sided RV, I don't think the proximity to one another is a problem. But if in a pop up of some sort, you will be heard and hear everything. It's much like a parking lot with hookups. As for the park, it's beautiful but somewhat small compared to other parks in Utah. I would suggest a couple nights at Snow Canyon at most. There are nice hikes, paved paths for easy biking, and a town close by for all your needs. There are two entrances to the park. And we saw a roadrunner, which was super cool. But no Wile E. Coyote around. The rangers/staff were super-friendly and available for questions. We arrived late, but our info was on the Info Board and we found it easily. Bathroom was clean, and the showers had a pull-down chain that allowed the shower to turn on. Great idea to keep showers short! I need one for my son :) The water temp didn't get hot enough for my liking, but the bathrooms are heated, so it kinda evened out. I took one star off only for the "parking lot" atmosphere of the hookup sites. The standard sites looked great and had more space. I would give the park 4.5-stars if I didn't need hookups.

There is something new that we find out about each time we explore this area. So many hidden little gems and hikes to go on. Each hike is easy. We went to Petroglyphs hike in a small slot trail, off Gila trail. Accessible outside the park and overlooks it.

Breathtakingly beautiful views and trails! Snow Canyon has several trails to trek and definitely less busier than the ever popular Zion. So if in Saint George, make sure to check out Snow Canyon which is a convenient stop and only a 12 minutes drive from town. Signage and mobile park fee payment is setup well and easy. The Jenny's Canyon was a great warm-up hike to get you started, and the rewarding view at the end point is memorable.

We got an early start to try to beat the heat. We took the butterfly trail to the overlook at the lava flows. The views from this short walk were amazing. We hiked to the top of the overlook and it was just gorgeous. We were back at our car by 10:30am because it was already so hot. Please be sure to bring lots of water. Btw, a trail veteran said he had hiked the butterfly trail 10 times before he realized what the "butterfly" was. I am including a pic. :-).

$10 for locals and $15 for out of towner's makes this a great spot to escape to for a day. In fact, I can't wait to come back to this spot. Camping here, 2 hours from Last Vegas, you could totally come here to get away from the hustle and bustle of the strip. Tons of small hikes make this spot perfect for families with smaller children. The geology is amazing. Lava and sand!

I have been to Snow Canyon several times for hiking and to enjoy a bit of history. One of the stops I made was to see the historic names left on the sandstone cliffs from early settlers--most dating from the late 1800s. My next stop was hike the Three Ponds trail, a 1.8 mile each way hike over some of the worst hiking conditions I've experienced. In places, you'll hike over hard lava rock. Most of the time, you'll be hiking on fine sand eroded of the cliffs. This was one of the hardest hikes I've done. After an intermission to visit an historical site miles from the park, I stopped at the Lava Flow Overlook Trail on the way back through the canyon. There is much to explore here and a great overlook of Snow Canyon. The three areas I've mention are all in the fee area. You can also hike or mountain bike in Snow Canyon without fee by parking at a large parking area off Route 18 just north of the Snow Canyon Parkway exit. From here, there are climbing walls, and a couple of trails on which you can hike or mountain bike. In any case, Snow Canyon provides a varied experience and it deserves more than just a drive through look. Get out and do some exploring.

Snow Canyon is a beautiful little park. Sure, it's not as grand as it's nearby competitors, but if you're in the area and just want a small adventure, this place has a little bit of everything for you. There are trails to hike, roads to drive, rocks to climb on and sand to bury yourself in. (Be sure to check out the sand dunes-they are one of our favorite stops in St. George. ) There are campgrounds/sites, or you can purchase a day use pass to just come hang for a few hours. Pay attention to the weather-the sun can get brutal in the afternoons, regardless of the time of year. Pack in plenty of water.

In A Nutshell: -Snoth Canyon State Park makes you feel like you landed on Mars. -The curved, rounded red rocks surrounding you, especially when you trek on the Petrified Dunes Trail is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! -Go there in the middle of the day & you'll hear ZERO noise. -This is a great place to get away & be in solace, while resetting yourself w/ natures beauty. -The only dedicated trail is the one from the small parking that leads to the Petrified Dunes Trail. -Once you are on the red rocks, you're free to roam anywhere you want to explore. Overall, this is such a great place to enjoy peace & quiet while taking in the unique rock formations surrounding you.

Jenny's Canyon: Jenny's Canyon is a place that is pretty awesome. It's a 0.3 mile hike which takes you to a sweet and short canyon. This canyon slowly gets more narrow until it ends. We had a lot of fun looking at the formation of the canyon and our children enjoyed climbing around the walls. After having fun inside of the canyon we went to the overlook above and got to see the scenery from a greater scope. Here you can see a canyon that is so engaging as a place that is so contained that getting to the overlook gives you a greater picture. There was also no one here. We had the place all to ourselves. This hike is kid friendly and so easy to get to.

I visited Snow Canyon State Park with my mom, sisters, and two baby nephews. We each have varying degrees of athletic abilities, and were able to find hikes and attractions that interested us all. Everyone in our party enjoyed the quick walk to the expanses of slick rock, and the area is large enough that while there were many other visitors around it didn't feel crowded. The lava tubes were really cool, and one of my favorite parts of the park. There are some large ones that anyone can climb down into, then some that are really tight squeezes that I wasn't brave enough to try. Definitely bring flashlights if you have an adventurous spirit! Our group was a bit ill-prepared in that regard, and we most certainly would have done more exploring if we'd had flashlights. It's $6 per car or $4 if you enter on foot. There are many and varied hikes available, ranging from way under a mile (park your car and walk a few yards to a site like the Pioneer Names) to several miles. Camping is also available: both standard and group sites. There is very little to do in St. George, but this is the one thing that could almost entice me to return.

First off, if the person at either of the park's 2 entrances are gone and you don't have $6 cash, just drive through and in about 5 minutes stop by the campground/bookstore. You can purchase your pass/receipt here and use a credit card. Driving through entrance to the other entrance is a 10-15 minute stretch, so don't worry about losing much time. Of course, the magnificence and majesty of the structures and geography are beyond amazing, so I'll talk about the restrooms. They are unisex and have toilet seats and are water flushable. Its not the outhouse type. But wait, their water running out of their sinks are WARM! They have liquid soap, air blower hand dryers and effective multiple rolls of toilet paper. Outside temp is 50 degrees F so the warm water was a welcomed treat!

This park has beautiful views no matter where you look. There is a fee to enter the park of $6 per day, but if you plan to do several hikes, you could easily spend the entire day to get your money's worth. We did a shorter hike for 2.5 miles on the Lava Flow Trail. There were cool lava tubes along the route and several wildlife encounters. We saw many many lizards, a bunny or two, squirrels, birds, etc. We decided to take the Butterfly Trail out to the highway and then walk uphill to the Lava Flow parking area. There were some rock climbing areas on the trails, as well as some more sandy spots and lots of lava rock creating a bit of an uneven surface. I would recommend you go in the morning to beat the heat of the day, take lots of sunscreen, and a hat for shade. My arms already started to gather color after only 15 minutes of exposure.

We loved finding this park! We hiked 3 trails and LOVED THEM!! Jenny's trail, Lava Flow to the Lava Tubes and then Johnson Trail.

Majestic. Great hiking and clean facilities. Love this park. The Whiptail trail is a perfect out and back walk.

Nature in all of it's beautiful splendor. Truly breathtaking. It's a must see if your visiting St. George Utah. The rock formations and all the different colors are spectacular. Lava fields are all around. Bike paths and camping facilities are in the park. People actively rock climb by the southern entrance. God's country for sure.

Wow!!! Such a picturesque park. For non Utah residents they charge $15 per car, but they take cash or card so that was convenient. Once we got in the park I can tell you the $15 was well worth it. We hiked several of the trails, but our favorite was the petrified dunes. You definitely need to check this trail out!

My friends and I did an Exploratory hike today in Snow Canyon State Park located near St. George, UT. There is a $8 day use entry fee per car. Your National Park Pass will not work at Snow Canyon State Park. This park is an amazingly beautiful 7,400-acre scenic park with lava flows and panoramic soaring colorful sandstone cliffs. I suggest bringing at least two liters of water, a hat, sunglasses, good walking shoes, lunch, snacks and apply sunscreen. Don't forget to bring a flashlight for the lava tubes. Hikes we did and loved - Jenny's Canyon - (Closed March 31 to June 1) -One-half mile. Easy, level with few slopes and steps. Sand Dunes - One-half mile. Easy. Deep sand with some slopes and the trail leads to a large expanse of red sand that is great for all age. Petrified Dunes Trail - 1-mile (1.6 km). Moderate with ome steep slopes, uneven surfaces. This trail crosses massive sandstone outcrops where you may explore sand dunes frozen in time. Butterfly Trail - 2 miles (3.2 km). Moderate with some steep slopes, steps and uneven surfaces. Winding along the west side of Petrified Dunes, this trail leads to West Canyon Overlook and lava tubes. White Rocks Trail/Lava Flow Overlook - 4 miles (6.4 km). Moderate with some rocky slopes, uneven surfaces. Passing through lava flows, juniper stands and breathtaking views of West Canyon. We checked out the well maintained campgrounds. Really clean bathrooms with warm water, soap, and dryer. Such a wonderful place!

This place is beautiful! Took a road trip here in December 2020 with the boo and it is definitely one of my best memories. It was very peaceful. The weather was perfect. We had so much fun exploring the lava tubes and rocks! Bring a headlight or flashlight if you're planning on exploring the lava tubes. It's really dark!

I think most agree that the State and National Parks we have in Utah are some of the most beautiful places in this fine nation, and I'm one of those folks, in fact the first time I ever visited one before settling in Utah nearly 20 years ago it literally blew my mind, and viewing this amazing scenery still wows me even though some I've been to many times. This was a first time though for me at Snow Canyon State Park. I went on the suggestion of someone who works for me, and while it might be small when compared to its bigger and better known brethren such as the National Parks likes Zions, Arches, Bryce etc. don't dismiss it because of that. I was thankful for the tip, he was right. It's absolutely gorgeous here and somewhere anyone who hasn't been should visit, the contrast between the red sandstone, white limestone and black volcanic rocks is just amazing. Couple this with lots of greenery interspersed to bring great variety and it truly is an awe inspiring site. Sure, it's not a big park since it's a State one, but there is really a lot to see here and that makes it a little more accessible too for folks just passing through. I was able to do most of the shorter hikes and a couple of the medium ones within a total of 3 to 4 hours and while I admit I'm a fairly hardcore hiker, almost all of these trails are easy enough for most folks whatever your level. Jenny's Canyon and the Sand Dunes trail are easy and will give you a great experience and are super worth it. The Lava Flow trail was the highlight for me, that's more work since there are more inclines but it's worth it, and whatever you pick it's all fantastic and I did get to see most of the places from end to end in the park even during my short time here. I do want to come back and do the longer trails when I can spend a whole day doing it because it's such beautiful scenery. Some of the trails are a little hard to follow and not as well marked as those in the bigger National Parks, it's easy to wander off trail so if you're not a seasoned hiker in these kinds of parks, please be careful and mindful of that, in particular if you are with kids. This is a national treasure, and so close to Saint George (was just a couple of miles from our hotel, we were staying at the Inn at Entrada, which I also super recommend) that if you are visiting and have even just a couple of hours to spare go and see it, just driving it end to end is awesome, you can get some great pictures, and you can still get some hiking in during that short time still to stretch your legs.

Hello, This review is not for the park or the trails, but for what happened to us at the national park. My friends and I drove from CA hoping to have fun in hiking the Lava Tubes, butterfly trails, etc. We left our belongings in our car as we didn't think we would use our debit cards or credit cards. Our hike lasted like 4 hours. When returning to the car we started getting fraud alerts from our banks. Someone was using our credit cards for large amounts of money. To our surprise someone had broken into our car and took all our money and cards. The car didn't look broken into but the key hold on the door handle had been tampered. When exiting the park the Ranger told us this was happening often. Just be careful and don't leave personal belongings behind.

I have visited St George in the past unaware of what a great state park was right there close by. It costs $15 to enter but well worth the hours you will want to spend in the park. I am over 60 and found many trails that were easy to get around on and provided incredible views and interesting rock formations. From a lava hole to petrified dunes. This is a great place for young to old to explore. I will be back.

Snow Canyon is so underrated! We spent one night at the campground and wish we could have done more! It's not a busy RV park, it's super quiet and peaceful. Has water and electric hookups. A small front office with kind and helpful staff! You don't need to drive anywhere to get to your hikes which is the best part. Highly recommend for camping!

Beautiful and peaceful. We were greeted by a friendly worker, paid the $10 fee for 1 vehicle and drove through the whole park before getting out and hiking the lava tube trail. Easy hike, not too strenuous. Weather was perfect- clear skies and about 65 degrees. Neat park, beautiful scenery. Would highly recommend visiting this park.

Absolutely beautiful!! Highly recommend a good morning hike! Be prepared by wearing good hiking shoes. There is soft sand and chunky areas ...so good shoes are a must!! The petrified rocks are stunning!!

Snow Canyon is a favorite of mine for sure. A must visit every time I'm in the area. Much mess crowded compared to Zions National Park. Full of beautiful hikes and views. This time we did the Butterfly trail to Lava Flow Caves about 3 miles round trip. A HOT hike so definitely plan accordingly. Very limited shade, bring lots of water! We had a 7 year old and 5 year old with us and they both did great. Beautiful views and it's awesome to see inside the lava caves. We started with the Butterfly trail and wrapped around to the Lave flow. The butterfly is very sandy and your legs might be beat near the end. So I suggest starting with butterfly. You can climb down and explore the lava caves as well. A beautiful hike, would recommend!

I like to get my family out of Pasadena for New Year's, since I grew up a couple of blocks from the rose parade route.... Soon enough, my oldest son will want to Camp out overnight on the parade route; so in the meantime, we try to explore some little corner of the western United States within 10 hours drive to welcome in the new year. After spending an entire day at Zion, I was looking for some different options to show the kids. A few local searches suggested Snow Canyon State Park, just a 20 minute drive from our hotel. I have to admit that I was not terribly impressed on the trip there, as the road featured tract after tract of modern looking housing developments. Once we turned the corner and headed towards the park, however, I realized that this long canyon of sandstone, limestone, and volcanic rock outcroppings was every bit as beautiful as the national parks a little further up the 15 freeway. With only a few hours of daylight left after sleeping in on New Year's Day, we settled on the easy hike to the lava tubes section of the park. A short half mile hike across the igneous rock and desert chaparral saw us arrive very abruptly at a rather large and deep hole in the earth. Thankfully, I was holding the hands of my four and two year old kids, or they would have plummeted 40 feet down into the ground. I know it's "nature," but I have to admit that I was a little ticked off that after passing several interpretive signs placed by the state park service, there really was no warning for younger hikers for someone carelessly wondering along the trail, looking up at the beauty instead of down at their feet. But that emotion quickly dissipated, as we donned headlights, and scamper down into the nearly vertical cave. The novelty of being underground was kind of cool, but the cave itself was not particularly pretty or elegant. There were no cave features such as stalagmites or stalactites, as the generally featureless walls were volcanic in origin, and not subjected to much water over the eons that would help create those familiar cave structures. Like most places in Utah, Snow Canyon Park probably demands several dozen trips to truly take in all of its natural beauty. Considering that it is a relatively small park, there is quite a variety of landscapes-- sand dunes, sheer sandstone faces, lava flows, river beds, mudstone, limestone banks... And quite a bit of flora and fauna, in season. A few signs alerted us to be presence of desert tortoises and Gila monsters, although the cold winter temperatures ensured that they were safe underground, and away from little feet. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of running around St. George and the Dixie hills, preparing for a half marathon. I can certainly see myself returning to this beautiful setting, as the benevolent distraction of natural beauty would help the miles click by. Give this place a look the next time you're in town... Especially if Zion is a traffic nightmare.

I can here with my son and we camped for several days. I absolutely loved the red mountains! We had a blast! So much to do - hiking, checking out the lava tubes, photography opportunities galore! AND! Zion was close enough to spend a day there. There's also a ghost town to check out that was really neat. Mountains to drive up and treat yourself to an amazing view. I would highly recommend coming here to camp, hike, take photos - just explore such a wonderful place. There's also a small gift shop that has a really good selection of souvenirs to choose from and it's staffed with friendly and helpful people. Can't wait to go back!

A great place to be when you want to escape from the crowd at Zion or Grand Cyn National park during the peak season. Easy access: Only 8 miles north of St.George. Went on Labor Day long weekend and the park was quiet and peaceful. You would see 3-4 groups of people on the trail but its never crowded that tons of people in the background of your pictures.Finding a parking spot at trailhead wasn't difficult as Zion. Camping Ground was full though. It is a State park, don't have some unrealistic expectation, it's small.(driving from south to north entrance only takes about 20 mins). But it still offers some spectacular geology landscape. Tried few trails: *Lava Flow Trail - Moderate. Uneven surfaces. Hike through a jumbled lava field, the vivid remains of a long-ago volcanic eruption. This one I think it's easier than marked "moderate", slowly downhill when you enter the trailhead from parking lot. They did not have a distance for this trail but according to the map it should be about 4 miles round trip. When you see the big rock from the distance, that's the Overlook. It's hard to miss and probably the only shady area to take a break unless you want to hide from the sun from lava tubes. (I stopped and returned after Overlook, but found out later from the map that Lava Flow trail actually extended after Overlook). *Butterfly Trail - 2 miles. Moderate. Some steep slopes, steps and uneven surfaces. Winding along the west side of Petrified Dunes, this trail leads to West Canyon Overlook and lava tubes. Some parts of this trail is hard, including climbing/down up a big rock. Same as Lava Flow trail it downhill first so coming back is mostly uphill. Slightly some shady area from the bushes. * Whiptail Trail - 6 miles. Easy. Level with some slopes. Accessible to people with disabilities. Tucked along the canyon bottom, this paved trail is suitable for walking, jogging, and biking. This trail allow dogs. (only this one and West Canyon Road). Its paved so not difficult at all. There are many spots from different parking lots have access to this trail. If you don't want to do all 6 miles, the south side is more beautiful in my opinion especially during sunset. Also it will be covered in shade in the late afternoon most south part. *Sand Dunes - One-half mile. Easy. Deep sand with some slopes. Trail leads to a large expanse of red sand serving as a giant sandbox and play area for children of all ages I drove by few times and its really not far you can see the Sand Dunes from the road. Not a fan of getting sands in my socks but it looks easy and kids love it there. Entrance fee is $6 per vehicle. Sometimes there's no attendant at either south or north entrance so you have to pay at self pay station. (bring exact amount of cash). Because no attendant you can't get the map, be sure to download the park brochure PDF to your phone here: http://static.stateparks.utah.gov/docs/SnowCanyonBrochure.pdf The cell phone reception (Verizon) was not very good inside the park, only spotty area can get text but not good enough to open a map. It was pretty hot, 90F+ when we went around 5pm. The sun wasn't too bad and because the humidity was really low it didn't feel that bad. Just be sure you have enough water and be safe. I am always amazed by the view here even on my 2nd visit. The size of the park is perfect for me who can only do some short hikes but still want to enjoy hiking. Another reason I love UTAH!!!