A beautiful day in Snow Canyon State Park

Utah is famous for its ‘Mighty 5’ National Parks ( Arches, Bryce, Zion, Capitol Reef, and Canyonland) that draw in millions of crowds of people each year. These impressive parks has a lot to offer, but you’ll find that there are so many more state parks that are just as amazing. One of the them is Snow Canyon State Park.

Located just outside the town of St. George is Utah’s best kept secret. It boasts more than 38 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Other activities include nature studies, wildlife viewing, camping and photography, camping, ranger talks and junior ranger programs.

I came here with a couple of friends on a beautiful Saturday a few days. Red and white sandstone cliffs, arches, sand dunes, lava tubes, caves and even petroglyphs are some of the sight I love. In addition, a panoramic views with multi colored rocks.

Southern Paiute used the canyon from AD 1200 to the mid-19th century. Mormon pioneers first arrived on Snow Canyon in the 1850s while searching for lost cattle. The park was named for Utah natives Lorenzo and Erastus Snow. The scenery is so beautiful it has been the backdrop for Hollywood movies including The Electric Horseman and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid! 

Here are my Snow Canyon State Park highlights:

Petrified Dunes – 1.2 miles round-trip with incredible rolling mounds of petrified Navajo Sandstone. This hike are fun for hikers of all ages.

Butterfly Trail – 1.2 miles round-trip. If you go in Spring like we did, we saw a lot of butterflies and wildflowers. The views are amazing all around.

Lava Flow Trail – 1.7 miles round-trip. The Lava Flow Trail is an easy trail through black lava flows. Along the route, we saw two lava tubes. The largest lava tube is at the end of the trail in which you can enter. Take a flashlight and go exploring the lava tubes that were created when a volcano erupted here 27,000 years ago.

Jenny’s Canyon- A .5 mile round-trip hike. Jenny’s Canyon is a nice short walk up into a slot canyon and an overlook.

Note: Jenny’s Canyon is closed each year from March 15-June 1 because of endangered habitat

For a day trip, I suggest bringing at least three liters of water, a hat, snacks/lunch, sunglasses, and apply sunscreen. Don’t forget to bring a flashlightfor the lava tubes/caves. If you prefer to stay overnight, there are both tent and RV sites.