Snow Canyon is a 7,400-acre park of red and white Navajo sandstone and black lava flows, about 15 minutes from downtown St. George.1,2 It sits inside the 62,000-acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, set aside to protect the desert tortoise.1
Quick facts
- Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; phone 435-628-2255.1
- More than 38 miles of hiking trails, a 3-mile paved walking and biking trail (Whiptail), and over 15 miles of equestrian trails.1
- Elevation 3,100 to 4,100 feet; created in 1959 and opened as a state park in 1962.1
- A designated Urban Night Sky Place.1
- Movies filmed here include Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Jeremiah Johnson.1
Things to do
- Hike: see our best hiking trails guide for routes in and around the park.
- Bike: Snow Canyon Drive, the paved Whiptail Trail and West Canyon are open to bikes; e-bikes are allowed. Bikes are not allowed on the Johnson Canyon trail.1
- Camp: a 38-unit campground, reservable 48 hours to 4 months ahead. No backcountry camping.1
- Ride: seasonal horseback rides run nearby; see Horseback Riding.
- Photograph: the park recommends the Snow Canyon Scenic Overlook off SR-18 for sunrise and sunset.1
Heat and safety
Don't let the name fool you. Summer highs can run from the low 100s to 117°F, and most trails have no shade. The park advises avoiding activity between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. in summer and drinking at least 32 ounces of water per person per hour.1 Stay on designated trails to protect fragile soil crust and tortoise burrows.1
Wildlife
Spring and fall are best for wildlife. If a tortoise is crossing the road, the park explains how to move it safely, in its direction of travel; harassing or collecting tortoises is illegal.1