Snow Canyon State Park

Jenny’s Canyon Trail is an easy out-and-back hike to a shady slot canyon. At less than half a mile, it takes about fifteen minutes to hike with a big payoff of small arches and sculpted pockets in the walls. 

Johnson Canyon Trail is an easy 1.8-mile round-trip jaunt to Johnson’s Arch, a 200-foot sandstone span tucked inside a sheltered box canyon. Only open September 15 through March 14.

Lava Flow Trail is one of the park’s most popular hikes. This 2.5-mile round-trip trail crosses black lava flows, passes multiple lava tubes, and ends at an overlook with sweeping canyon views. Bring a good light.

Petrified Dunes Trail rises 300 feet above the canyon floor through rolling mounds of ancient Navajo Sandstone. It’s half a mile with wide-open views, and one of the best photo spots in the park.

Pioneer Names Trail leads to an overhang where settlers signed their names in axle grease in the late 1800s and early 1900s, a trail that doubles as a time capsule. You might also spy climbers tackling a route. 

Scout Cave Trail leads to a pair of shallow sandstone caves 40 to 50 feet deep. Great if you’re short on time. Also, kids love it. Yes, even the young at heart. For the full trail menu, downloadable guides, and current conditions, check the Snow Canyon State Park Trail Guides.

Snow Canyon Drive winds approximately 4 miles between high canyon walls, petrified dunes, and basalt beds. If you ride this, you can claim fame as having touched asphalt that is from the IRONMAN route. (If you drive, you get the view without the sweat.)

Whiptail Trail is a 2.5-mile paved out-and-back path running from the south entrance through about two-thirds of the canyon. It’s great for all experience levels, with an optional steep climb in the final quarter mile. (This is also a wheelchair accessible trail.) 

West Canyon Road is a four-mile dirt-and-gravel path up the canyon’s west fork, past the Whiterocks Amphitheater and into parts of the park no other trail reaches. You don’t need a high-end mountain bike, but you’ll want something beefier than road tires. Access it from the Sand Dunes picnic area for an eight-mile round trip.

Snow Canyon connects to a broader network of mountain biking trails across the Greater Zion region. Explore your options here.

Climbing in Snow Canyon isn’t just about the routes; it’s about moving through the landscape in a completely different way. Hands on gritty sandstone, feet finding holds in ancient rock, the desert unfolding wider with every pitch.  Bring your own gear or rent from a local company. 

Most climbs are sport and traditional, with multi-pitch routes up to five pitches and grades ranging from approachable 5.7s to technical 5.12bs, with plenty in that sweet-spot 5.10–5.11 range. No permits are required for routes. For a list of routes, visit Mountain Project. 

Canyoneering flips the perspective. Instead of climbing up, you descend into canyons, rappelling, scrambling, and threading your way through hidden corridors of stone. Snow Canyon has two routes, Island in the Sky and Arch Canyon, both of which require a permit through the state park’s website. If you’re a first-timer or you’d rather leave the ropes at home, local guides are ready to take you.

Swap hiking boots for stirrups. In the park, horseback riding isn’t just a trail ride; it’s a rhythmic trek through sculpted desert, where red cliffs, white stone, and black lava flows stack into a striking natural mosaic. Trails like Scout Cave, Lava Flow, West Canyon Road, and Red Sands provide a picturesque western landscape. From first-timers to seasoned riders, the experience meets you where you are. Local outfitters offer guided rides, so all you have to do is jump onto the saddle.

Snow Canyon doesn’t just look like the Old West; it’s played the part since the 1950s. The petrified dunes and rock formations provided the backdrop for chase scenes in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and the park has appeared in productions from Jeremiah Johnson to The Electric Horseman to High School Musical 2. 

Look for the Utah Film Trail marker near the petrified dunes, scan the QR code for filming details, and line up your shot with the same views seen on screen. Learn more about the history of film in Greater Zion here.

Snow Canyon State Park earned its International Dark Sky Place designation in December 2025, and the campground is one of the best places to experience it. Thirty-two campsites sit beneath views of a cinder cone volcano and petroglyphs etched into nearby rock. It’s like camping in the Flintstones’ backyard, but with a view of the Milky Way that will stop you mid-sentence.

Don’t camp? You don’t need a tent to catch the night sky. Lodging in nearby Ivins and St. George puts you close enough for an evening drive back into the park before the 10 p.m. closing. 

For ranger-led dark sky events in the park, check here. 

• All trails in the park are open to dogs. (Must be leashed at all times.) 
• The park may temporarily close when it reaches capacity — arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays.
• Bring water, sunscreen, and layers. There is a water fill station at the visitor center. 
• Stay on marked trails to protect the fragile desert crust and tortoise habitat. 
• Removal of rocks, plants, and wildlife is prohibited.