The Best Hiking Trails in Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon State Park is located around 15 minutes north of downtown St. George, Utah and only an hour away from Zion National Park. This park is an amazing option for those wanting to explore outside the famous national parks. This park doesn’t have crowds like Zion, so it makes for a quiet Utah experience.

Snow Canyon is an amazing park for families! It can quickly be seen in a day or less for those just driving through, but if you have time, two would be best. I’m sharing my favorite trails in the park, from a cave to slot canyons and dunes. This park has some of everything.

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Things to Know About Snow Canyon State Park

• There is a State Park fee for using the trails here. There are kiosks outside the Snow Canyon park entrance if you are hiking a trail prior to the park entrance. Just show the purchased pass at the entry kiosk. I purchased a pass at Scout Cave and then used it to enter the rest of the park. It is a $10 day-use fee for Utah residents, $15 fee for non-residents and $5 for senior citizens and pedestrians/cyclists. If you do not want to pay at the park, you can go here to purchase ahead of time.

• Share the space. Be respectful of your fellow hikers and never hog a location. Sitting at the mouth of the cave or taking a long time in the slot canyon makes it hard for others to enjoy it as well. Always be considerate of where you sit. Sit farther back in the cave or around a corner so others can enjoy the views too. Be mindful of how long you’re taking to snap photos. If you’re taking more than a few minutes, stop, take a break so others can have a turn and then go again.

• There are rattlesnakes and scorpions present in Snow Canyon State Park, so wear appropriate shoes and know what to look out for. Open-toed shoes seem like a good option when it’s hot, but it leaves your feet exposed should you encounter one. Always wear closed-toed shoes in the desert. Never put your hands or feet someplace you cannot see.

• Always practice Leave No Trace. This means never carving or marking on the rocks. This area has petroglyphs and you should never add to or alter them. Pack out all of your trash and be respectful of your fellow hikers. Leave no trace means limiting your impact on the area, so stay on designated trails.

• Dogs are not allowed on any of the trails I am sharing about in this post. If you are traveling with a dog, they are only allowed in the campgrounds and the Whiptail and West Canyon Rim trail. I would recommend leaving your companion at home if you can. Do not bring them if it’s warm outside because it’s deadly to leave an animal in a hot car.

Leave No Trace Principles

Be sure to know and follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles on trail. It’s so important to help protect these beautiful places we love and enjoy. Make sure you know these principles before going out on a hike.

• Plan Ahead and Prepare: Always check for current weather updates and educate yourself on trail conditions prior to starting a hike. Look for recent reviews or call the local ranger station for up-to-date trail information like closures, recent wildlife and road conditions. 

• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Stick to the trail. Avoid going off trail unless it’s to go to the bathroom. You can capture amazing photos from the trail. Do not cut switchbacks. Stepping off trail can cause years of damage with just one simple step. Camp in exciting campsites rather than over vegetation.  

• Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack out all trash and food scraps. Never toss food items on the ground. It is harmful to the wildlife. Properly dispose of human waste by digging a cat hole at least 6 inches deep and burying human waste. Bring a wag back to pack it out in fragile alpine terrain. Never leave toilet paper or feminine hygiene products behind because they shouldn’t be disposed of on trail. Being a bag and pack them out to dispose of properly. Same goes for dog poop. Properly burry it or pack it back out to dispose of. Do not leave dog poop bags on the side of the trail because they are easy to forget, animals can get into them and other hikers don’t want to see them. 

• Leave What You Find: Do not take objects like plant off trail with you. Preserve nature by not marking on rocks or harming any natural objects. Never pick wildflowers. It is illegal in many states. 

• Minimize Campfire Impacts: Check and follow all local wildfire regulations. Use exciting fire rings and keep fires small. Put fires out properly by dousing will multiple gallons of water. Coals should be cool to the touch before walking away. 

• Respect Wildlife: Never touch, feed or approach wildlife. Give a minimum of 25 yards to all wildlife and a minimum or 100 yard for predators and larger wildlife. Wildlife are not like house pets. They can spook easily or feel threatened. Stay in your car if wildlife is near the road. Do not feed them because our food is harmful to thier digestive system.

• Be Considerate of Others : Respect other hikers by allowing those that hike faster to pass. Uphill hikers have the right of way, so safely step aside for them to pass, unless they offer to stop first. Limit noise and use headphones. Keep groups under 8. Say hello to a fellow hiker!

Snow Canyon Location

Snow Canyon State Park is located around 20 minutes north of St. George, Utah, which sits near the border of Arizona on the southwest side of the state. It is an hour away from Zion Nation Park, which is to the East and 3 hours from the Grand Canyon North rim and Page, Arizona, where Lake Powell is, making it a great spot for visiting a lot of other amazing destinations.

Best Time of Year to Visit Snow Canyon

Snow Canyon State Park is accessible year-round, but there are definitely better times of the year to go depending on the experience you want. Because it is located in south Utah, it gets extremely hot in the summer months. It often gets into the 100’s for long stretches, which is too hot for hiking. There was a heat wave when I went in June and the Temperature was 115. I went at sunrise to beat the heat and be done hiking before it became too hot.

You can avoid the heat by hiking early if you choose to go in the summer months, but do not hike in the heat of the day if it is above 100. Spring and fall will have the best temperatures for hiking. Winter will have cold temperatures despite being the desert and you may have snow. You can still do all the hikes if it snows, you’ll just want to plan the proper gear for icy trails and colder weather.

Things to Do At Snow Canyon State Park

None of the hikes here are overly strenuous or long, making it a great family friendly park. This means you can see a lot of the trails throughout Snow Canyon State Park in a day or even in a morning. This park has some really unique landscapes all within a short distance, making it a beautiful and unique spot to explore. Below are some of my favorite spots in the park, but be sure to research what other trails the park has to offer as well.

Scout Cave Trail

The parking lot for this trail is located just outside the park, across from the trailhead. The trail is relatively easy to follow. There are multiple areas where it crosses washes or other trails, so I used my map to confirm I was headed in the correct direction. It is a relatively flat trail for the first 1.2 miles. The trail then begins going up a wash to a staircase. You can see the cave the entire time. Use your map and the direction of the cave if you feel lost.

The only time I ended up off trail was the final climb up to the canyon. As you can see on the map above, the trail continues south past the cave. Although you will need to walk this trail past the cave, keep an eye out for the junction to head back north and up to Scout Cave. I walked past it a ways before realizing we needed to turn around. It’s not hard to find, but you will need to be looking for it.

Entering the cave is a slight scramble up some rocks, but very doable. Once you reach the cave you’ll be rewarded with views looking out over the valley. It’s a shallow cave, but fun to walk around.

Jenny’s Canyon Trail

The trail closes yearly from March 15-June 1st for nesting birds. I went in June so I was able to visit the slot canyon after it had reopened for the year. To reach the canyon, safely park in the designated parking areas located on the side of the road. Make sure your car is completely off the road and not hanging over the white line. If you can’t get your car fully over the white lines, come back when a parking spot opens.

The trail is a flat, easy walk along a sand trail to the entrance of the slot canyon. You can walk to the end of the slot canyon. It is a short canyon so this stop is a quick one and can offer some nice shade on a hot day. The canyon walls here are so unique and it was easily one of my favorite canyons in Utah.

Sand Dunes

This area isn’t really a trail, but it’s still a fun spot to stop and explore. There is a small parking lot just off Snow Canyon Drive on the west side, as well as a small picnic area you can stop for a break just north of the parking lot. It’s fun to walk or run up and down the dunes and take in the views at the top. Although this isn’t a hiking trail, it’s still a must-see stop if you driving through the park.

Petrified Dunes Trail

Johnson Arch

This trail is closed March 14th-September 14th each year for turtle conservation. I went in June and I was unable to do this hike, so I can’t share any detailed trail information with you. If you visit Snow Canyon during fall or winter, this would be a great addition to your trip. It leads to a large arch in the canyon wall that you can walk under. I would love to go back and be able to see if someday.

Things to Bring

Proper trail shoes for desert hiking. It may be warm, but sandals are not the best option when hiking in rattlesnake country. Tennis shoes also don’t have the best traction for hiking and traversing over rocky terrain. Wear trail runners or hiking boots for the best protection from snake bites and provide good traction for maneuvering over rocks.

Even in the springtime and fall, the sun is high and temperatures are hot in southern Utah. Be sure to have proper sun protection to prevent skin damage. Things like sunscreen to put on any exposed skin, a long sleeve sun protective shirt to wear as an extra layer or a large sun hat or baseball hat to keep the sun off your face and neck are great things to carry with you.

Have a map with you, whether it be paper or digital. None of the trails will require a digital map to track necessarily, but I did use one for Scout Cave. You can get a park map when you enter to help you find the locations of the trails.

Always carry the 10 essentials with you on trail. These items will help you survive should an accident happen or you need to spend the night on trail. Always hike prepared because you never know when there will be an emergency. Learn more about these items in my “The 10 Essentials” guide.

To learn more about what I hike with go here to see my must-have gear, trail clothes and more!

Reminders

• Water, water, water! It‘s so important to have an appropriate amount if water. You should consume a liter for every 2 hours of hiking. A small water bottle or a shared water supply will not be enough. If you have one, bring a water filter to resupply. If you’re hiking and it is hot, which is spring through fall there, plan to carry even more water. Always have extra water supply waiting the car.

• Know your limits and be okay with turning around, especially if you are hiking in summer months when it’s hot. If you’re showing signs of heat exhaustion, get back to your car asap and cool off. Do not hike in extreme heat, meaning anything above 100. Plan your hikes for early morning or go a different time of year.

• Know what reptiles you may encounter in the desert. There are multiple species of poisonous reptiles including rattlesnakes and scorpions. Know what to look out for. Never put your hands and feet someplace you cannot see and know what to do if you get bit or stung.

• Always practice Leave No Trace. Remember to never carve or mark on the rocks. As the saying goes “take only photos, leave only footprints,” never leave your mark by ruining nature. It is illegal and finable to carve into rocks. Pack out all your trash, never touch or feed wildlife and stay on trail.

Snow Canyon State Park was such an unexpected surprise. It was supposed to be a low-key day after days of endless driving and hiking. Scout Cave was my only planned hike, but I quickly realized everything was a must-see! Whether you’re staying in the area or just driving through, I would highly recommend making this park a stop if you can.

You can also learn more about visiting Snow Canyon’s neighboring park, Zion National Park, through my “Zion National Park” guide. Both are must-see destinations in Utah.

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