Snow Canyon State Park features a canyon carved from the red and white Navajo sandstone in the Red Mountains. The park is located near Ivins, Utah and St. George in Washington County. Other geological features of the state park include extinct cinder cones, lava tubes, lava flows, and sand dunes.
Two canyons, West Canyon and Snow Canyon, begin side-by-side at the north gouging deeply into the sandstone of the Red Mountains, each canyon then running southward, slowly converging then finally meeting in the middle of the park. From there Snow Canyon continues south-by-southeastward as a single, larger canyon. Near the park's southern entrance, the canyon ends, its mouth opening out onto the Santa Clara bench near Ivins, Utah.
Motor Vehicle Travel Map (MVTM) of Pine Valley Ranger District in Dixie National Forest (NF) in Utah. Published by the U.S. National Forest Service (USFS).
Guide to Utah Scenic Byways. Published by visitutah.com
Snow Canyon SP
https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/snow-canyon/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Canyon_State_Park
Snow Canyon State Park features a canyon carved from the red and white Navajo sandstone in the Red Mountains. The park is located near Ivins, Utah and St. George in Washington County. Other geological features of the state park include extinct cinder cones, lava tubes, lava flows, and sand dunes.
Two canyons, West Canyon and Snow Canyon, begin side-by-side at the north gouging deeply into the sandstone of the Red Mountains, each canyon then running southward, slowly converging then finally meeting in the middle of the park. From there Snow Canyon continues south-by-southeastward as a single, larger canyon. Near the park's southern entrance, the canyon ends, its mouth opening out onto the Santa Clara bench near Ivins, Utah.
Snow Canyon’s rolling petrified dunes, red
and white sandstone cliffs, and stark-black
lava flows make a stunning landscape.
Scramble across slick rock, run over sand
dunes, descend into lava tubes, and enjoy
well-maintained trails. Climbers, hikers,
bikers, horseback riders, and nature lovers
will all find something to enjoy.
Watch for wildlife, like roadrunners and kit
foxes, that wander across the sand dunes.
Peregrine falcons and white-throated
swifts soar and dive from the cliffs.
Tortoises and Gila monsters venture out
from their deep burrows.
Snow Canyon is an amazing outdoor
classroom and playground. Trail signs can
introduce you to the Colorado Plateau,
Mojave and Great Basin Deserts that meet
at Snow Canyon and the diverse geology,
habitat, and wildlife, like the federally
protected desert tortoise and Red Cliffs
Desert Reserve.
Let us guide you to your
next adventure!
For Your Safety
Water – Each person in your group should
carry and drink a minimum of 1-liter of water
per hour.
Hike – Mapped trails.
Scrambling Areas – Galoot Hill,
Petrified Dunes, and Whiterocks area.
Heat – Avoid hiking between 11a.m. and 6p.m.
when temperatures are over 95 (F).
Technical Climb – More than 170 designated
sport routes.
Cell Service – Cell phone service is unreliable.
If you become lost, stay in one location and
wait for help.
Canyoneer – Online permits required for Arch
Canyon and Island in the Sky traverse.
Bike – West Canyon Road, the Whiptail Trail,
and all Paradise Canyon trails.
Hike Together – It can be unsafe to hike alone.
Take a friend or family member along, or tell
someone of your plans.
Equestrian – Ask for a map of designated
horse trails.
Stay on Trails – Stay to marked, designated
trails; pay attention to your surroundings and
frequently refer to your map.
Camp – In designated campground.
Scrambling and Climbing Safety –
Scrambling and rock climbing are dangerous
and permitted in designated areas only. Each
year inexperienced visitors are seriously injured
climbing on steep, loose, rock. Know the
scrambling areas and only attempt technical
climbs with proper equipment and training.
Seasonal Closures – Some park areas
are closed seasonally. Please obey all
posted closures.
Visitor Center
If you are looking for more information, please
stop by the visitor center to view exhibits, pick up
informational handouts and talk with staff about
how you can make your visit more special.
Be Prepared – Wear a hat, sunscreen, and
sturdy shoes. Bring your trail map, water,
snacks, first aid kit, flashlight and safety whistle.
Image courtesy of Don Hite
Your park fees provide for the care,
protection and enhancement of this park.
Snow Canyon
State Park
Drive Slow
Watch for Tortoises
Park Location:
The park is located eight miles north of
St. George on State Route 18.
Operating Hours:
The park is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round.
No holiday closures.
Address Inquiries To:
Snow Canyon State Park
1002 Snow Canyon Dr.
Ivins, UT 84738
(435) 628–2255
snowcanyon@utah.gov
or
Utah State Parks
P.O. Box 146001
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6001
(801) 538-7220
stateparks.utah.gov
Every year hundreds of animals are
hit and killed on the park roadway—
including threatened Mojave desert
tortoises. So relax, enjoy the drive, and
keep your eyes on the road.
When to Move a Tortoise
It is unlawful to harass or collect tortoises
but if you see one crossing the road and
can safely move it out of harm’s way,
please follow these steps:
For Campground Reservations:
Phone: (800) 322-3770
Online: utahstateparks.reserveamerica.com
1. Stop your car in a safe place.
2. Slowly approach the tortoise,
noting the direction of travel.
Utah State Parks Mission:
To enhance the quality of life by preserving
and providing natural, cultural and recreational
resources for the enjoyment, education and
inspiration of this and future generations.
3. Pick it up using both hands and hold it
in its normal walking position, level to
the ground.
4. Carefully carry it across the road in the
same direction, taking it at least 50 feet
from the roadway.
generated at BeQRious.com
Visit Us Online:
stateparks.utah.gov/snow-canyon
5. Report your observations to park staff.
Follow Us On Instagram:
snowcanyonstatepark
Information contained in this brochure was accurate at
the time of printing. Policies, facilities, fees, hours and
regulations, etc., change as mandated. For updated
information, please contact the park.
Image courtesy of Don Hite.
Utah State Parks
Updated 02/2023
One Hour Visit
Half-Day Hike
Half-Day Exploration
Only one hour to visit? Soak in the desert
scenery and contrasting colors of ancient rock
formations with a drive through the park.
Paradise Canyon Loop
Main Canyon Loop
Trailhead: Chuckwalla Trailhead.
Trailhead: Hidden Pinyon Trailhead.
Overlook: Stop at the Snow Canyon Scenic
Overlook off Highway 18 for sweeping vistas.
Route: Chuckwalla to Beck Hill to Paradise Rim,
then Halfway Wash back to Chuckwalla.
Fo
17
14
SHRUB LIVE OAK Quercus turbinella
Found extensively throughout the park, shrub live oak
forms low thickets. It has grayish green, prickly, holly-like
leaves that remain year-round. Native cultures gathered
its acorns for food and early settlers used the limbs
and trunks for fence posts. Birds and mammals also
eat the acorns and mule deer have been known to eat
the leaves. The shrub provides shelter for birds and
mammals.
UTAH YUCCA Yucca utahensis
Yucca was possibly the single most
important non-cultivated plant to native
peoples of the southwest. Buds, young
flowers and tender growing stalks were
eaten both raw and cooked, while leaves
were chewed. Roots were used to make
soap and cleaned fibers from yucca leaves
were twisted into cord and small ropes
to make sandals and mats. The dried
stalks were used in making cradle boards.
Female carpenter bees will tunnel into the
dried flower stalks to lay their eggs.
Do you see any small, circular holes in the dead stalks?
Can you find any acorns or acorn caps in its branches?
Without leaving the trail, look towards the red rocks behind
the signpost. Can you see an arch?
15
18
BLACKBRUSH Coleogyne ramosissima
Blackbrush gets its name from the older stems, which
have a rough black bark. A characteristic of blackbrush
is its pattern of intricate branches. Each successive
pair of branchlets tends to be at right angles to the
stems from which they arise. Smaller branchlets end
in spines. Desert bighorn sheep and deer browse the
plant despite its spiny nature. The fruits and seeds
are eaten by small rodents and birds, such as ground
squirrels and quail.
16
DESERT VARNISH
At first glance, this blackish-maroon coating—in the
distance—appears to be painted on the sandstone.
It is actually an accumulation of minerals, iron and
manganese, that are deposited as rain or groundwater
move through the stone. Bacteria on the rock surface
aid in the formation of these dark layers which can be
very thin or several layers thick. The more manganese
found in the mineral layer, the darker the varnish; the
more iron, the redder the color. Desert varnish does not
erode as quickly as the sandstone it covers.
Do you notice any difference in appearance between
the red sandstone that is covered with varnish as
opposed to that without the varnish?
CREOSOTE BUSH Larrea tridentata
Researchers have dated stands of creosote in California
and Arizona at between 11,000 and 12,000 years old.
Creosote stands predate giant redwoods and bristlecone
pines as one of the oldest living plants. Native cultures
used creosote for a variety of medicines. Resins deposited
on its stems by beetles were used to cement arrowheads
to shafts, waterproof basketry and mend pottery. Small
rodents, birds and reptiles use the plant for shelter. Though
the leaves are unpalatable to wildlife, there are 22 species
of bees that depend on the creosote’s yellow flowers for
pollen and nectar.
Creosote bush is found throughout the Mojave Desert.
As you hike in Snow Canyon, look for creosote bushes to
determine how far the Mojave habitat extends up
the canyon.
19
PINYON PINE Pinus monophylla
Your park fees provide for the care, protection and
enhancement of this park.
Address inquiries to:
Snow Canyon State Park
1002 Snow Canyon Drive
Ivins, Utah 84738-6194
(435) 628-2255
(800) 322-3770 Reservations
Snow Canyon State Park
Hidden Pinyon
Trail Guide
Utah State Parks and Recreation
PO Box 146001
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6001
(801) 538-7220
stateparks.utah.gov
Thank you for returning this brochure, if no longer
needed, to the trail guide box.
Illustrations by Zackery Zdinak
Utah State Parks Mission
To enhance the quality of life by preserving and
providing natural, cultural and recreational resources
for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this
and future generations.
This tree is often found in mixed stands with Utah Juniper.
Mature trees average 20 feet in height and 18 inches in
diameter. Leaves are needle-like, one to two inches long.
The seeds are an important food source for songbirds,
quail, squirrels and mule deer. Native cultures also relied
on the pinyon seeds for food and were either eaten raw
or roasted and ground into a flour. The seeds are still an
important crop today.
Can you find the Hidden Pinyon for which this trail
is named?
Utah State Parks
WELCOME TO THE HIDDEN PINYON NATURE TRAIL.
6
Plan on approximately one hour to complete this 1.5-mile
round-trip hike. As you walk along the trail, follow the
numbered posts listed in this guide. Please stay on the trail
to prevent damage to trailside plants and animal burrows.
All plants, animals, rocks and other natural features
in the park are protected, and it is unlawful to
remove, alter or destroy them.
Begin at the first numbered marker to the right of
the trail guide box.
1
MORMON TEA Ephedra viridis
These stick or broom-like shrubs grow
between one and four feet tall.
Although the plant appears
leafless, scale-like leaves
Utah
T R AV E L G U I D E
225 miles
to Boise
230 miles
to Yellowstone
Sawtooth National Forest
155 miles to
Grand Teton
GARDEN CIT Y
15
84
Bear
Lake
89
LOGAN
R ANDOLPH
GOLDEN SPIKE
NTL. HISTORIC PARK
30
15
39
BRIGHAM
CIT Y
Cache
National
Forest
OGDEN
Great
Salt Lake
400 miles
to Reno
84
EVANSTON
FLAMING GORGE
NTL. REC. AREA
150
80
SALT LAKE CITY
191
80
WENDOVER
215
K AMA S
PARK CIT Y
Uinta
National
Forest
TOOELE
Wasatch
National
Forest
TIMPANOGOS CAVE
NTL. MONUMENT
Utah
Lake
36
DINOSAUR
NTL. MONUMENT
VERNAL
HEBER CIT Y
35
191
40
PROVO
40
300 miles
to Denver
ive
r
DUCHESNE
Wasatch
National
Forest
89
Ashley
National
Forest
Manti-La Sal
National
Forest
Gr
Uinta
National
Forest
ee
nR
191
6
PRICE
31
6
15
Fishlake
National
Forest
12 miles
to Great
Basin
50
JURASSIC
NTL. MONUMENT
MANTI
28
C A STLE DALE
6
10
257
FILLMORE
70
RICHFIELD
GREEN RIVER
70
ARCHES
NATIONAL PARK
24
Fishlake
National
Forest
24
30 miles
to Grand
Junction
191
128
MOAB
21
CAPITOL REEF
NATIONAL PARK
15
89
62
BEAVER
Manti-La Sal
National
Forest
24
CANYONLANDS
NATIONAL PARK
TORREY
95
89
CEDAR CIT Y
PANGUITCH
276
ESC AL ANTE
12
CEDAR BREAKS
NTL. MONUMENT
Dixie
National
Forest
MONTICELLO
491
Manti-La Sal
National
Forest
NATURAL BRIDGES
NTL. MONUMENT
BL ANDING
GLEN CANYON
NTL. REC. AREA
BRYCE CANYON
NATIONAL PARK
ZION
NATIONAL PARK
9
95
K ANAB
180 miles to
Grand Canyon
To request a free Official Utah Highway Map, please contact
the Utah Department of Transportation at 801-965-4000
or the Utah Office of Tourism at 801-538-1900
89
GRAND STAIRCASE–
ESCALANTE NTL. MONUMENT
Lake Powell
55 miles
to Mesa
Verde
HOVENWEEP
NTL. MONUMENT
BEARS
261 EARS
NTL. MONUMENT
BLUFF
SPRINGDALE
ST. GEORGE
110 miles
to Las Vegas
ve
r
Ri
Dixie
National
Forest
Dixie
National
Forest
PAROWAN
191
12
Co
lo
ra
do
130
MONUMENT
VALLEY
National Forest
MEXIC AN
HAT
162
Four Corners Area
FOUR CORNERS
MONUMENT
National Park
State Park
TRAVEL GUIDE CONTENTS
FOREVER MIGHTY®
PAGE 2
Forever Mighty means preparing for the outdoors and traveling mindfully.
Use these resources to help you plan and prepare for your visit.
THE BUCKET LIST
PAGE 4
Ride with bison, raft the West’s best whitewater, rappel down slot canyons, then
hook a trophy trout — and your vacation is just getting started. Fulfill — or create
— your Utah Bucket List with these nine unforgettable adventures.
GETTING HERE & AROUND
PAGE 10
Getting to Utah is easy, and with a little know-how, getting around is also a breeze.
Traveling in Utah means falling in love with Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY & THE WASATCH FRONT
PAGE 12
You think you know Salt Lake? Immerse yourself in the experiences that truly
define this vibrant city and the greater Wasatch Front.
DINING GUIDE
3
4
5
6
7
PAGE 16
Get to know the sophisticated culinary side of Utah with help from a renowned
dining critic. This roundup is a mere stepping off point of can’t-miss eateries
from Salt Lake City and around the state.
THE GREATEST SNOW ON EARTH ®
PAGE 24
Zip up your coat, then point your skis or board down your choice of nearly 1,000
runs at 14 ski resorts. Repeat. This is your guide to getting here, getting around
and making the most of winter on your Utah ski vacation.
TOP RATED UTAH
PAGE 30
Travelers to Utah love their experiences so much they can’t resist sharing them
with the world. Here are several top attractions trending on TripAdvisor that
deserve a spot on your vacation itinerary.
PARKS & OUTDOORS
PAGE 36
Your adventure starts with The Mighty 5 national parks. It continues with
multiple national monuments, recreation areas and state parks plus vast
stretches of national forest and open lands filling the space between them.
®
SCENIC BYWAYS
PAGE 50
The lure of the open road is strong in Utah. No matter where you drive here,
there’s a scenic way to get where you’re going. These seven scenic byways
will fill your eyes with Utah’s iconic visual splendor.
HERITAGE & ARTS
PAGE 56
Utah has a variety of art and history destinations, as well as a vibrant art, theater,
film, festival and music scene. Utah’s pioneer and indigenous heritage is the
foundation, and our uniquely contemporary offerings include a thriving Olympic
spirit, inspiring earth art and rural artist communities.
BEFORE YOU GO & RESOURCES
PAGE 64
Traveling to Utah is an adventure. It helps to come prepared, always with a little
knowledge, sometimes with gear and supplies. Here are a few tips to help you
start planning and packing for Utah.
Join us
in keeping Utah
FOREVER MIGHTY ®
Utah welcomes all adventurers who care for people and place. As you travel through
Utah, we ask you to:
BE PREPARED FOR THE OUTDOORS
BE MINDFUL OF THE PLACES YOU VISIT
Forever Mighty means knowing how to Leave No Trace in the outdoors, support local
EXVLQHVVHVWUDYHOVDIHO\LQUHPRWHDUHDVQRWRYHUFURZGGHVWLQDWLRQVDQGLQŴXHQFH
for good on social media.
TRAVEL TIP #1:
TRAVEL TI
Utah is the place where prehistory intersects with the enduring spirit of
the Old West. Wild, adventure-rich places cradle vibrant urban centers.
With interstates and airplanes, the world can feel pretty small. On Utah’s
designated scenic byways, the world feels grand; its horizons seem
infinite. As you drive through Utah, you’ll inevitably encounter many of
the state’s scenic byways. In total, Utah’s distinct topography provides
the surface for 27 scenic byways, which add up to hundreds of miles of
vivid travel experiences wherein the road trip is as memorable as the
destination. Utah’s All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12 headlines the
network of top roads thanks to landscapes and heritage unlike anywhere
else in the nation.
All of Utah’s scenic byways are explorative journeys filled with trailheads,
scenic overlooks, museums, local flavors and vibrant communities
where you can stop for the night or hook up your RV. Not sure where
to start? In the following pages, you’ll discover monumental upheavals
of exposed rock strata among multiple national and state parks along
the All-American Road (pg. 4); dense concentrations of fossils along
Dinosaur Diamond (pg. 8); and the blazing red cliffs and deep blue
waters of Flaming Gorge–Uintas (pg. 12) — and that’s just in the first
three highlighted byways. Your journey continues down two dozen
additional byways, arranged north to south.
Best of all, these byways access an outdoor adventureland you can hike,
fish, bike, raft, climb and explore from sunup to sundown — then stay
up to welcome the return of the Milky Way. But get some sleep. There’s
more road ahead.
Vicki Varela
Managing Director, Utah Office of Tourism, Film and Global Branding
2
Bear Lake
GARDEN CITY
15
84
1
LOGAN
30
16
BRIGHAM CITY
3
15
5
OGDEN
Great
Salt Lake
80
84
4
Flaming
Gorge
MANILA
ANTELOPE ISLAND
STATE PARK
SALT LAKE CITY
80
WENDOVER
150
11
191
PARK CITY
6
196
DINOSAUR
NTL. MONUMENT
VERNAL
7
TOOELE
8
35
40
PROVO
Utah
Lake
9
DUCHESNE
40
TIMPANOGOS CAVE
NTL. MONUMENT
12
191
6
'
,, '
'
, .. ... - ,. r
- ...- ....
89
96
Ri v
er
10
6
Gr e
en
PRICE
31
15
6
89
28
191
MANTI
CASTLE DALE
50
6
100
GREEN RIVER
10
FILLMORE
257
70
70
RICHFIELD
ARCHES
NATIONAL PARK
24
24
13
16
GOBLIN VALLEY
STATE PARK
25
MOAB
313
15
89
15
LOA
62
BEAVER
CAPITOL REEF
NATIONAL PARK
17
14
24
HANKSVILLE
CANYONLANDS
NATIONAL PARK
TORREY
95
18
23
89
24
191
211
Co
lo
ra
do
130
12
ve
r
20
Ri
21
BOULDER
PAROWAN
CEDAR CITY
21
15
27
95
276
22
ZION
NATIONAL PARK
59
89
NATURAL BRIDGES
NTL. MONUMENT
BLANDING
95
BRYCE CANYON
NATIONAL PARK
9
ST. GEORGE
12
19
26
SNOW CANYON
STATE PARK
ESCALANTE
143
20
MONTICELLO
PANGUITCH
HOVENWEEP
NTL. MONUMENT
25
276
GRAND STAIRCASE–ESCALANTE
NATIONAL MONUMENT
261
BLUFF
163
491
SPRINGDALE
KANAB
MEXICAN HAT
89
Lake Powell
MONUMENT
VALLEY
191
FOUR CORNERS
MONUMENT
160
~ National Forest
~ National Park/Monument
•
City
Paved Road
Unpaved Road
=
Interstate
--------
1. Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway
2. Bear Lake Scenic Byway
3. Ogden River Scenic Byway
4. Great Salt Lake Legacy Parkway
5. Mirror Lake Scenic Byway
6. Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway
7. Little Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway
8. Provo Canyon Scenic Byway
9. Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway
10. Energy Loop: Huntington & Eccles Canyon Ntl. Scenic Byway
11. Flaming Gorge–Uintas National Scenic Byway
12. Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway–Ntl. Scenic Byway
13. Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway
14. Potash–Lower Colorado River Scenic Byway
---
-----
15. Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway
16. Fish Lake Scenic Byway
17. Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway
18. Scenic Byway 12 All-American Road
19. Utah’s Patchwork Parkway National Scenic Byway
20. Cedar Breaks Scenic Byway
21. Markagunt High Plateau Scenic Byway
22. Mount Carmel Scenic Byway
23. Bicentennial Highway
24. Indian Creek Scenic Byway
25. Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway
26. Kolob Fingers Road Scenic Byway
27. Zion Park Scenic Byway
GUIDE CONTENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
DINOSAUR DIAMOND PREHISTORIC
HIGHWAY NATIONAL SCENIC BY WAY
PAGE 08
ALL-AMERICAN ROAD:
SCENIC BYWAY 12
PAGE 04
Thor’s Hammer, Bryce Canyon National Park | Larry Price
Look for the
Geocaching logo
throughout this
guide to see how
many caches are
placed on or near
each byway
Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum, Vernal | Mark Osler
FLAMING GORGE – UINTAS
NATIONAL SCENIC BY WAY
PAGE 12
Flaming Gorge | Dan Ransom
~I
Explore more road
trips and itineraries at
visitutah.com/itineraries
.__ ________
02
visitutah.com/scenicbyways
__J
The Hogsback, All-American Highway: Scenic Byway 12 | Michael Kunde
NORTH TO SOUTH
LOGAN CANYON TO OGDEN RIVER SCENIC BY WAY LOOP
16
GREAT SALT LAKE LEGACY PARKWAY SCENIC BY WAY
20
MIRROR LAKE SCENIC BY WAY
21
BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON SCENIC BY WAY
22
LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON SCENIC BY WAY
23
PROVO RIVER SCENIC BY WAY
24
NEBO LOOP