Snow Canyon State Park

Educators

BOOKINGS CLOSED: Field trips for Fall 2025 semester will open in August.

Pardon our dust! We are updating our field trip request system. More information about field trips and how to book will be available soon.


Hey there Educators! Thank you for your interest in a field trip to Snow Canyon State Park! A Park Naturalist is available year-round to assist in planning your visit. Our goal is to provide real-world learning experiences that build scientific literacy and inspire appreciation for public lands through guided hikes and interactive activities.

We offer several types of visits. Some are free for qualifying educational groups, while others require a fee. Educational visits are free of charge if these visits are:

  • Affiliated with an educational institution (K–12 school, homeschool co-op, college course, educational club)
  • Actively engaged in on-site learning during their visit
  • Clearly educational in purpose with learning objectives

Examples:

  • A homeschool group studying desert habitats
  • A university geology class
  • A middle school science club

Visitation Policy

1)  All groups are required to schedule their visit, regardless of the nature of the visit and whether or not the services of the Naturalist(s) will be utilized. Unscheduled groups arriving without a reservation may be turned away or charged the $4 per person commercial group rate.

2)  All reservations must be scheduled a minimum of two weeks in advance. Visits occurring from April through May should be scheduled at least one month in advance. 

3) Preferred visitation dates are not guaranteed. Please be prepared to provide three preferred dates when requesting a visit. 

4) There are no indoor facilities. Your group will be outside in the elements for the entirety of your visit. Temperatures can rise quickly between 11am and 5pm. Please take the season and weather into consideration when planning your field trip. 

Please review our Park Rules before requesting an educational visit.


Types of Visits for Educators in Snow Canyon State Park

School Field Trip

Naturalist guided large group field trips for county, charter, and private schools. This includes an outdoor seated lesson based on Utah SEEd Standards, hike, and lunch free time (optional, lunch not provided).

  • Cost: Free
  • Group Size: Up to 70
  • Availability: Tuesday – Thursday
  • Please read Planning a School Field Trip before submitting a field trip request!
  • Link to School Field Trip Request Form: Come back in August for the link!

Small Group Educational Visit

Naturalist guided small group field trip for other educational groups like homeschools, colleges and universities, school clubs, etc. This includes a customizable lesson and a hike.

  • Cost: Free
  • Group Size: 10-30
  • Availability: Wednesday – Sunday
  • Please read Planning a Small Group Educational Visit before submitting a visit request!
  • Link to Small Group Educational Visit Request Form: Come back in August for the link!

Self-Guided Educational Visit

Groups wanting to visit and learn about the park without a naturalist. Must submit a lesson plan and the “Fee Waiver for Resource Education Visits” form.

  • Cost: Free
  • Group Size: Up to 50
  • Availability: Sunday – Saturday

Recreational Visits For Educational Groups

School groups wanting a non-educational visit to the park. Reduced fee waiver with submission of “Recreational Visit Request” form.

  • Cost: $2 per person
  • Group Size: Up to 100
  • Availability: Sunday – Saturday

If you have questions about which type of field trip would be best for your group, please email the Park Naturalist at crwinchester@utah.gov. 

FAQ

Is this an indoor or outdoor field trip?

There is NO indoor venue in Snow Canyon. You and your students will be out in the elements for the entirety of the trip. When booking, please take the season and average weather into consideration. For guided visits, inclement weather protocols are provided by the naturalist(s). 

Can students with ADA accommodations participate in field trips?

Yes! Field trips to Snow Canyon are for everybody! For guided visits, the naturalist(s) will do their best to provide accommodations. This can include physical (wheelchairs, crutches, low vision/blind, hard of hearing/deaf, etc.) or cognitive (personal aids, IEPs, etc.) accommodations. Please email the Park Naturalist with any questions, concerns, or special requests. 

What happens if we are late for our field trip with a naturalist?

Please arrive on time to get the most from your visit. Please consider traffic, parking, loading, and unloading time to book an appropriate arrival time. If your group arrives late, the experience may be impacted.

  • 15 minutes late, the group will have a shortened lunch. 
  • 30 minutes late, the naturalist(s) will do a shortened program or hike, and the group will have a shortened lunch. 
  • More than 30 minutes late, the naturalist(s) will have a short talk and coordinate staggered hiking groups, and the group will have a shortened lunch. 

Can anyone book an Educational Visit?

No. Educational visits are reserved for educational groups engaging in structured learning during their visit. Your visit must have a clear educational purpose. You may be asked to submit a lesson plan or describe how the visit supports your curriculum.

Visits for recreation or general social purposes do not qualify as educational field trips and do not quality for free park entry. If you are associated with an educational group wanting to recreate with that group in the park, please see Recreational Visits above.

Do you offer tours for non-educational groups?

Yes! We offer paid private Naturalist guided tours for families, organizations, and general-interest groups not affiliated with a school or educational program, tailored to your requests. Please inquire via email.

Additional Resources for Educators 

Not able to make it to the park? We have online resources available for educators to use in their classroom. Check them out on our Learn tab! More classroom specific material is coming soon.