A Look Back – Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon State Park — A local favorite and a must-see to visitors, Snow Canyon gives recreators a variety of stunning scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Contrary to what its name suggests, there is not much snow to be found in Snow Canyon, even in the deep winter months. Located in Southern Utah, just minutes north of St. George, this park gets its name from two Latter-Day Saint pioneers who assisted in settling the area in the 1860s.

Site-seeing is one of the more popular activities at this state park, and Utah enthusiasts may see similarities in beautiful rock structures to Kodachrome Basin State Park. The red-rock cliffs and mountains in Snow Canyon light a flame of adventure, and its trails call out to those willing to take-up the challenge.

The area’s beauty has even been captured on the big screen. Films shot in Snow Canyon include The King and Four Queens, along with the timeless 1969 classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In the top photo, you can see actor Paul Newman taking a backward plunge into water collected in the park’s petrified sand dunes.

Snow Canyon State Park

Speaking of sand dunes, Snow Canyons geological formations are some of the park’s main draws. Whether you’re wanting to hike to the top of the petrified sand dunes trial, or exploring the lava tubes, you are sure to have an adventure you’ll remember forever.

Transported by the wind more than 183 million years ago, tiny grains of quartzite sand covered much of what we now call Utah. These sand dunes, up to 2,500 feet thick, eventually were cemented into stone. Burnt orange to creamy white in color, Navajo sandstone, the predominant rock in the park, is what remains of the ancient desert sand sea.

Snow Canyon has plenty of modern facilities and amenities to keep visitors comfortable and happy. Book your campsite now!

Learn More About Snow Canyon!