Vandalism at Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon State Park Vandalism

SNOW CANYON STATE PARK – On a recent weekday, a volunteer Trail Steward with the Friends of Snow Canyon stopped by park headquarters with disturbing information:  Vandalism, in the form of spray paint, in the White Rocks area of the canyon. 

“Visitation to the park has steadily increased every year for the past 10 years” Snow Canyon State Park Manager Kristen Comella said.  “Unfortunately, so has the rate and type of vandalism. What at first appeared to be a small area, has turned out to be an extensive section of white Navajo sandstone.” 

It is unclear when the damage occurred, however, the vandalized area spans more than 10-meters.  Spray paint is one of the most difficult types of vandalism to remove from rock surfaces. 

Snow Canyon State Park Vandalism

Power tools are often required to sand or grind the paint off; this alters the natural rock features meaning that the area is never quite the same.  As well, it takes money and a lot of time to remove the damage.

“I’m not sure what is more shocking,” Comella said. “The fact that these vandals showed a total disregard for the natural beauty of the canyon or the fact that they hiked several miles armed with spray paint, in what was a very deliberate act.

The first of what will be multiple cleanup efforts is planned for late November.  “Given the rugged terrain and safety concerns,” Comella said, “we are still formulating our plan of attack.” 

Snow Canyon State Park Vandalism

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the park via phone (435-628-2255) or e-mail (snowcanyon@utah.gov).

“Snow Canyon is a special place, like so many of the natural areas we are blessed with in southern Utah.  We encourage all park visitors to travel lightly and leave things as they find them,” Comella said. “It would be a shame if visitors 50-years from now experienced a canyon full of spray paint, names carved in rock, glow sticks, and garbage.  We can do better than this and should.”

Snow Canyon State Park Vandalism