Self-Guided Options for Educational Groups
Self-Guided Educational Visit
Educational groups wanting to visit and learn about the park without the services of a naturalist. Group size is limited to 50 participants (students, teachers, and chaperones included in this total).
These visits are free with submission of a lesson plan and the Self Guided Educational Visit Request form (below).
Qualifying lesson plans should include a topic, objectives, information about your chosen topic, and a conservation message.
Recreational Visit For Educational Groups
Educational groups wanting a non-educational visit to the park. This is popular among sports teams, bands, clubs, and others wanting to recreate in Snow Canyon.
Groups can request a reduced fee waiver of $2 per person by completing the Recreational Visits for Educational Groups form (below) and scheduling their visit.
Unscheduled groups may be turned away or charged the $4 per person commercial rate.
Details for Self-Guided or Recreational Visits
During our visit, we would like to… where can we go?
When completing the request form, you will need to list all areas of the park you will be visiting. Check out our park brochure for all of our hiking trails and picnic areas.
Hike
Snow Canyon has 35 miles of hiking trails ranging from accessible paved paths to difficult steep climbs. Hiking is permitted on designated, mapped trails only. Below are some popular trails for educational and recreational visits:
- ADA: Tortoise Walk
- Easy: Whiptail, West Canyon
- Moderate: Hidden Pinyon, Petrified Dunes, Butterfly, Lava Flow, Chuckwalla
- Difficult: Cinder Cone
Sit for a lecture or picnic
There are multiple picnic areas in the park that are perfect for a seated lecture. These locations have bathrooms, water fill stations, and parking.
| Picnic Areas with Descriptions (table 1) | |
|---|---|
| Sand Dunes Picnic: Sandy area; Minimal shade from tree; Direct access to Sand Dunes trail | |
| Campground Picnic: Grass area, paved walkways, crushed chat gravel; Minimal shade from trees; Fire Rings & grills; ADA Accessible | |
| Lower Galoot Picnic: Concrete pad and crushed chat gravel; No shade; ADA Accessible; Can be reserved for exclusive use | |
| Upper Galoot Picnic: Crushed chat gravel; Minimal shade from trees; ADA Accessible; Direct access to Tortoise Walk trail | |
| Chuckwalla: Shaded pavilion on concrete pad; ADA Accessible; NO water fill station | |
When can I book a Self-Guided Educational Visit or Recreational Visit?
Visits are available 7 days a week and must be scheduled a minimum of two weeks in advance with a maximum of 3 months in advance. Visits occurring from April-May and Oct.-Nov. should be scheduled at least one month in advance since these dates fill up the quickest. Please be prepared to provide three preferred dates when filling out the request form.
| Guided Small Group Booking Schedule 2026/27 (table 2) | |
|---|---|
| Visit Date | Booking Requests Open |
| August 21 – October 31 | August 8 |
| Until November 30 | September 1 |
| Until December 31 | October 1 |
| January 21 – March 31 | January 8 |
| Until April 30 | February 1 |
| Until May 31 | March 1 |
ADA Accommodations
Visits to Snow Canyon are for everybody! There are multiple locations throughout the park that are ADA compliant. You can also email crwinchester@utah.gov with questions.
Sounds Great! How do I book?
Before requesting to book, please ensure that you have read all the information on this page and the Educator homepage.
- To book, please use the link below to complete the appropriate request form for your group size and needs. PLEASE ensure that you are requesting a visit date within the open booking period (table 2).
- Self-Guided Educational Visit link will be available August 15, 2026.
- Recreational Visit link will be available August 15, 2026.
- Within two weeks of your request, the naturalist(s) will review and schedule your visit date. If none of your preferred dates are available, you will be emailed a scheduler to book another date that works for your group.
- Once your date is booked, you will receive an email confirmation via Google Calendar. You will also receive an email with your fee waiver/printable park passes to show at the entrance booth the day of your visit.
- Between the time you book and your scheduled trip date, you are more than welcome to email the naturalist with any questions or updates.
- Before arriving at the park for your visit, please ensure that you have printed your vehicle passes and have a copy of your fee waiver accessible (digital or printed). Cell service is spotty in and around the park. You will need to present a copy of your waiver to the gate attendant, and have your vehicle passes displayed during the duration of your visit.