Ancient Lava Tubes and 180-Million-Year-Old Sand Dunes Shape This Magnificent Utah State Park

Snow Canyon State Park

While Zion National Park gets all the attention, its neighbor Snow Canyon State Park is just as amazing.

Just a 15-minute drive northwest of St. George, Utah, this 7,400-acre park shows off rust-colored cliffs, pitch-black lava flows from the Pleistocene era, and beautiful desert wilderness that rivals any national park.

The Story Behind Snow Canyon

This park gets its name from two Mormon pioneers, Lorenzo and Erastus Snow, who helped build settlements in Utah’s Dixie region in the 1850s.

Over 183 million years, wind and volcanic activity from the nearby Santa Clara Volcano shaped the park’s striking landscape.

Ancient sand dunes hardened into the red and white Navajo sandstone you see today, while lava flows created the black basalt rocks 1.4 million years ago.

Native American tribes, especially the Southern Paiute, lived here for thousands of years and left behind more than 27 rock art sites that you can still see.

Petrified Dunes

Want to walk on what used to be giant sand dunes from the Jurassic Period? This 1.5-mile trail lets you do just that.

As you climb 200 feet up these wave-like rocks, you’ll get amazing views of West Canyon’s vermillion cliffs and the snow-topped Pine Valley Mountains.

Come at sunrise for the best photos, when sunlight creates cool shadows on the rippled rocks. Wear shoes with good grip, the slickrock gets really tricky on the steep parts near the western overlook.

Names of Pioneers Carved into Rocks

Step back in time to see more than 35 pioneer names carved in rock between 1862 and 1883. This short half-mile walk takes you to a sheltered alcove where signatures like ‘J.T. Whitehead 1863’ and ‘Isaac Behunin 1868’ are still perfectly clear in the sandstone.

Park rangers lead walks every Saturday morning from March through November, sharing stories about the Mormon pioneers’ difficult journeys through this rugged area.

Ancient Lava Tubes

Three amazing underground tunnels let you explore Snow Canyon’s volcanic past. The biggest one, West Canyon Lava Tube, goes 30 feet underground and has smooth walls polished by molten rock 27,000 years ago.

The temperature stays at a pleasant 65 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. Bring a powerful flashlight to see interesting flow patterns on the walls and look for bat roosting spots near the ceiling.

White Rocks Amphitheater

The white Navajo sandstone walls here offer 171 routes ranging from 30 to 100 feet high.

There’s something for everyone, from the beginner-friendly ‘Snow White’ (rated 5.6) to the super challenging ‘Desert Shield’ (rated 5.12a).

Local guides like Snow Canyon Climbing School can teach you and provide gear. Thanks to the special rock type, you can climb here even when it’s 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Johnson Canyon Arch

This not-so-hidden treasure requires a special permit – only 20 people can visit each day. A 2-mile round-trip hike leads to a massive natural arch that spans 200 feet across and rises 100 feet high.

The park limits visitors to protect the delicate cryptobiotic soil and archaeological sites along the way.

Jenny’s Canyon

This narrow canyon packs lots of wonder into its short 0.3-mile length. The twisted sandstone walls squeeze down to just 2 feet wide while soaring 80 feet high, showing off 190 million years of rock layers.

Remember, the canyon closes from March 15 to June 1 when peregrine falcons are nesting.

Paradise Rim

Mountain bikers will love this 4-mile loop that mixes challenging slickrock sections with smooth single track through pristine desert. As you climb 500 feet up, you’ll see amazing views from the Virgin River Gorge to the Pine Valley Mountains.

Look for preserved Eubrontes dinosaur tracks near mile marker 2, these three-toed footprints left by meat-eating dinosaurs 195 million years ago.

Hidden Pinyon

This easy one-mile loop has 15 educational stations teaching you about the park’s unique ecosystem. It’s perfect for spotting desert bighorn sheep, golden eagles, and endangered Utah prairie dogs, especially early in the morning.

The trail winds through one of the northernmost Joshua tree forests in existence. In late March, the ground comes alive with desert paintbrush, globe mallow, and Mojave prickly poppies.

Camp Under Dark Skies

Thanks to its International Dark Sky Park status, you can see stars up to magnitude 7 brightness here. The 27 camping spots use special red-light compliant fixtures to keep the night sky dark.

Rangers host monthly astronomy programs from April through October where you can use powerful telescopes to see deep-sky objects.

Wandering Through Three Ponds

This unique 3.5-mile round-trip trail leads to natural potholes in the rock that can each hold 500 gallons of rainwater.

While often dry in summer, these ponds become lively oases during monsoon season from July through September. Look for the mysterious black desert varnish on the red rocks. This manganese-rich coating took over 10,000 years to form.