is a State Park in
Washington County , southwestern
Utah ,
United States . Within the state park boundaries lies a canyon carved from the red and white
Navajo Sandstone the Red Mountains near
Ivins, Utah . Other geological features of the state park include extinct
Cinder Cones ,
Lava Tubes ,
Lava Flows , and
Sand Dunes .
Snow Canyon is named after early
Mormon settlers,
Lorenzo and
Erastus Snow . It was designated as a Utah State Park in 1959.
Two canyons, West Canyon and Snow Canyon, begin side-by-side at the north gouging deeply into the
Sandstone of the Red Mountains, each canyon then running southward, slowly converging then finally meeting in the middle of the park. From there Snow Canyon continues south-by-southeastward as a single, larger canyon. Near the park's southern entrance, the canyon ends, its mouth opening out onto the
Santa Clara bench near
Ivins, Utah .
Immediately west of the park's southern entrance, in Padre Canyon, a smaller canyon paralleling Snow Canyon, is the
Tuacahn Amphitheater, home of the
Tuacahn Summer Festival Of Theater .
A paved two-lane road enters the park from Ivins on the south, winds up the canyon a ways, then climbs up the eastern edge to the bench above Snow Canyon, where the road joins
Utah State Route 18 . Ancient lava flows spill over the eastern edges of Snow Canyon from above, where the road climbs out of the canyon.
The park boundaries extend northeastward, across
Utah State Route 18 , to encompass two cinder cones along the western edge of Diamond Valley.
The highest point in the park, according to a
U.S. Geological Survey topgraphical map, is a peak 1531 meters in elevation (5024 feet) nearly due west of the southern cinder cone, standing above the eastern edge of the east fork of Snow Canyon.
Wildlife in Snow Canyon includes the gila monster,
Desert Tortoise ,
Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion ,
Mojave Sidewinder ,
Red-spotted Toad ,
Utah Banded Gecko , and the
Side-blotched Lizard , among many others.
- 6 miles. Easy. Level with some slopes. Accessible to physically challenged. Tucked along the canyon bottom, this sinuous paved trail is suitable for hiking, jogging, biking and rollerblading.
- (Open November 15 to March 1 only) - 2 miles. Easy. Level with some rocky slopes and steps. Boasting the only riparian area in the park, this trail winds through lava flows and red rock to an arch spanning 200 feet.
- (Closed March 31 to June 1) -One-half mile. Easy, bevel with few slopes and steps. Trail leads to a narrow, sculpted canyon.
- One-half mile. Easy. Deep sand with some slopes. Trail leads to a large expanse of red sand that is an excellent play area for children of all ages.
- 7 miles. Easy. Gravel and sand surface. Fairly level. Trail follows a maintenance road winding past washes ' and towering cliffs to the mouth of presentday Snow Canyon.
- One-half mile. Easy: Fairly level with some steps and slopes. This crescent shaped trail passes pioneer names; written in axle grease, dating back to 1883.
- 1.5 miles. Moderate. Rocky slopes. Drop-offs. This self-'guided nature trail introduces geological features and native plants of the park.
- 3.5 miles. Moderate. Some rocky slopes. Deep sand. Trail winds through sandy washes to mouth of a 400-foot canyon. Potholes eroded in sandstone catch seasonal rain, giving the trail its name.
- 1 mile. Moderate. Some steep slopes, uneven surfaces. This trail crosses massive sandstone outcrops where you may explore sand dunes frozen in time. Butterfly Trail - 2 miles.. Moderate. Some steep slopes, steps and uneven surfaces. Winding along the west. side of Petrified Dunes, this trail leads to West Canyon Overlook and lava tubes.
- 4 miles. Moderate. Some rocky slopes, uneven surfaces. Passing through lava flows, juniper stands and breathtaking views of West Canyon, trail leads to a natural amphitheater set in white sandstone. Or reach the amphitheater on a 1-mile trail located one-half mile north of State Route 18 junction.
