Kova’s Snow Canyon
Guide
Want to book a ride into Snow Canyon but are uncertain about what to do once you get there? Our Snow Canyon Guide is your perfect tool, designed to help you plan a laid-back and enjoyable adventure in St. George’s best attraction.
We’ve handpicked casual and leisurely spots throughout the part, so you can plan out the experience you want without the need for specialized equipment or expertise. Go play around on the Snow Canyon Sand Dunes or take your kids to learn about the area on the Tortoise Walk, or stop and take in the views at the Snow Canyon Overlook. Whatever you choose, you’ll do it at your leisure, according to your own plan!
Take in the sights, enjoy the ride. We’ll see you on the trails.
Welcome – Using The Snow Canyon Guide
This guide is designed to provide essential information for a fulfilling experience in Snow Canyon State Park. Though we at Kova have put it together, and travel through the park by electric bicycle is assumed, we hope it can serve all visitors to the area, whether you’re renting an ebike from us or exploring the park by other means.
Snow Canyon offers a range of activities, from high adventure to more relaxed experiences. This guide specifically highlights some of the more leisurely and approachable options, ideal for those new to ebikes or seeking a more laid-back visit. Inside, you’ll find maps, tips, and our selection of points of interest within and around the park and loop.
This guide is designed to help casual visitors in exploring Snow Canyon and is not intended to detail technical specifics for each point of interest—which are readily available elsewhere. This guide should be used to help curate a more relaxed, low-adventure experience. If you have questions about conditions or needs of your adventure, we recommend making the following assumptions:
- Plan on low shade with lots of exposure to the sun
- Wear sturdy shoes
- Bring water
- Bring extra water
We at Kova love Snow Canyon, and our goal with this guide is to help visitors familiarize themselves with the park so they can have the experience they’re looking for.
The Snow Canyon Loop
Snow Canyon State Park is a unique natural area located next to St George. It’s a unique attraction, notable for its geological formations of red sandstone cliffs, ancient lava flows, and petrified sand dunes. The park is a popular destination for those looking to immerse themselves in the Southern Utah outdoor experience.
The Snow Canyon Loop, the main route highlighted in this guide, offers a thorough tour of the park’s landscapes, all from the comfort of a paved trail. This makes it an ideal route for ebike riders or anyone looking for a smooth, accessible path through the park. The entire route is paved, so rides are comfortable and riders will not need any off-road equipment.
Starting near the north entrance of the park, the loop begins with a scenic stretch that passes the Snow Canyon Overlook. Starting with the actual park gate, the path merges with the road, and riders will continue for a short distance on the main park road until the Upper Galoot Rest Area, where the Whiptail Trail splits off from the road. From here, the rest of the route is its own path separate from streets. This trail threads through the park and then loops back, tracing the east rim of the canyon.
While the ride down into the canyon is a relaxed, downhill rid, the route along the east rim involves a longer, gradual uphill climb. This is where electronic bike assistance is handy, making the incline more manageable and enjoyable.
Safety & Etiquette – Riding and General Park Access
Riding Safety
- Stay on the right side: Always ride on the right side of the path, allowing others to pass on the left. This helps maintain a smooth flow and prevent collisions.
- Use hand signals and bicycle bells: Communicate your intentions clearly to others on the trail by using hand signals when turning or stopping. A ball can be a safe and courteous way to alert pedestrians or other riders when you’re approaching.
- Reduce speed on curves: Slow down on curves, especially where your visibility of upcoming trail traffic is limited. It’s always better to approach blind spots with caution.
- Control your braking: Use your brakes in a controlled manner. Squeeze them gently instead of pulling tight to avoid sudden stops that could lead to skidding or collisions.
Parking
- Bring a bike lock: Always secure your bike at trailheads or, when unattended, with a lock. Some of the trailheads have bike parking racks that can be locked to, but if not, you can always lock bikes together to make their theft more difficult and cumbersome.
- Do not obstruct paths: Make sure your parked bike does not block the path or any access to the path.
- Mindful of surroundings: When parking, avoid areas where your could damage vegetation or natural features of the park.
Leave No Trace
- Pack out trash: Carry out all trash and belongings. If you brought it in, make sure you take it out.
- Stay on trails: Minimize your impact on the environment by sticking to established trails.
The Leave it Better Challenge
Join us in our commitment to the park and all natural spaces by taking part in this simple challenge: Each time you visit, aim to pack out at least one piece of litter that you didn’t bring in. This could be anything you find along the way, from a discarded water bottle to a stray piece of wrapping.
Sightseeing Spots along the Snow Canyon Loop
The Snow Canyon Overlook
Just a quick turn off the paved path on your way to the north entrance of the park, the Snow Canyon Overlook is a great way to start your adventure. The overlook is a viewing area known for its wide, clear view of the canyon from a remarkable vantage point on the east rim. It’s a great spot for photos or enjoying the landscape without a long hike.
The Tortoise Walk
The Tortoise Walk in Snow Canyon State Park is a family-friendly, educational trail that’s especially appealing for kids. Running just 0.3 miles round trip, it’s an easy, short, and flat walk—perfect for young explorers. The trail features informative panels detailing the lives of desert tortoises and wildlife, adding the educational element to a small nature walk. At the end of the walk is a large sculpture of a desert tortoise, great for climbing and photos!
The Petrified Dunes
The Petrified Dunes at Snow Canyon State Park are a prominent formation of Navajo Sandstone, presenting a unique snapshot in time. This area, notable for its contrasting red and orange hues against the park’s northern white rocks, is a popular spot for sightseeing and photography. This spot offers another open, exploratory experience with the option for non-technical scrambling.
Hiking in Snow Canyon
Hidden Pinyon
The Hidden Pinyon Trail, located just off the main road and Whiptail paved path toward the bottom end of Snow Canyon, offers an easy-to-moderate hiking experience spanning about 1.5 miles. Aside from a couple brief sandy sections of trail and a minor downclimb, this trail is straightforward, offering mild shade at certain points of the day, and an array of nineteen educational stops labeled by the park for use with an educational brochure they have available in trailside kiosks in the park.
This trail diverges from the red Sands trail and loops back around to form a there-and-back style experience. This is one of our favorite trails and certainly a go-to choice with kids.
Johnson Arch
The trail to Johnson Arch is an easy, family-friendly there-and-back-style hike of about two miles. While the trail itself is mostly flat, the surrounding terrains offer views of interest as the trail runs through rough lava flow fields into a dry stream bed and then leads around a cliff into Johnson’s Canyon and the 200-foot arch within. The back half of the hike offers shade throughout the day, and the end of the canyon offers a cool area to rest.
On days soon after decent rains, the end of the canyon features a 200-foot waterfall that pools up before running alongside parts of the trail.
Lava Flow
The Lava Flow trail is a 2.5-mile hike of moderate difficulty. Located somewhat centrally within the park, this trail offers an adventure through lava fields and past multiple lava tubes that can be explored by visitors. Along the way, informative signs provide insights into the area’s unique geological features and wildlife.
The hike concludes with a rewarding view from the overlook, making it a fun and educational experience.
The tubes can be dark, so bring light if you plan on exploring!
Other Adventures near Snow Canyon
Cougar Cliffs
Cougar Cliffs, located along the East rim and just off the loop, is a climbing hotspot with a variety of routes suitable for different skill levels. Known for its solid rock and technical climbs, it’s a favored destination for local climbers.
While primarily known for climbing, Cougar Cliffs also offers opportunities for rappelling. Adventurers can rappel down and hike to connect with the Arch Canyon trail, which includes more rappelling opportunities that culminate in a 200-ft drop into Johnson Arch, though this is not a down-and-back route.
Chuckwalla
The Chuckwalla trail is a popular multi-use area just off the Snow Canyon loop. Visitors here can engage with a variety of adventures:
- Multiple climbing sites with routes for all skill levels.
- Scenic hiking paths that join a network of other trails.
- Paths suited for trail running, offering both challenge and natural beauty.
Please note that for bicycles, Chuckwalla offers more intense single-track riding. This use is not recommended for casual or inexperienced riders.
Snow Canyon Sand Dunes
Snow Canyon’s Sand Dunes are a unique natural feature, a landscape of shifting sands and a playground for recreation. A fun oddity within the surrounding red rock cliffs, the dunes are a favorite spot for photography, play, walks, and general exploration.