Utah's Color Country

Utah's Color Country Snow Canyon State Park

One of the best examples of southwest Utah's beauty is concentrated in a small scenic area called Snow Canyon State Park. Unique geologic features like volcanic cones, sand dunes, deep red sandstone cliffs, and twisted layers of rocks are strewn throughout the area. If the scenery looks familiar it may be because you've seen it on the silver screen. Movies like The Electric Horseman, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid have been filmed in the area.

Years ago, cowboys searching for lost cattle stumbled across the area. The canyon was named after early Mormon settlers Lorenzo and Erastus Snow.

Snow Canyon State Park is located nine miles north of St. George along Highway 18. You can drive or bicycle along the three-mile road through the park, passing cacti and other desert vegetation. But to learn more about the area, hike to the lava caves which were formed centuries ago by flowing lava. Take a horseback ride, explore the colorful sand dunes, or capture on film the kaleidoscope of scenery from sunrise to sunset.

The park is open year round. The campground has modern rest rooms, hot showers and electric hookups. The area is hot and dry in the summer. October through May are the best times for hiking, horseback riding and camping. By the way, Snow Canyon rarely receives snow.

Stop at the new Heritage Arts Center at Tuacahn, located just south of the state park. Take in UTAH! America's most spectacular outdoor musical drama - an epic saga of Utah's early pioneers, explorers and settlers.

Accommodations are available in nearby St. George.

Snow Canyon State Park
PO Box 140
Santa Clara, UT 84765-0140
801-628-2255