Snow Canyon State Park is about 267 miles and four and a half hours from downtown Provo, by an OpenStreetMap routing estimate (OSRM, no traffic), almost all of it I-15 south. Utah State Parks lists it open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, all year. The reason to go between now and mid-March is one trail: Johnson Canyon is closed from March 15 to September 14 to protect wildlife during feeding and breeding seasons, except for ranger-guided hikes. From mid-September through mid-March, you can walk it on your own.
The other reason is the opposite of the name. Utah State Parks warns that summer days here run from the low 100s to 117 degrees, and asks summer visitors to avoid hiking between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. In the cool months, the whole day is usable.
Our Zion and St. George guide is the general trip. This page is the winter version, built around Snow Canyon.
What you pay
St. George News reported that entrance fees rose on July 1, 2025, the first increase in seven years:
| Vehicle | Fee |
|---|---|
| Utah resident | $15 |
| Non-resident | $20 |
| Senior vehicle rate | $10 |
The same report said the park built a new entrance station about 1,500 feet south of the old one, near the Santa Clara Pump House, staffed year-round with hours that vary by season. A Utah State Parks annual pass covers the entrance; a federal America the Beautiful pass does not, because this is a state park.
The winter hikes
Snow Canyon is 7,400 acres of red and white Navajo sandstone and black lava flows, with more than 38 miles of hiking trails, a three-mile paved walking and biking trail (Whiptail) and over 15 miles of equestrian trails, according to Utah State Parks. Elevations run 3,100 to 4,100 feet.
AllTrails figures for the short classics:
| Trail | Distance | Climb |
|---|---|---|
| Jenny's Canyon | 0.3 mi out and back | Minimal |
| Petrified Dunes | 1.2 mi out and back | About 210 ft |
| Lava Tube and Butterfly loop | 1.7 mi loop | About 240 ft |
| Johnson Canyon | 1.8 mi out and back | About 110 ft |
Johnson Canyon is the winter-only hike, easy and flat enough for most families. Bikes are not allowed on it.
The lava tubes are caves left by flowing lava. AllTrails lists a longer route, Lava Tubes via Lava Flow Trail, at 2.6 miles out and back. Bring a headlamp for each person.
The Petrified Dunes are sandstone dunes turned to rock, and you can walk on them. They are steeper than they look in places; good shoes help.
Jenny's Canyon is a very short slot at the south end of the park. AllTrails rates it easy, at under half a mile round trip.
Longer days: AllTrails' 3-mile Butterfly, Lava Flow Overlook, West Canyon and Petrified Dunes loop links several of these. For petroglyphs, Utah State Parks says park sites are along the Gila Trail (8 miles round trip) and recommends BLM land instead; ask at the Interagency Office, 345 East Riverside Drive in St. George (435-688-3200).
Sunrise and sunset: the park's suggestion is the Snow Canyon Scenic Overlook off SR-18, one mile south of the park's north exit on the west side of the highway. The park is also a designated Urban Night Sky Place.
Winter wildlife, and the tortoise rule
Snow Canyon sits inside the 62,000-acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, set aside for the federally listed Mojave desert tortoise. Utah State Parks says spring and fall are the best seasons to see tortoises; in winter and summer they stay in burrows. The reserve has a trail law: people and pets stay on designated, mapped trails at all times.
If you see a tortoise in the road, the park's instructions: stop safely, approach slowly, pick it up with both hands level to the ground, carry it across the road in the direction it was heading, set it at least 50 feet from the road, and report it to park staff. It is illegal to harass or collect tortoises.
Rattlesnakes: the park has 11 snake species, two of them venomous (the Great Basin rattlesnake and the Mojave sidewinder). The park says encounters are rare and snakes usually try to flee unless threatened.
Dogs are allowed on all trails and in the campground, on a leash.
Camping
The 38-unit campground is open year-round. Reserve 48 hours to four months ahead online or at 1-800-322-3770; inside 48 hours, it is walk-up only. There is no backcountry camping in the park. The visitor center and bookstore are inside the campground, two miles in from either entrance.
Winter weekends near holidays fill. If you are planning around Thanksgiving, Christmas break or Presidents Day, book at the four-month mark.
Dates to know this season
- Saturday, November 14, 2026: Snow Canyon Drive closes 8 a.m. to noon for the Snow Canyon Half Marathon and 10K, and the paved Whiptail Trail closes too (Utah State Parks). Plan an afternoon visit or use that morning for St. George.
- Through March 14, 2027: Johnson Canyon open without a ranger.
The rest of the St. George weekend
- St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm, 2180 E Riverside Dr. Real dinosaur tracks indoors, which makes it a good stop for a cold or windy morning. Google lists 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; check prices on its site. For the bigger dinosaur picture, see our Jurassic National Monument and Mill Canyon guide.
- Red Hills Desert Garden, 375 E Red Hills Pkwy. A city desert garden with a stream and paved paths, free according to visitor accounts, open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. per Google.
- Zion in winter. Our Zion page explains that outside shuttle season you can drive the canyon yourself, and that the holiday week from December 26 to January 2 runs buses again. Kolob Canyons, off I-15 on the way down, is the quick version.
The drive, in winter
St. George is warm. The road there is not always. Our Zion page notes that I-15 crosses high stretches south of Scipio and near Beaver that get real snow and wind, and that a January trip should be planned around the forecast. Check UDOT before you leave, and see our winter driving guide for tires and chains.
How the weekend works
Friday: leave Provo after classes or work; St. George is about four hours and 20 minutes by OSRM.
Saturday: Snow Canyon from opening. Johnson Canyon first (it is the one you cannot do in summer), then the lava tubes and the Petrified Dunes. Picnic. Afternoon at the Dinosaur Discovery Site or the Red Hills Desert Garden.
Sunday: Jenny's Canyon and the scenic overlook in the morning light, then home, or a Kolob Canyons stop on the drive north.
For students: Snow Canyon is a strong pick for a winter break trip or the cold end of spring break planning, since early March still falls inside the Johnson Canyon window. For more trips by distance, see day trips from Provo.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Snow Canyon State Park from Provo?
How much does Snow Canyon cost?
Why is Snow Canyon better in winter?
What are the easiest Snow Canyon hikes?
Can you camp at Snow Canyon in winter?
Are dogs allowed at Snow Canyon?
Is the park road ever closed?
What else is there to do in St. George in winter?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Snow Canyon State Park (hours, FAQ, closures), Utah State Parks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Petrified Dunes Trail, AllTrails. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Johnson Canyon Trail, AllTrails. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Lava Tube and Butterfly Trail Loop, AllTrails. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Jenny's Canyon Trail, AllTrails. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Snow Canyon State Park unveils upgrades, fee increases to ease crowds and boost safety, St George News. Checked October 20, 2026.
- OSRM route service (OpenStreetMap data), driving estimates from Center St & University Ave, Provo, Project OSRM. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Google Places listings (coordinates, addresses, hours), Google. Checked October 20, 2026.
