Snow Canyon State Park, just east of St. George in southwest Utah, is centered on the eponymous canyon, which largely runs north-south and has east and west branches in the northern part of the park. It's carved in Navajo Sandstone, the same unit as in Zion National Park to the east, and as in Zion it makes spectacular steep cliffs. They are largely deep red but in places lighter colored and even variegated. In contrast to Zion, too, dark black basalt has locally flowed down the canyon and capped the cliffs, which provides an striking contrast. One unusual attraction is an alcove where early settlers wrote their names in axle grease, which has persisted. There is also a short walk to a couple of lava tubes that are open for cautious exploration. Be sure to bring a flashlight if you wish to enter them.
The canyon is named for Lorenzo and Erastus Snow, pioneering Utah leaders. It is part of Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, established to preserve habitat for the desert tortoise, as well as other wildlife. The park has also been a popular setting for Westerns over the years.
Snow Canyon State Park, just east of St. George in southwest Utah, is centered on the eponymous canyon, which largely runs north-south and has east and west branches in the northern part of the park. It's carved in Navajo Sandstone, the same unit as in Zion National Park to the east, and as in Zion it makes spectacular steep cliffs. They are largely deep red but in places lighter colored and eve…
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