In my twin girls’ opinion, a trip to St. George isn’t complete without a visit to Snow Canyon. I call it the mini Zion’s because it boasts of the same red rocks and natural wonders but has more manageable hikes for younger children with various landscapes from sand dunes to petrified sand dunes to volcanic rock to white rock.

With an entrance fee of $6 per car it is also less expensive than a trip to Zion’s.

I love Zion’s National Park but with young children it can be a hassle to get on and off the bus and the hiking can be arduous for little feet.  Snow Canyon is simply the more convenient option.

If you happen to find yourself in St. George this President’s Day weekend there are three hikes you should consider in Snow Canyon:

Sand Dunes (1/2 mile)

Ready, set, JUMP! My kids jump off the hills and land in the deep soft sand to see who can beat the longest jump. In the winter/spring the sand is cool and slightly wet, perfect for making sand castles and wearing sandals.

In the summer/fall we learned the hard way that sandals and bare feet get burned quickly and make for a short trip. And if you want to make sand castles you’ll need to bring water to moisten the sand.

Petrified Sand Dunes (1.2 miles)

Wear shoes with good traction and scramble around the slopes crossing massive Navajo sandstone outcrops and petrified sand dunes. This is a great spot for a picnic and scenic pictures. 

Johnson Canyon (2 miles)

This level hike has few rocky slopes and winds through lava and red rock to an arch spanning 200 feet and ending in a sheltered canyon.

Like me, you may even fall in love with the canyon and consider running the Snow Canyon Half Marathon in October without the children :)

No matter which hike you choose, be sure to pack a Hydro Flask for each of you!