Snow Canyon State Park, Ivins, Utah

You will find this park just about ten miles east of St. George, Utah. Just a quick drive from the city transports you into a beautiful park surrounded by towering sandstone mountains. The campground is about midway along the sole park road, which can be accessed from the North or south. A small campground holding just over 20 sites, Snow Canyon Campground is a beautiful respite from the city. You will find two main types of sites here; hookup sites that are extremely close together, or primitive sites that are spacious and more scenic. We opted for the primitive sites, sight unseen, and were very pleased we did not succumb to the ease of hookup camping. The hookup sites, although convenient in summer and winter months with more extreme temperatures, were so
close together we considered the possibility of not being able to deploy our slides. Our site, however, was fantastic: spacious, scenic, and serene. All primitive sites have long site pads and plenty of space to set up camp and enjoy the surroundings. Primitive sites also have tent pads, shade ramadas, and picnic tables. Hookup sites have tables and shade ramadas, but be prepared to get to know your neighbor's habits well. A handful of sites, sites 15-18 (18 is very close to the dump station, however), provide the best of both worlds in that they have big site pads, spacious sites, AND have an electric hookup. Sites 15 and 16 are labeled as A/B sites since they share a driveway entrance. These would be especially nice for those traveling with another family who want a little space, but want to also spend time together. All sites have beautiful views of the area and easy access to hiking and bike paths.
The park itself prides itself on being a haven away from the city. Here you will find petrified sand dunes, sheer sandstone cliffs, stone volcanic flows, an abundance of hiking trails, and a variety of plant and wildlife. Horseback riding is allowed on some trails. Some trails take you to canyons, while others travel across petrified dunes or to the mouth of a lava flow. Pioneers used this area as a pass through and Pioneer Rock is a neat place to see names recorded with axle grease. Climbing on rocks is allowed in all areas except the campground, where rock climbing is strictly prohibited. Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit, and reservations are highly recommended during these times. During our stay over Spring Break, we found the park filled up quickly by midday.

Best Sites: 16, 17, 20, 22, 23, 25
Poor Sites: 1-14
Hookups: Electric, Water & Sewer sites 1-14, Electric only at 15-18 and Quail Group Site
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: Yes

Comments

Unknown said…
Thank you for posting about this campground. My family and I are headed to Snow Canyon with our in-laws in a few weeks. I'm a little bummed I didn't do more research before because I didn't realize some of the sites had full hook-ups. I'm having images of having to brave the cold as I use the showers in the campground to save space in our tanks. I don't think I will mention that was an option to my family, and maybe they won't notice :)

By the way, your cousin Molly told me you and your family were doing this full time and I think it's fabulous! Hope you're well, Michelle!

Linda De Los Santos (Aparicio)