Zion National Park is probably the first location you think of when someone mentions visiting St. George, but there are even more unique gems to be uncovered nearby. Follow along for a weekend itinerary for staying near St. George and exploring all of what the area has to offer. I’ll take you through some of my favorite St. George hiking trails including Kanarra Falls, Snow Canyon State Park, and of course Zion National Park!
I stayed in Ivins Utah to be located close to a state park I had never explored before! I stayed at Hidden Springs RV Park which is relatively new and it was incredible! You can stay in your RV or get a suite like I did. I would highly recommend the establishment, and will stay again in the Snow Canyon Suite for sure! (My stay was gifted however I was not required to write this! I am linking it because it is a lovely stay and home base.) Hidden Springs Website
Kanarra Falls
Kanarra Falls is a unique adventure. The hike is 3.6 miles total with about 650 foot elevation gain. Prepare to get wet! You will have to walk through at least ankle deep water – sometimes a little higher. This will come at the end of the hike. The first mile of the hike is on a dirt road trail (and then again on your way back.)
Once you make it to the creek you’ll wander through a forest area over slippery rocks and sand stone. River crossings happen often! Sometimes you can hop across rocks, but like I said at the end you will have to walk through it. Please do not try to avoid it because it can damage vegetation. Just go right through it and get the boots wet! It is cold water and the slot canyon will be cold, so bring warm clothes if you’re not visiting in the summer. Get high quality clothing that doesn’t stink when you hike: Merino Wool Clothing
The slot canyon is beautiful even before you make it to the waterfalls! I think Kanarra was the coolest to see (far left,) the waterfall above it was also pretty (far right,) and I did not continue on to the last and final falls because I had heard from friends it wasn’t that worth it. Definitely continue on and enjoy it if you please! Tips for hiking Kanarra Falls include: wearing waterproof boots, bringing trekking poles to help balance, and bringing a tripod for soft waterfall photos!
Kanarra Falls costs $15 a person for a permit. Less than 200 are sold a day, so make sure to book it online ahead of time like I did! Sometimes you can just show up and get in, especially during off season. If it is full when you go and cannot get in there is a backup option. Drive just down the road to another slot canyon Spring Creek Canyon.
Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is in my opinion a mini Zion National Park! It was a really fun day exploring it for the first time, and you can see a lot in just one day. I think with two days here you could see the entire park! The state park does have a fee, slightly higher for out of state guests.
I grabbed a little açaí bowl to go from a cute shop on the way to Snow Canyon called The Orange Peel in the morning, and headed to the Sand Dunes Picnic Grounds to eat my breakfast! There were picnic tables all around and it was a really perfect way to start the day.
After breakfast I peaked around the Sand Dunes and saw trails in all directions! Then I walked to Jenny’s Slot Canyon. It was really busy with crowds of people. I think since I had just hiked Kanarra Falls (which I had almost completely to myself) I was slightly unimpressed. It is an easy to get to slot canyon though, and a slot canyon is always amazing!
I then drove out of the park north to the Snow Canyon Overlook Trail. This was my favorite view of Snow Canyon! The trail is 5 miles round trip, with about 531 ft elevation gain. The trail itself is a pretty desert trail with lots of rocks. The view is really what you’re there for and I do think it is worth it!
The overlook trail took me a couple hours. I drove then back to my hotel to make myself some food. I lounged for a while before making my way back to Snow Canyon State Park to hike to Scout Cave. This trail is right at the entrance of the park and was a really neat trail to hike. It is a 4.2 mile hike with 817 elevation gain. You hike down and up a ravine and then up into the cave!
Zion National Park
Zion is on the east side of St. George, where Snow Canyon State Park is to the west. I recommend staying further east to visit if you’re wanting more than one day to explore! The National Parks Pass ‘America the Beautiful’ will get you in here of course, or pay the day fee. Because of how busy Zion is the roads are closed during busy season and you are required to shuttle or e-bike. Plan accordingly! Zion National Park Website
Zion National Park is one of those places you just have to see to believe! The scale of the sheer orange cliff faces will have your jaw on the floor. It is truly an incredible park that I only have really scratched the surface exploring so far! I’ve hiked Angles Landing twice, which is definitely a bucket list adventure you should do at least once in your life! It requires permits to hike. Angles Landing is 4.3 miles with 1,827 ft elevation gain. Be prepared to be on edges and ledges, if you are afraid of heights this may not be for you. You will see beautiful views of Zion before having to do the crazy heights so you can always turn around.
I’ve also hiked Emerald Pools but they were mostly dry when I went and didn’t grab any photos. Other great hikes I’ve heard are Observation Point, Court of the Patriarchs, The Subway and the Narrows. Research these before you go, especially the last two. The Subway and the Narrows both require permits and can be incredibly dangerous so it is important to know before you go. I can’t wait to go back and do these hikes someday soon!
Thanks so much for reading and let me know if you have any other recommendations in the area that I missed. This part of Utah is really special, and should be on your travel bucket list! Book a hotel nearby.
Travel Tips for visiting Southern Utah:
- Go in the off season. I love visiting Utah in March, April, October, November for the least amount of crowds and best weather.
- Pack layers. You may begin your St. George hikes cold and need to shed layers fast as the sun beats down. (Also pack sunscreen.) My Hiking Essentials
- Camera wise I love having a wild angle lens with me. 16 mm is perfect! My Camera Set Up
- Wear comfy shoes. I love my trail runners and wear them everywhere! Good grip for slick rock, and keeps my feet happy after so many miles in one day. The Solomon Ones I Wear
- Trekking poles can be a great idea for those who want to protect their knees. The ones I use!
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Earth to Sarah 