Back in the desert.
After our ride yesterday, we drove to Snow Canyon State Park just outside of St. George and got the last available campsite.
Hiking the Hidden Pinyon Trail.
Snow Canyon is a cool area with a variety of red rock, slickrock and lava formations.
There’s enough scenery that a number of major films have been shot here, such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Jeremiah Johnson.
Looking from the Hidden Pinyon Trail overlook across to the Three Ponds Trail.
Hiking up the sandy wash of the Three Ponds Trail.
We hiked a series of trails in a clockwise loop from the campground, starting with the Hidden Pinyon Trail and then crossing the West Canyon Road to the Three Ponds Trail.
Where are the ponds?
Nancy thought the trail led to the ponds in the photo on the cover of the park brochure, so we kept hiking until the trail ended in a narrow drainage.
Headed back out.
There were only a couple of small ponds in the sand, so the picture was obviously taken somewhere else.
Hiking back out the long sandy wash.
There was an annoying half-mile of sand hiking back out.
Hiking up the Lava Flow Trail.
We then looped around on the Lava Flow Trail, which climbs a little bit to provide a view.
Holier than thou.
There’s a small lava tube where the Lava Flow Trail meets the Butterfly Trail.
Winding through larger formations
The Butterfly Trail meanders through short gullies before giving way to the Petrified Dunes section.
Hiking up the dunes.
The Petrified Dunes Trail was all slickrock, similar to Moab, just not as smooth.
Things got rocky between us.
The trail here is unmarked except for signs sticking up every hundred yards or so.
Dropping down off the Petrified Dunes.
We hiked for six hours, covering about nine miles.
Dinner at sunset.
Snow Canyon has nice secluded campsites, and nice restrooms with showers.
Enjoying our last night of camping.
Most of the campsites back up against a rock wall and are surrounded by bushes and piñons, so you feel like you’re in your own little world.
This is one of the best campgrounds we’ve ever stayed at—highly recommended!
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