Zion National Park

  • The deep canyon and the Virgin River. In season you ride the free shuttle on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
  • Angels Landing past Scout Lookout needs a permit. The Narrows bottom-up to Big Spring does not, but it closes above 150 cubic feet per second and during a Flash Flood Warning. Check current conditions.
  • Start here: Zion hikes · itineraries · nps.gov/zion.

Snow Canyon State Park

  • About eight miles north of St. George on State Route 18, per the park brochure. A scenic drive, short trails, lava tubes, and sand dunes.
  • No shuttle. Leashed dogs are welcome on its trails, which makes it a good day when Zion’s pet rules leave your dog in the car.
  • Plan it on our sister site: snowcanyontours.com. Official page: Utah State Parks.
White Navajo Sandstone in Snow Canyon State Park.
White Navajo Sandstone, Snow Canyon State Park. Photo: David Jolley (Staplegunther), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

How to pair them

  • Base in St. George for Snow Canyon, then drive to Zion for a full day. See where to stay.
  • Give each park its own day. Zion’s shuttle and long hikes fill a day on their own.
  • Separate fees. Snow Canyon has a state park day-use fee; Zion has a national park entrance pass. Check each park’s fee page.

Plan Snow Canyon →