Fields of Lava inside Snow Canyon State Park
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Yant Flat Candy Cliffs & Kanarra Falls
Planning a Vacation in St. George, Utah
If you are planning your first vacation to Utah, with five National Parks potentially on your itinerary, St. George probably won’t make the cut for your road trip. If you plan to spend more than one day hiking in Zion National Park, the hour drive from St. George wouldn’t be worth it. I would recommend staying in the park itself, Springdale (located just outside of the park, next to the main Visitor Center), or Kanab (located near the east entrance to the park).
If you are thinking of returning to Zion and are interested in exploring some of the nearby “secrets,” in addition to a day at Zion, St. George is a great city to consider. With a population of over 100,000 people, St. George has several hotels to choose from, in addition to restaurants and stores - which can be helpful on a longer road trip as things may break, get lost, or might have been forgotten. A lot of the towns around the National Parks are too small to include a Target or Walmart. During March 2021, we were on a month-long trip while taking advantage of distance learning, and my son walked through his pair of shoes. We were able to easily replace them when we spent the night in St. George.
In addition to being near Zion’s Kolob Canyon entrance, St. George is also close to Snow Canyon State Park, Sand Hollow State Park, Pioneer Park (free city park), Yant Flat Candy Cliffs (free), Red Reef Trail (part of Red Cliffs National Recreation Area), and Kanarra Falls (requires a permit). Day trips to Nevada’s Valley of Fire and Cathedral Gorge State Parks are options from St. George, as well as Utah’s Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park and Water Canyon (free). Although it’s sometimes possible to find a trail to yourself inside of Zion National Park, typically the hikes can be crowded. But the good thing about Zion’s popularity is that it leaves these other nearby spectacular places lesser known. There will still be people in each of these places, but not as many.
Zion - Kolob Canyon - Kolob Arch Trail
Where is St. George?
I-15 goes right through St. George, which has enabled the city to quickly grow to a sizeable population. The closest cities with international airports are Las Vegas (less than 2 hours), Salt Lake City (4 hours and 15 minutes), Phoenix, and San Diego (both 6 hours and 30 minutes).
Below is a map showing where St. George is located, as well as cities with International Airports, in addition to other National Parks, any of which could be combined into a larger road trip. For information on the other National Parks, use the hyperlinks in the captions, which will link to separate posts that I’ve written.
A - Zion National Park - 60 minutes from St. George to the main entrance, B - Bryce National Park - 2 hours from St. George, C - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - This is a large park. It’s a little over 2 hours to Toadstool Hoodoos and 3 hours to the town of Escalante, D - Capitol Reef National Park - 3.5 hours from St. George, E - Arches National Park - 4.5 hours from St. George, F - Canyonlands National Park - 5 hours to Island in the Sky and 6.25 hours to the Needles district, G - Monument Valley Tribal Lands - 4.5 hours from St. Geroge, H - Grand Canyon National Park - 5 hours to Grand Canyon Village (south rim)
Lodging and Logistics
St. George is located in a high desert, meaning high elevation. It can snow in the winter and be extremely hot in the summer. As such, it’s taken us trips at different times of the year to see everything listed below – as some things are better in cooler months and others are better when it’s warmer and drier.
I’d recommend 2-4 nights in St. George, depending on what you want to do. Snow Canyon (better in the cooler months) can easily be its own day. Kolob Canyon and Kanarra Falls can be paired together in a day, and these hikes are better when it’s warmer. Red Reef or Yant Flat Candy Cliffs (in the morning of a warmer day) could be paired with swimming or cliff jumping at Sand Hollow in the afternoon. Going to Zion or Cathedral Gorge (anytime of year) would be a full day. Valley of Fire is a full day, or it could be paired with a drive to or from Las Vegas – but note that Valley of Fire in the summer is not an option – the best trails in the park are closed due to excessive heat. Additional ideas are included below.
St. George has hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Don’t pick a campground in summer months – it gets to over 100F during the day. If you pick a cabin, make sure it has air conditioning. This city will feel pretty new. We’ve stayed in several hotels as well as a cabin in a KOA just outside of Hurricane (super close to St. George). Each place we’ve stayed has been really nice.
KOA cabin in Hurricane, Utah - near St. George
One other perk for staying in St. George is the restaurants. The small towns near the Utah National Parks are fun to try the local digs. St. George is excellent though because it has favorite restaurants that we don’t have in Minnesota – In and Out Burger and Hungry Howie’s Pizza. It also has an Olive Garden – which my teenagers love and even though we have them in Minnesota, we don’t have one close to us – and great to carbo load before a full day of hiking!
Things to do in or near St. George, Utah
In the map below, I have hyperlinks so you can jump to different sections within the post. At the end of each section there is a link back to the map. Simply reading the post top to bottom is also an option. I also have links to separate posts that I’ve written, with more information about each place to visit.
Within St. George
1 - Pioneer Park - A free city park in St. George, UT. There are no playgrounds or swings, but there are arches, slot canyons, caverns, Moqui steps, and tons of rocks to scramble over, under, through, around, up, and down.
2 - Snow Canyon State Park (UT) - A unique place to hike which includes both a short slot canyon and lava tube caves that can be explored, in addition to some beautiful hikes. Bring a flashlight or headlamp for the lava tubes.
3 - Sand Hollow State Park (UT) - Enjoy swimming, cliff jumping, or riding ATVs through sand dunes at Sand Hollow State Park. Jumping Rock is a short 0.3-mile relatively easy walk from the parking lot. This state park is going to be better suited for older kids.
North
4 - Red Reef Trail - A relatively easy 1.7-ish mile out-and-back hike along Quail Creek within a stunning canyon. The first obstacle involves some Moqui steps that require a bit of courage to cross. The trail continues upstream but will likely be underwater in the winter and spring months.
5 - Yant Flat Candy Cliffs - A relatively easy 2-3 mile hike through the desert to the Candy Cliffs, a hidden and strangely beautiful display of geometric patterns cut into red-and-white striped Navajo Sandston surrounded by green brush-covered mountains. Use the road from Leeds - the road from St. George is not well maintained.
6 - Kanarra Falls - A moderately difficult hike that travels through a slot canyon with four waterfalls. This trail goes through the water and feet and ankles will get wet. Permits are needed for this hike.
7 - Zion - Kolob Canyon - This part of Zion is not connected to other entrances. The viewpoints along the road are worth the trek, even for those that do not hike. There is one short hike, one medium hike, and several longer hike options (including backpacking routes).
East
8 - Zion - Main Entrance - A free shuttle bus brings hikers from the Visitor Center to the trailheads (several months of the year). Hikes range from extremely easy to extremely difficult.
9 - Zion - East Entrance - The east side of the park is quieter with both longer trail options as well as unmarked places to explore.
10 - Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (UT) - Explore a sand dune habitat and play in the sand. Walk up a dune and have fun running down, sledding down, or rolling down. Repeat over and over.
11 - Water Canyon - Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Water Canyon is a rugged, wild canyon that has something for all adventurous souls. Enjoy a 2 mile out-and-back hike to the waterfall, a 6 mile out-and-back hike to White Dome or hike up into Water Canyon and rappel out.
12 - Belly of the Dragon - This is an amazing manmade water culvert under US-89 that is being carved slowly into a slot canyon by the water moving through the sandstone. Roundtrip trail is 0.25 miles
13 - Moqui Caverns (Kanab Sand Caves) - This is a short hike (little less than a mile out-and-back) with a very steep and somewhat sketchy sandstone hill to climb to get to a manmade cave. The best time for pictures is late in the afternoon.
14 - Kanab - A small town east of Zion National Park. Many local tours take off from Kanab - for those looking for a more adventurous vacation.
Southwest
15 - Valley of Fire State Park (NV) - Another unique park with amazing, colorful rock formations, including a small slot canyon. Note that the Seven Wonders Trail, including White Dome, is closed in the summer months.
Northwest
16 - Cathedral Gorge State Park (NV) - Also a unique park due to incredible rock formations - similar to Badlands National Park. The canyon can be viewed from both below and along the rim, and the park can be hiked in about 4 miles. There are separate, short trails that go through small slot canyons.
1 - Pioneer Park
Arch at Pioneer Park, in St. George
Pioneer Park is a free city park in St. George, and it’s one of the best city / community parks I’ve ever visited. My boys and I spent a few nights in St. George in March 2021, and this was an unexpected favorite place we visited. In fact, my youngest son asked why all parks didn’t simply have rocks to climb on… Too bad you can’t plan cities around where the best rocks are.
This park does not have playgrounds or swings, nor are there defined trails or signs pointing out where things are at. Pioneer Park is all about exploring, wandering, and climbing. See if you can find the arch, slot canyon, Moqui steps, and caverns.
Where is Pioneer Park?
Pioneer Park is on the northern edge of St. George, right off of Red Hills Parkway, just a short distance from an exit off of I-15.
More Information on Pioneer Park
The Crack - Pioneer Park, St. George
For more information, including a detailed map of the park and additional pictures, here is my post on Pioneer Park.
2 - Snow Canyon State Park
Lava Tubes at Snow Canyon State Park
I’m assuming most visitors end up in Utah for the National Parks, but the Utah State Parks that I’ve had a chance to visit are just as amazing and are worth the time to explore! The thing that makes Snow Canyon stunning is the black lava rocks, set in-between the iron-rich red cliffs.
If you have time for one hike, go to the Lava Overflow Trail. There are three different lava tube caves that you can crawl into. Bring a flashlight or headlamps. A cell phone light isn’t going to be bright enough to fully appreciate the caves. If you have time for a second hike, Jenny’s Slot Canyon is a short hike - and even though short, all slot canyons are cool. If you have a full day, then tack on a trek to Scout’s Cave (if the weather is cool enough). The trail gets a little bit too near the suburban housing for it to be my favorite hike, but the cave at the end is worth the effort.
Note that all of these trails are completely exposed to the sun - there won’t be much (if any) shade. In summer months, the safest time of day to hike would be early morning hours.
Where is Snow Canyon State Park?
Snow Canyon State Park is on the northwest side of St. George. The city runs right up to the edge of the park. Snow Canyon is located just off of UT-18. Note that this is the same highway (UT-18) that is used to get to Nevada’s Cathedral Gorge State Park. I have a link to this park at the end of my post, due to its further driving distance. These parks could be combined on the same day, although it’s going to be a long day, and you probably can’t hike every trail at both parks.
More Information on Snow Canyon State Park
Scout Cave - Snow Canyon State Park
For more information, including specific trail reviews, detailed trail maps, and additional pictures, here is my post on Snow Canyon State Park.
3 - Sand Hollow State Park
Sand Hollow State Park
Sand Hollow State Park is known for swimming and ATV trails through the sand dunes. We do not have an ATV, so I will just speak to swimming and cliff jumping. We were last in St. George in June 2025, and high temperatures each day were over 100F. Swimming at Sand Hollow State Park was a perfect way to cool off in the afternoon. I would suggest wearing water shoes. Kids were climbing out of the water and back up to the cliff barefoot, but I would think that would hurt your feet after a few times.
There are no showers at the park. The outhouses are large enough though to be able to comfortably change into and out of swimsuits.
Lastly, this reservoir is a dammed canyon. There are shallow places to swim, but the depths drop fast. I wouldn’t recommend bringing young children here to swim.
Where is Sand Hollow State Park?
Sand Hollow State Park is on the eastern edge of St. George, a short distance off of UT-7.
More Information on Sand Hollow State Park
Cliff Jumping at Sand Hollow State Park
For more information on visiting the park, including a detailed map and additional pictures, here is my post on Sand Hollow State Park.
4 - Red Reef Trail
Red Reef Trail
Red Reef Trail is a pretty easy 1.7-ish mile out-and-back hike along Quail Creek. There are a few obstacles, including Moqui steps and some water. There is a rope to help assist hikers near the Moqui steps. We were hiking in March on a chillier afternoon. Our goal was to stay dry. So I’m not sure how deep the water was. In the summer though, if there is any water left in the canyon, this would be a great place to cool off in a beautiful space.
The trail continues upstream, but we stopped as it was underwater. On a warmer day, it would be fun to get in the water and just continue walking upstream.
Since visiting Red Reef, I have also learned of nearby dinosaur tracks - on a different trail that uses the same parking area.
Where is Red Cliffs National Conservation Area?
The Red Reef trail is located within the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. The parking area does require a fee, but the America the Beautiful Pass is accepted. The trailhead is about 30 minutes north of St. George, located pretty close to I-15. Any car should be able to get to the trailhead. Note that the parking lots are small and they do fill up.
More Information on the Red Reef Trail
Red Reef Trail
For more information, including a detailed map and additional pictures, here is my post on the Red Reef Trail.
5 - Yant Flat Candy Cliffs
Candy Cliffs at Yant Flat
The Yant Flat trail is a relatively easy 2-3 mile hike through the desert to the Candy Cliffs, however, this trail is sandy, and shade is limited. In the summer months, go early in the morning, and bring extra water with you (2L per person). At the end of the trail is a strangely beautiful display of geometric patterns cut into red-and-white striped Navajo Sandston surrounded by green brush-covered mountains. Explore as far as you’d like along the cliffs. We hiked up to the top of the largest rock in the photo above. Just make sure you have a way to see where the trail is to get back.
Where are the Yant Flat Candy Cliffs?
From St. George, on a map, it looks like there is a way to get to the trailhead in 40 minutes. I’ve been on this road twice. The first time, I was in a rental truck and almost got stuck in the mud. We turned around and didn’t make it. The second time was in our personal minivan, and we were driving from the trailhead to Olive Garden in St. George. It looked faster than the drive in from Leeds. I figured my first experience was just due to it being winter. It was not better… We did not pop a tire, but my husband and I were both shocked that we didn’t. Use the road in and out from Leeds. It was in much better condition. It’s just 10 minutes longer.
More Information on the Yant Flat Candy Cliffs
Yant Flat Candy Cliffs
To see more information about hiking, here is my post on the Yant Flat Candy Cliffs.
6 - Kanarra Falls
Kanarra Falls
Kanarra Falls is a moderately difficult hike that travels through a slot canyon with four waterfalls. This trail goes through the water and feet and ankles will get wet. Permits are needed for this hike. Consider pre-purchasing as only 200 hikers are allowed in per day. Walking sticks will be helpful on this hike. Neoprene booties under hiking boots will keep your feet warmer.
This is one of my favorite trails in this region of Utah. It took multiple failed attempts hiking here on spring break trips in March for me to realize that there are reasons to return to Southern Utah in the summer months. The waterfalls on this hike were beautiful in June. The water was still cold though, and the neoprene booties were a smart idea to buy. Note that the majority of this trail is prior to walking in the water, and a lot of it is exposed to the sun. Bring 2L of water per person, and hike earlier in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the mid-day heat.
Where is Kanarra Falls?
Kanarra Falls is located about 40 minutes north of St. George, not too far of I-15. Any car can get to the trailhead. The best thing to couple your hike at Kanarra Falls is a visit to Zion’s Kolob Canyon, just a few minutes south on I-15.
More Information on Kanarra Falls
There are multiple waterfalls along the Kanarra Falls Hike
For additional information on this hike, see my post on Kanarra Falls.
7 - Zion National Park - Kolob Canyon
Zion - Kolob Canyon view from Timber Creek Parking Lot
When I look up information on what to do at a National Park, I’m trying to find the quiet, less visited, off-the-beaten-path secrets. That’s what Kolob Canyon is - a stunning part of Zion National Park, where you can have trails to yourself. It has a very Sedona, Arizona-vibe to it. If you aren’t a hiker, no sweat. The prettiest parts of this canyon can actually be seen from the main road out to Timber Creek Overlook.
The one thing to note when planning a trip to Kolob Canyon is the elevation. This section of Zion is at 7,000ft, compared with the main part of Zion at 4,000ft. That means it’s going to be colder and snowier in the winter and spring months. I tried to visit Kolob Canyons on several spring break trips in March. Once, I even ventured out to Timber Creek in spite of the snow - to see nothing…. except snow and clouds… In June though, this section of Zion was phenomenal. The trails were hot, but the view and seclusion were worth the weight of the extra water we needed to carry.
Where is Kolob Canyon?
The Kolob Canyon Visitor Center is located about 30 minutes north of St. George. The Visitor Center is located directly off an exit from I-15. This part of Zion is not connected with other entrances. It’s a relatively short drive up to the Timber Creek Overlook (about 15 minutes).
I would highly suggest combing a trek out to Kolob Canyon with a hike at Kanarra Falls.
More Information on Kolob Canyon
Zion - Kolob Arch
For additional information on visiting Kolob Canyon, here is my full post on Zion National Park. I have the link set to the section within the post about Kolob Canyon.
8 - Zion National Park - Main Entrance (Springdale)
View from Angel’s Landing
Zion is one of my favorite National Parks - probably my second favorite, after Arches. It is such a beautiful place and there are so many things to do for all different types of hiking abilities. Several months out of the year, there is a free shuttle to use while in the main hiking area of Zion. Park at the Visitor Center. The shuttle goes to each of the main trailheads. Shuttles don’t run when the park isn’t busy - so if there isn’t a shuttle, you should be able to park at each trailhead.
The Narrows and Angels Landing get all the hype, but consider Pa’rus Trail for an easy, beautiful, and quiet stroll through the bottom of the canyon. Scout’s Lookout has a pretty good view without needing Angels Landing permits, and it avoids the sketchy 1000ft drops on both sides of the trail. If Hidden Canyon ever reopens, that would be my third recommendation. On a hot day, getting into the Virgin River along the Narrows trail for an out-and-back hike is a fantastic option. Note that the Narrows has a chest-deep section just a few minutes into the hike, so a better option for younger children is the shallower hike at Kanarra Falls.
Where is the Main Entrance of Zion National Park?
From St. George, it’s an hour drive to the Visitor Center near Springdale. Additionally, there is likely going to be a backup to get into the Park. My best advice is to get up early, both for a quicker trek into the National Park, as well as to ensure you can find a place to park your car at the Visitor Center. Several months out of the year, a free shuttle takes you from the Visitor Center to all of the main trailheads. Once you park, getting on the shuttle is easy. Coming back to your car is going to be harder, especially the closer you get to the time the shuttles stop. Your best bet is to get into the park early, hike early, leave early, cool off at the hotel pool, or go swimming at Sand Hollow State Park.
In the non-busy months, the road to the main trailheads will be open to all vehicles. Most of our trips to Zion have been in March over Spring Break. Some years the road is open to cars, and some years they have it closed already and the shuttles are running. But parking hasn’t ever been an issue. When we visited in June, we were there before the park opened to get permits to hike Keyhole Canyon and the Narrows. Parking isn’t an issue at that time of the morning. The shuttle bus on the way back from the Narrows was full - but it starts empty at the trailhead to the Narrows and fills up on the way back to the Visitor Center. So if you are looking for a safe shuttle bus strategy - do the hikes closer to the Visitor Center first and work your way to the back of the park later in the day, so you get back on the bus to return to your car at Stop #9 - Temple of Sinawava (for Riverside Walk and the Narrows).
Kayenta Trail along Virgin River in Zion National Park
More Information on Zion National Park
For a complete list of hikes (we’ve done most, but not yet all), trail maps, and tons of pictures, here is my full post on Zion National Park. Note that I have a separate post specific to The Narrows due to the length of the trail and specific logistics that need to be considered.
9 - Zion National Park - East Entrance
East Side of Zion National Park
The third entrance to Zion National Park is the East Entrance. The shuttle bus does not go to all trailheads in the National Park. The east side of the Zion is my favorite, and to get there, you need to get back into your and drive along the Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, through the tunnel. Just past the tunnel, there are two small parking areas for the Canyon Overlook Trail. This is one of my favorite trails in the park. Parking is awful, there isn’t a spot to wait for people to leave. This is a trail you get to do based on luck of an open spot, or try to hit this trailhead first thing in the morning, or in the early evening hours.
Further east of the Canyon Overlook Trail, there will be these small pullouts, with space for a handful of cars. These spots are often open because there aren’t marked trails. I would highly suggest snagging these spots. Wander down to the creeks and then go upstream to see what you can find. There are small cascading waterfalls, petroglyphs, and slot canyons. Stay on the rocks as much as you can to avoid erosion. This side of Zion is quiet and amazing.
There are also canyons that require permits and technical gear (ropes, helmets, and safety equipment). Do not enter a slot canyon unless you know which canyon it is and you know you can get back out. If you need ropes, you need a permit, and these are one-way adventures. You are in the wilderness, and choices you make impact your own safety. Ultimately, you are responsible for you, as well as taking care of the land that you step on.
Where is East Entrance of Zion National Park?
It’s about 15 minutes from the Visitor Center to the tunnel, which is about the halfway point to the East Entrance. If you aren’t heading to Kanab or Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, you don’t need to go all the way to the entrance. Stop when you are done exploring the creeks and canyons.
More Information on Zion National Park
Canyoneering in Keyhole Canyon
This is the same post as above, for my review of Zion National Park, but I have the link set to the east side of the National Park.
10 - Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
There’s no real hiking trail at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, beyond the short dock, but that’s part of the fun in playing on sand dunes. It’s obvious where you are as long as you can still see the parking lot. Run down the dunes, roll down the dunes, rent a sled from the visitor center (or buy your own). Yep - sledding down sand dunes is a thing! Here is a separate post for everything you need to know about sledding down dunes. Note that the sand is going to get incredibly hot in the sun on a summer day, so arrive early in the morning, or check out this state park in a non-summer month. The sand also needs to be dry for sledding to work.
There are also tour companies that you can take ATVs and ride them up and down the sand dunes. We haven’t had a chance to try this yet, but are hopeful it works out for us on a future trip in 2026.
Where is Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park?
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is 75 minutes from St. George, if you take UT-59 / AZ-389 to get to the park (cross briefly into Arizona and then back into Utah). If you take the road through Zion National Park, it takes 2 hours. If you are in the east side of Zion, then enter from US-89. This State Park is 35 minutes from Zion’s East Entrance. Each of these roads are paved, and any car will work to get to this State Park.
More Information on Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
For more information, including additional maps and pictures, here is my post on Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
11 - Water Canyon
Waterfall at Water Canyon
Water Canyon, managed the Bureau of Land Management, is a rugged, wild canyon that has something for all adventurous souls. Enjoy a 2 mile out-and-back hike to the waterfall, a 6 mile out-and-back hike to White Dome or hike up into Water Canyon and rappel out.
The trails are not well marked, an intentional feature of BLM. Make sure to pre-download a GPS map (I use GAIA GPS). This is an amazing canyon, but I will re-iterate that this canyon is for those with an “adventurous soul.” Zion National Park has similarly beautiful rocks with more established trails.
Where is Water Canyon?
The trailhead at Water Canyon is about an hour from St. George, off of UT-59.
More Information on Water Canyon
Water Canyon
For more information on exploring Water Canyon, including a trail map and additional pictures, here is my post on Water Canyon.
Canyoneering at Water Canyon
12 - Belly of the Dragon
Belly of the Dragon
Belly of the Dragon is a cool place to stop for hikers of all ages, and it’s just a quick stop off of US-89.
What is Belly of the Dragon?
From internet pictures and information, I was looking for a cave off in the hills. Let’s expectation set instead. Belly of the Dragon is just a water culvert under US-89. It’s a pretty awesome water culvert, though - there’s a little slot canyon that seems to be starting to form at the base, and it’s cool to see how it begins.
Belly of the Dragon
Where is Belly of the Dragon?
Belly of the Dragon is located under US-89. Exit onto Elephant Gap towards the Twin Hollows Campground. The parking lot will be on your left, about 0.3 miles down the road. Belly of the Dragon is 90 minutes east of St. George. If you planning on being on US-89 (maybe moving to Kanab, or Page, or Monument Valley, or Grand Canyon) then this is a cool place to spend a few minutes. If you are not planning on being this far east of St. George for any other reason, skip it. No matter how cool the pictures look on the internet, at the end of the day, it’s a water culvert, and isn’t worth the 90-minute drive.
More Information on Belly of the Dragon
For more information, including a trail map and pictures, here is my post on Belly of the Dragon.
13 - Moqui Caverns (Kanab’s Sand Caves)
Moqui Caverns (also known as Kanab’s Sand Caves) is a small manmade cave dug into the side of a cliff along US-89. It’s a short hike and quick option to fill a bit of extra time for anyone staying in Kanab. There isn’t much of a trail up the hill though, it’s pretty much just scale up and down it, making this a challenging hike, albeit short. The best time for pictures is the late afternoon.
Personally, I’d recommend hiking within Zion National Park over the Moqui Caverns (Kanab Sand Caves), especially if your lodging is in St. George.
Moqui Caverns (Kanab’s Sand Caves) - view from the inside
Where are the Moqui Caverns?
The manmade cave is located just off of US-89, about 30 minutes past Zion’s east entrance. To get to these manmade caves from St. George, it’s a little over 90 minutes. If you are hiking in the east part of Zion, then maybe consider adding this to your itinerary. It wasn’t my favorite hike though. I’m including more because you are going to see other bloggers recommend it. I would vote instead for just parking at one of the pullouts in east Zion and see what you find as you wander towards water.
Finding the Moqui Caverns / Kanab Sand Caves
More Information on Moqui Caverns
Moqui Caverns (Kanab’s Sand Caves) - view from the outside
For more information on the hike, including a map, specific places to park, and additional pictures, here is my post on the Moqui Caverns (Kanab Sand Caves).
14 - Kanab, Utah
Kanab is a small town on the east side of Zion National Park. It’s not likely that you would move from a hotel in St. George to Kanab. Most things you can get to from Kanab, you can get to from St. George. The one exception might be trailheads between Kanab and Page, but if that were the case, I would suggest moving a bit further and getting a hotel in Page, just to be able to enjoy some time at Lake Powell. It’s more likely that you are looking at Kanab to determine where to pick lodging for this particular trip you are planning.
If this is your first trip to Zion National Park, I would suggest Springdale or Kanab over St. George (to have a bit more time inside of Zion National Park) and then pick St. George on your second trip to Zion. Here is my post on Kanab, so you can make the best choice for your vacation.
15 - Valley of Fire State Park
Fire Arch - Seven Wonders - Valley of Fire State Park
To see the majority of Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park, plan for 4 hikes starting with Seven Wonders (and combining it with White Domes Loop). Note this trail is closed in summer months. On your way back down the road, stop at both parking lots for Rainbow Vista and Mouse’s Tank. Lastly, head towards the East Entrance to Elephant Rock.
Where is Valley of Fire State Park?
Valley of Fire is about 100 minutes from St. George, off of I-15. It is such a cool State Park, it’s easily worth that long of a drive. However, if you are traveling to St. George from Las Vegas, Valley of Fire is a great first day itinerary activity, on your way to St. George (or on your return to Las Vegas). It’s only an hour northeast of Las Vegas.
Valley of Fire is not a park to visit in the summer months. Because temperatures can exceed 110F, the Seven Wonders Trail (including Fire Arch and White Domes) is closed in the summer months.
More Information on Valley of Fire State Park
White Domes - Seven Wonders - Valley of Fire State Park
To see additional information regarding Valley of Fire State Park, including additional hikes, trail maps, and more pictures, here is my post on Valley of Fire State Park.
16 - Cathedral Gorge State Park
Cathedral Gorge State Park
Cathedral Gorge is another beautiful State Park in Nevada. Cathedral Gorge is off in the middle of nowhere, which limits the number of visitors, just due to its location. The park itself feels similar to the mud-like rocks of Badlands National Park, although this State Park is significantly smaller. The trails all the way through Cathedral Gorge, and has trailheads on both the bottom and the rim, with steps leading in-between. This allows for amazing views from either angle with minimal hiking. It’s worth moving your car one other time to check out the mazes within the slot canyon section of the park as well.
Where is Cathedral Gorge State Park?
Cathedral Gorge State Park is not quite two hours from St. George. This is a long day excursion, but there really isn’t really a closer city. The one other thing that could be combined with a day trip out to Cathedral Gorge from St. George is Snow Canyon State Park. The road to Cathedral Gorge goes past Snow Canyon. If you intend to hike much at either park though, you might choose to split it into two days.
More Information on Cathedral Gorge State Park
Cathedral Gorge State Park
For more information, including trail maps and additional pictures, see my post on Cathedral Gorge State Park.
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