Fall 2024 Back to the Southwest, 10.19.24 - 11.13.24, Part 12, Snow Canyon State Park/Padre Canyon, UT
For our second day in St. George, Debbie stayed home. Bridgit and I followed Darren back to Snow Canyon State Park and we parked our Jeep at the Red Sands Trailhead which is across from the campground and roughly halfway between the north and south entrances. The three of us drove down south out of the park and then curved back up north and parked at the Tuacahn Amphitheater. This was the southern trailhead for Padre Canyon. The trail started out gradually ascending above the amphitheater and then climbed in earnest to a high gap far above. I think that first climb was around seven hundred feet of gain to the gap. When we got to the gap and looked through to the other side we were looking down into Padre Canyon and the view was magnificient!.
Starting up from Tuacahn Theater
We aimed for the high gap up ahead
All smiles when we reached the top
Surveying the other side of the gap (Bridgit photo)
Looking down into Padre Canyon
Padre Canyon pano
From the gap we followed the trail as it dropped down into Padre Canyon. At one point we checked out dropping into the bottom of the wash. We found a really cool arch down there but determined we probably couldn’t stay in the wash without running into pour-offs so we climbed back up to the trail.
The hidden arch in the wash (Bridgit photo)
The hidden arch down in the wash
As luck would have it, the only people we saw on this hike (at least until near the end) had passed by us going the opposite direction while we were down in the wash. Other than that, we had the whole of Padre Canyon to ourselves. It had been Darren’s choice to show us Padre Canyon and we thought it was a great pick. We loved this hike for its variety and solitude. As we dropped down lower into Padre Canyon we eventually made it to the bottom of the wash near the mouth of the canyon. Here we came to a junction with the Red Sands Trail. Going left would have taken us about a half mile up and dead-ended. We took a right and waded through deep sand towards the junction with the Petrified Dunes Trail.
This rock had lots of holes running through it and looked like an octopus
There were lots of different types of cacti along the trail
Reaching the bottom of the wash in Padre Canyon
Looking back up to the high gap we came down from
Following the wash towards the Red Sands Trail junction
Puddles are great for reflections!
Last shot of Darren before I flushed him down
The junction with the Red Sands Trail
Heading east on the Red Sands Trail, we crossed the West Canyon Road which is a closed to vehicles dirt road used mainly by bicyclists. Then we climbed a hill to the junction with the Petrified Dunes Trail. Rather than stay on the trail, while Bridgit took a break, Darren and I headed north through a narrow slot in the rock and when we popped out the other side I was faced with what I think might have been my favorite single view that I had so far seen in the park. A gigantic jumble of orange petrified dunes lay out before us. The rock was covered with stripey lines and looked like a really fun area to crawl around in for awhile.
Ancient lava along the Red Sands Trail
Lava caprock in the Petrified Dunes
So much volcanic activity in Snow Canyon State Park. It reminded me of parts of Oregon.
Petrified dunes. Darren and I squeezed through the crack in the middle.
Getting ready to enter the slot (Bridgit photo)
The slot in the petrified dune
The petrified dune slot
A sea of petrified dunes on the other side of the slot
Loved this view!
Instead of going back through the slot to get back to Bridgit, we climbed up and over the top. When we got back to Bridgit we continued south just a short climb to Hidden Pinyon Overlook. There were some cool holes in the rocks at the top that made for some good framing shots.
Above the slot
This chunk of lava reminded me of a mama whale and her baby
Hidden Pinyon Overlook
Hidden Pinyon Overlook
Hidden Pinyon Overlook
It had been a great day and we felt like we got a good sampling of what Snow Canyon State Park has to offer. It is so close to St George that it would be easy to go back on another trip.
That night we played more guitar and this time Debbie broke out her Fender Stratocaster. I‘ve never had much experience playing electric guitar but we ended up having another good night of music. I can’t say that Clapton is looking over his shoulder but I held my own.
Our gracious hosts in St. George, Jarelle, Debbie and Darren. Thank you!