– By Tom Garrison –

Trail: Hidden Pinyon Trail
Location: Snow Canyon State Park near St. George, Utah
Difficulty: Easy with a lot of up and down hiking on a rocky trail, nothing too strenuous.
Average Hiking Time: One to 1 ½ hours at a leisurely pace with much exploring.
Elevation: The trailhead is approximately 3,330 feet elevation with about 120 feet elevation change from the trailhead to the highest point of the trail.
Family-Friendly: Yes, but very young children should be careful. No dogs allowed.

Getting There: From St. George go north on State Highway 18 (Bluff Street) and turn left (west) onto Snow Canyon Parkway. Continue approximately 3.6 miles and turn right (north) at Snow Canyon Drive. The Snow Canyon State Park south entrance is .8 miles ahead. Pay the fee and continue north on Snow Canyon Drive 1.5 miles past the entrance station and park in the large area on the left (west). A sign indicates this provides access to Hidden Pinyon and Red Sands Trails.

At the parking area, go west on the 100 feet long asphalt walkway to the asphalt paved Whiptail/Hidden Pinyon Trail and continue north (right). There is a large sign pointing out the correct direction.

In mid-January, my wife Deb and I decided to explore a new, for us, trail in Snow Canyon State Park—Hidden Pinyon Trail. This is an easy hike taking you into the heart of Snow Canyon with some of the best views in the park. It was also my birthday (well, within a few days of my actual birthday), and continued our tradition of birthday hikes.

If the remainder of the St. George area was a vast wasteland, Snow Canyon would still be a good enough reason to live here for outdoor enthusiasts. The 7,400-acre park was created in 1959 and has views that rival the much better known Zion National Park. There is evidence that the Ancestral Puebloans/Anasazi used the canyon for hunting and gathering and were followed about 1200 AD by the Paiutes. In the 1850s Mormon pioneers discovered the area.

Snow Canyon State Park is home to a diversity of plant and wildlife species. Hidden Pinyon Trail is a good way to familiarize yourself with the flora and fauna. The Park placed 19 numbered metal markers on the trail and provides a corresponding brochure pointing out different plants along the route.

Although we did not see them, it was the middle of winter, heat-loving lizards make their home in the rocks and bushes in the area—the rock captures the heat during the day and slowly releases it at night.

We arrived at the trailhead about 10:00 am on a clear morning in mid-January. The temperature was in the mid-40s. The sky was cloudless and deep blue, great for snapping photos.

At the parking area, we went west on the 100 feet long asphalt walkway to the asphalt paved Whiptail/Hidden Pinyon Trail and continued north (right). There is a large sign pointing out the correct direction.

The trail went steadily uphill and at about .2 mile from the trailhead was a metal information box with a lid on a metal pole on the left. Although the box is not marked, we peeked inside and found a stack of Hidden Pinyon Trail Guides that provide a description of the plants and points of interest for each of the 19 numbered metal poles along the trail. Make sure to take one of the guides

At about ¼ mile from the trailhead, we went left (west) on a sandy track, the signed beginning of Hidden Pinyon Trail.

We quickly entered a winding open canyon with cliffs lined with lichen, moss, and desert varnish. The canyon was short, and we soon came to an open area where the trail merges with Red Sands Trail and proceeded along a rocky uphill section. At the next intersection, about ½ mile from the trailhead, we followed the signage for Hidden Pinyon Trail to the left. We crossed a flat open area and down (now going south) a boulder passage and into a hidden canyon with views of the petrified dunes and white cliffs to the north.

The middle section of the trail presents some great views of isolated red sandstone outcroppings and the central part of Snow Canyon.

A little later, about one mile from the trailhead, the trail reconnected with Red Sands Trail. We went right and followed the route back to the trailhead.

Since it was mid-winter, the plants, while alive, were not flourishing. And except for a few birds, we did not see any animals. We did encounter at least 20 other people, including families with kids, along the way. It was a good day to enjoy a mild winter day. This would be a great hike in the spring or fall.

We traveled about 1.7 miles roundtrip taking a little more than one hour at a leisurely pace with many stops for photos and at the numbered posts to examine the plants. While the hike overall is easy, much of the trail is rocky—watch your step—with several not too steep up and down sections.

I highly recommend this hike. Living so close to Snow Canyon State Park, one tends to take for granted the amazing sandstone formations and views.

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