Introduction:

What? :

Snow Canyon State Park is a 7,400-acre scenic park featuring desert red-rock sandstone canyon and cliff walls, it was created in 1959 and opened to the public in 1962. Located in the red-rock valley just out of St. George, it offers some 16 miles of hiking trails, one of them is the nearby Diamond Valley Cinder Cone Hike.

The steep but short hike up to the top of one of the ancient volcanos cinder cones is located at north section of the park.

This hike is about 1.6 mile out and back with 500 feet of elevation to the top of the cone. Overall, it took me to hike this for 1 hr.

Where? :

Snow Canyon State Park is located 14 minutes away from St. George Utah.

The Diamond Valley Cinder Cone Hike is located on the north section of the park, at a separate section outside the main park area.

From St. George that is located on I-15 take highway 18 north, after about 11 miles you will see Snow Canyon State Park north entrance to your left, keep driving on highway 18. After additional 1.4 mile driving north you will see the small roadside parking just before the right turn to the small town of Diamond Valley. You can miss the big and clear sign on your right as you drive slowly up the road just before the junction.

Park your car away from the highway.

Google Map Link

When? :

The park is open year-round.

The desert climate with only 7.5 inches of rain per year.

Winter temperatures average lows 30 °F and highs around 55 °F.

Winter month can be cold, but it is not seldom receiving snow, and it is open year-round.

You can experience very high summer temperatures of around 100 °F.

My recommendation is to visit here between October and April when it is not so hot.

Due note 1: Open hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, Fee for Non-resident is $15 per vehicle. You will get a good trail map at the gate; cell service may be limited at the park.

Although the Cinder Cone is part of the park area there is no pay station here and I did not saw any signs that imply you must pay park fee to visit here.

Due note 2: The trail is exposed to the sun and during late spring trough summer the temperatures here are high. Try to come early in the morning or late at the afternoon. Wear sunscreen and a hat.

Due note 3: Although trails are not long it involved with some climbing, when it is hot bring enough water with you.

Due note 4: There are several day-use picnic areas in the park.

Due note 5: Snow Canyon is a designated trail park. This means that off-trail hiking is not allowed.

Due note 6: All the trails in the park are dog friendly. Dogs are required to be always on a leash.

Due note 7: I think that because it is relatively short the hikes is “family friendly” and kids can do it, during the climb stop and take rest and you will reach the top in no time.

Due note 8: The main lower section of the park is popular by tourist and locals but this far section of the park is not visit by most, I was the only one here.

Due note 9: There is no food available or gas in or near the entrance of the park, you can find tap water in the main park facilities area.

Due note 10: There is a small visitor center near the campground, here you can learn more about the park and get advice / recommendation for preferred hike.

Nearby Locations Blogs:

My thoughts:

When I came here it was about 2pm in a hot summer day and the temperatures where above 100f. it was hot, and I walk slowly up the cone and enjoy the fact I was the only one out there.

The 360-degree view from the top of the cone was rewording.

The Hike:

The area north of Snow Canyon State Park has a large inactive volcanic field called Santa Clara Volcano. Its long-ago volcanic activity resulted in a lava flow that is easily appreciated when hiking Lava Tubes trails of the Snow Canyon Park or visiting the Snow Canyon Scenic Overlook. Eruptions from the Santa Clara volcano also resulted in two cinder cones. The cinder cone are not the main volcano but are basically a hill of lava rock that were thrown into the air from a side vent and created the cinder cone around it.

The hike start at the small roadside parking lot, the trail getting into the lava field and finds it way between the large lava boulders.

You can see the cinder cone rising above you, but the trail turn and start to circle the cone to the left. Do not climb her directly to the cone as there is old path, this just create damage to the cone and not safe.

The trail go around the cone and reach a cattle fence, keep walking along the fence and the trail will start to turn right and climb the cone.

After about 0.6 mile the trail turn right and start with a steep climb up the cone with few long switchbacks.

Soon after you will reach the high section of the cone rim. This is probably the best viewing point.

From here you can see to your southwest the White Rocks section of Snow Canyon State Park.

To your north and below you can see Diamond Valley with the impressive Signal Peak Mountain range towering above.

To your east you can see the high mesa of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

The 360-degree view from the top of the cone is rewording for this short hike.

From here you can circle the cone rim and even walk down.

Once you are done here you need to walk down the same way you climb up.

www:

https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/snow-canyon/

Map:

https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/snow-canyon/map/

https://stateparks.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/02/web-Snow-Canyon-Trail-Guide-Map-Brochure-2023.pdf

Additional Pictures:

St. George, Utah – Snow Canyon State Park, Cinder Cone

What? :

The steep but short hike up to the top of one of the ancient volcanos cinder cones is located at north section of the park.

This hike is about 1.6 mile out and back with 500 feet of elevation to the top of the cone. Overall, it took me to hike this for 1 hr.

Where? :

Snow Canyon State Park is located 14 minutes away from St. George Utah.

The Diamond Valley Cinder Cone Hike is located on the north section of the park, at a separate section outside the main park area.

Park your car away from the highway.

Google Map Link

When? :

The park is open year-round.

The desert climate with only 7.5 inches of rain per year.

Winter temperatures average lows 30 °F and highs around 55 °F.

Winter month can be cold, but it is not seldom receiving snow, and it is open year-round.

You can experience very high summer temperatures of around 100 °F.

My recommendation is to visit here between October and April when it is not so hot.

Due note 1: Open hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, Fee for Non-resident is $15 per vehicle. You will get a good trail map at the gate; cell service may be limited at the park.

Although the Cinder Cone is part of the park area there is no pay station here and I did not saw any signs that imply you must pay park fee to visit here.

Due note 2: The trail is exposed to the sun and during late spring trough summer the temperatures here are high. Try to come early in the morning or late at the afternoon. Wear sunscreen and a hat.

Due note 3: Although trails are not long it involved with some climbing, when it is hot bring enough water with you.

Due note 4: There are several day-use picnic areas in the park.

Due note 5: Snow Canyon is a designated trail park. This means that off-trail hiking is not allowed.

Due note 6: All the trails in the park are dog friendly. Dogs are required to be always on a leash.

Due note 7: I think that because it is relatively short the hikes is “family friendly” and kids can do it, during the climb stop and take rest and you will reach the top in no time.

Due note 8: The main lower section of the park is popular by tourist and locals but this far section of the park is not visit by most, I was the only one here.

Due note 9: There is no food available or gas in or near the entrance of the park, you can find tap water in the main park facilities area.

Due note 10: There is a small visitor center near the campground, here you can learn more about the park and get advice / recommendation for preferred hike.

My thoughts:

When I came here it was about 2pm in a hot summer day and the temperatures where above 100f. it was hot, and I walk slowly up the cone and enjoy the fact I was the only one out there.

The 360-degree view from the top of the cone was rewording.

The Hike:

The hike start at the small roadside parking lot, the trail getting into the lava field and finds it way between the large lava boulders.

You can see the cinder cone rising above you, but the trail turn and start to circle the cone to the left. Do not climb her directly to the cone as there is old path, this just create damage to the cone and not safe.

The trail go around the cone and reach a cattle fence, keep walking along the fence and the trail will start to turn right and climb the cone.

After about 0.6 mile the trail turn right and start with a steep climb up the cone with few long switchbacks.

Soon after you will reach the high section of the cone rim. This is probably the best viewing point.

From here you can see to your southwest the White Rocks section of Snow Canyon State Park.

To your north and below you can see Diamond Valley with the impressive Signal Peak Mountain range towering above.

To your east you can see the high mesa of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

The 360-degree view from the top of the cone is rewording for this short hike.

From here you can circle the cone rim and even walk down.

Once you are done here you need to walk down the same way you climb up.

www:

https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/snow-canyon/

Map:

https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/snow-canyon/map/

https://stateparks.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/02/web-Snow-Canyon-Trail-Guide-Map-Brochure-2023.pdf

Additional Pictures:

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