A short, easy hike near St. George Utah, Jenny’s Canyon trail in Snow Canyon State Park is a fun adventure suitable for the whole family. If you want to explore a Utah slot canyon without the rock scrambling and squeezing through tight spaces that are typically involved, Jenny’s Canyon is the trail for you! In this article, I’ll give you all the details about hiking Jenny’s Canyon Trail, including information about entrance fees, the best time to hike, and what to expect on the trail.
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Article Contents
- Jenny’s Canyon Trail overview
- Snow Canyon State Park
- Highlights and lowlights
- Best time to hike
- How difficult is Jenny’s Canyon
- Things to know before you hike
- Jenny’s Canyon Trail details
Jenny’s Canyon Trail overview
- Hiking distance | 0.4 miles
- Elevation gain | mostly flat
- Total time | 30 minutes
- Epic-ness rating | 5
- Difficulty | Easy
Find this hike on AllTrails: Jenny’s Canyon Trail
Jenny’s Canyon Trail is a short, less than half-mile out-and-back hike to a beautiful slot canyon and overlook. Located just 15 minutes from St. George, Utah in Snow Canyon State Park, Jenny’s Canyon is perfect for a quick adventure. Or pair it with a few other great hikes in Snow Canyon, like the lava tubes and petrified dunes or Scout Cave Trail!
Jenny’s Canyon is one of the coolest slot canyons in southern Utah! Besides being easily accessible, what makes Jenny’s Canyon so special is the unique texture of the canyon walls. Due to differing levels of erosion, the walls of Jenny’s Canyon are rough and hole-y, like a piece of Swiss cheese!
Where is Jenny’s Canyon?
Jenny’s Canyon is located in Snow Canyon State Park in southern Utah, about 15-minutes from St. George. The trailhead is located about 1 hour from Zion National Park and 2.5 hours from Bryce Canyon National Park.
If you are driving from southern Utah to Las Vegas along I-15, it’s a brief detour to reach Snow Canyon State Park and could be a nice way to break up the drive.
Read more about southern Utah
Snow Canyon State Park
Located in southern Utah, just outside of St. George, Snow Canyon State Park features a variety of unique landscapes, from basalt lava tubes to rocky slot canyons, caves and swirly petrified sand dunes.
Snow Canyon State Park spans 7,400 acres in the Red Cliffs Preservation Area. Snow Canyon not only offers a selection of awesome hiking trails but also has a 3-mile paved bike path and 15 miles of trails for horseback riding.
Located about an hour from Zion National Park, Snow Canyon State Park is a lesser known spot that makes for a great detour on any southern Utah road trip!
In fact, Snow Canyon is reminiscent of Zion Canyon in some ways, including the white and coral stripes of the canyon walls and dreamlike swirls of the petrified dunes.
Remember to Leave No Trace. Pack out what you pack in, stay on trail, be well-prepared, leave nothing behind, take only photos and memories with you, treat the area with respect and help preserve this beautiful spot for generations to come.
Entrance fees
Snow Canyon State Park charges a $10 per vehicle fee for Utah residents and a $15 per vehicle fee for non-Utah residents. The pass is good for one day and may be purchased at the gate or online in advance.
For Utah residents, an annual Utah state parks pass is available for $125 which grants you access to all state parks in Utah for the year. The annual pass is not available for non-residents.
Highlights
- Short, easy and family-friendly hike.
- Leads to a beautiful slot canyon with uniquely textured walls.
- Slot canyon that is easy to access (a rare find!).
Lowlights
- Can get crowded, especially on weekends.
- Entrance fee required.
How difficult is Jenny’s Canyon Trail?
Jenny’s Canyon trail is a short and easy hike suitable for hikers of all skill levels. The hike is less than half a mile roundtrip and requires minimal elevation gain.
The most challenging aspect of Jenny’s Canyon Trail is that you’ll have to hike through sand, which adds a slight bit of difficulty. But since the trail is so short, it’s very manageable!
The slot canyon itself is not too narrow (as far as Utah slot canyons go…) making it quite easily accessible. There is an optional short climb up to a viewpoint near the slot canyon.
When is the best time to hike?
Jenny’s Canyon trail can typically be hiked year-round. For the mildest weather, the best time to hike is during the spring or fall.
During the summer, temperatures can become extremely hot. Because Jenny’s Canyon Trail is so short and offers shade inside the canyon, it should be doable even during the summer but be sure to pack extra water.
Winter near St. George, Utah is typically fairly mild, although certainly prepare for colder temperatures and be aware that snow is possible.
As with any slot canyon, do not attempt to hike Jenny’s Canyon Trail if the weather calls for rain, as flash floods can create dangerous conditions inside the narrow canyon.
Things to know before you hike
- Snow Canyon State Park charges a $10 entrance fee for Utah residents and $15 for non-Utah residents.
- The trailhead is located in Snow Canyon State Park, about 10 minutes from St. George, Utah.
- There are no restrooms at the trailhead. The closest restrooms are located at the Snow Canyon Ranger’s Station.
- Dogs are not permitted on Jenny’s Canyon Trail.
- It should go without saying, but please treat the canyon with respect. Do not write or carve on walls, and pack out any trash you bring with you.
- Check the weather before you go and do not hike if the forecast calls for rain.
Jenny’s Canyon Trail details
In the following section, we’ll give you all the details about each part of Jenny’s Canyon trail.
Parking and getting to the trailhead
Parking for Jenny’s Canyon trail is limited. There is no designated parking lot so you will need to park in a small pull-off on Snow Canyon Drive. However, since it’s such a short hike, groups tend to move in and out fairly quickly, meaning you can usually snag a spot without too much trouble.
If you aren’t able to find a parking spot at the trailhead, you can park in one of the lots for a nearby trail and walk.
Starting the hike
From the parking area, follow the trail across a sandy wash towards Jenny’s Canyon. It’s only about 0.1 miles until you reach the mouth of Jenny’s Canyon.
Here, you will turn left to enter Jenny’s Canyon.
Jenny’s Canyon
Jenny’s Canyon itself isn’t very long, probably somewhere around 200 feet. Slowly meander your way through the narrow canyon, soaking in the beautiful black and orange shades and unique texture of the canyon walls.
Overlook
After taking your time to explore the canyon, exit Jenny’s Canyon and continue straight on another little spur trail to an overlook. This spur trail includes some minor elevation but it’s a short walk to reach the overlook.
The overlook gives you a nice view looking down into Jenny’s Canyon and it’s worth the quick climb.
Jenny’s Canyon packing list
Before you head out on the hike make sure you are prepared with the following essentials, in addition to your typical hiking gear.
- Sunscreen and chapstick | So important to keep your skin and lips protected in the desert sun!
- Sunshirt | For even better sun protection in the desert.
- Sunglasses (Goodr) | At only $25, Goodr sunglasses are cheap, durable
- Extra water and snacks
- Backpack with bladder | helpful for carrying water with you on the trial
- Utah state parks pass (for Utah residents)
- Camera | You’ll want to snap a few photos of the beautiful Jenny’s Canyon! The Cannon M200 was my first camera and its lightweight, compact shape is great for carrying on hikes.
Other hikes nearby
Looking for other amazing hikes in Southern Utah? Here are a few of our nearby favorites:
- Scout Cave: Another fun hike in Snow Canyon State Park that leads to a cave carved out of the cliff wall.
- Snow Canyon Loop: One of the best hikes to see the best of snow Canyon State Park, including the petrified dunes and lava tubes.
- Kanarra Falls: Hike through a stream into another beautiful slot canyon, reminiscent of a mini-Zion Narrows.
- Red Reef Trail: A 2-mile hike to a small waterfall tucked between canyon walls with a unique obstacle.
- Scout Lookout & Angel’s Landing: A Zion classic located about an hour from Jenny’s Canyon!
Questions about hiking Jenny’s Canyon Trail in Snow Canyon State Park? Drop us a comment in the section below!
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