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SNOW CANYON STATE PARK — Utah is home to dozens of slot canyons. However, getting to many of them requires technical skills and equipment. Here’s a slot canyon that you can reach with just a short, easy hike.
Jenny’s Canyon is located in Snow Canyon State Park, about 15 minutes from St. George. The trailhead is located off Snow Canyon Drive and is marked with a sign. The trail is only a 1/2 mile round-trip and is flat for the majority of the hike, making it a nice, short hike for families with children.
The trail is well-marked and mostly consists of sand, but is easy to walk on. The trail forks after almost a 1/4 of a mile and hikers can reach a look-out point (Jenny’s Overlook) by taking the right fork. If hikers continue to the left, they will reach the slot canyon.
Jenny’s Canyon is fairly narrow and has amazing orange and red colored rocks. The canyon is only a couple hundred feet long and opens up more at the end, giving families a nice little spot to rest.
The slot canyon was named after Jennifer Denise Patchett and a memorial plaque for her was placed in the canyon.
The area is home to federally-protected desert tortoises and the trail is closed annually from March 15 to June 1 during the animal’s breeding season. Signs are posted when the trail is closed.
This hike makes is great for a quick afternoon hike, but remember to take water. Even though it’s short, the temperatures get very hot in the exposed area during the summer.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1/2 mile round-trip
Time: 15 minutes round-trip
