Snow Spring
Snow Spring flows at 70°F within Snow Canyon State Park, producing water just 6.3°F above the 63.7°F ambient temperature in this desert environment. At 3,100 feet elevation, the spring emerges 960 meters from Snow Canyon Drive, requiring a short walk through state park terrain. Water chemistry reveals low mineralization at 226 mg/L total dissolved solids, with balanced calcium (37 mg/L) and minimal sodium content.
The spring surfaces within Snow Canyon's spectacular red Navajo Sandstone landscape, where towering cliffs, lava flows, and desert vegetation create dramatic scenery. At 3,100 feet in Washington County's southwestern desert, the area receives minimal precipitation—just 7.8 inches annually with 6.6 inches of snow. Vegetation consists of blackbrush, creosote bush, and scattered Joshua trees adapted to extreme aridity. Surrounding lava flows from nearby volcanic cones contrast sharply with the white and red sandstone formations.
The spring and canyon bear the name of Lorenzo and Erastus Snow, Mormon pioneers who explored the region in the 1850s. The area served as winter range for Southern Paiute peoples before Euro-American settlement. Snow Canyon became a state park in 1959, protecting 7,400 acres of desert scenery. The spring's reliable flow has always been significant in this water-scarce environment.
Visit October through April to avoid extreme summer heat; temperatures regularly exceed 100°F in summer months. The park charges day-use fees. The spring requires a nearly kilometer-long walk from the road; bring sun protection and ample water. Snow Canyon's extensive trail system offers outstanding hiking through diverse desert terrain. Red Cliffs Campground, 21 kilometers away, provides developed camping facilities.
Is Snow Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Snow Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 7.8) with 226 mg/L total dissolved solids.
Overview Red Cliffs Recreation Area includes a campground, day use areas, a non-motorized trail system, and interpreted public use sites. Dinosaurs left their footprints, now visible in the sandstone. Ancestral Puebloans lived here in the 10th century, growing corn, beans, and squash along Quail and Leeds Creek. Mid-19th century pioneers farmed here, supplying the area’s silver miners with food. Located within the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, the Recreation Area is managed to cons...