Hike-In Camping Sites Permit
Snow Canyon State Park · Utah
Limited hike-in tent sites within campground inventory.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Hike-In were gone within 10 minutes.
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Hike-In Quick Facts
Hike-In Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Hike-In in Snow Canyon State Park, Utah requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Hike-In is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Hike-In runs year-round.
- Cancelled Hike-In permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
Permit Details
Pro Tips
- •Set your reservation window for exactly four months out. There is no earlier bite at this.
- •If you are inside 48 hours, stop refreshing and drive over - that window is walk-up only, so cancellations in it never appear online.
- •Do not plan on camping anywhere but the campground. Backcountry camping is prohibited parkwide, and the trail law is enforced.
- •Come in autumn through spring. Summer here regularly runs past 100 degrees.
- •The park office and bookstore are inside the campground, which makes it the easiest place in southwest Utah to get current trail information without a drive.
- •Johnson Canyon needs a ranger-guided hike between March 15 and September 14 - book that separately rather than showing up.
- •Groups over eight should look at Cottontail or Quail rather than stacking individual sites.
What to Expect
Route Details
Highlights
- •A 38-site campground covering partial hookups, tent camping, hike-in and group camping - and nothing outside it
- •A short walk from parking to a hike-in site, not a backcountry approach
- •The park office and bookstore inside the campground
- •Reservations available 48 hours to 4 months out, with anything inside 48 hours being walk-up only
- •Dogs permitted on all park trails and in the campground, on leash
- •A parkwide trail law: people and pets stay on designated, mapped trails at all times
Best Time to Visit
Autumn through spring. St. George area summers regularly run past 100 degrees and the campground sits at desert elevation with limited shade. The park is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily year-round, and winter here is genuinely pleasant hiking weather while most of Utah is under snow.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Summer heat: this is one of the hottest corners of Utah and the campground is at low elevation
- !Slickrock that is far steeper than it looks, especially on the petrified dunes
- !Mojave desert tortoise habitat - staying on designated trails is a legal requirement, not a suggestion
- !Flash flooding in the sandstone drainages during monsoon season
- !Lava rock, which is sharp enough to open a knee on a simple slip
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
94°
77°
Mon
91°
72°
Tue
91°
71°
Wed
91°
72°
Thu
84°
66°
Fri
90°
74°
Sat
89°
72°
How to Get This Permit
Create a Utah State Parks account
Sign up at Utah State Parks if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
When to Go
Conditions
The best hiking weather of the year and the busiest camping season, with wildflowers on the sandstone benches.
Crowd Level
ExtremeAdvantages
- +Ideal temperatures for the petrified dunes and lava tubes
- +Long days without summer heat
- +Everything in the park is open
Challenges
- !Peak competition on 38 sites
- !Johnson Canyon closes March 15
- !Spring break traffic from St. George
Difficulty Assessment
Fitness and endurance required
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Route finding and trail clarity
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Tent campers who want the only legal overnight in Snow Canyon, and hikers using the park as a base for petrified dunes and lava tubes.
Recommended Experience
None. The hike-in is a walk from the parking area, not a backcountry approach.
Not Recommended For
Anyone hoping to camp in the backcountry - the park does not permit it - and groups over eight, who need Cottontail or Quail instead.
About This Permit
Snow Canyon State Park has one campground and no alternative. The park states outright that backcountry camping is not permitted in Snow Canyon, so the 38-unit campground - which mixes partial hookups, tent camping, hike-in sites and group camping - is the whole of the overnight inventory.
Booking has a specific shape here. The park says reservations can be made 48 hours to 4 months in advance online, and camping within 48 hours is walk-up only. That two-day window at the end is worth knowing: a site that frees up inside 48 hours does not come back online, it goes to whoever shows up.
Rates are $40 per night for a non-hookup site and $45 for a hookup site with water and electric, with one extra vehicle per site permitted at $20 per night. Group camping runs separately: Cottontail Group Campground at $175 a night for up to 35 people, and Quail Group Campground at $200 for up to 50.
Snow Canyon is part of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, a conservation area for Mojave desert tortoises, and both the Reserve and the park enforce a trail law requiring people and pets to stay on designated, mapped trails at all times.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Snow Canyon has exactly one legal place to camp. The park is unambiguous about it: backcountry camping is not permitted in Snow Canyon. Everything that happens overnight happens in the 38-unit campground two miles into the park on Snow Canyon Drive, and the hike-in sites are the tent-only end of that inventory. There is no dispersed alternative inside the boundary, which is why a cancellation on a hike-in site is worth watching for.
The Route
The campground is two miles into the park on Snow Canyon Drive, with the Park Office and Bookstore inside it, so you can sleep, plan and start walking without moving your vehicle. The 38 sites cover partial hookups, tent camping, hike-in and group camping. Hike-in means a short walk from parking rather than a backcountry trek - Snow Canyon does not permit backcountry camping at all. Two group campgrounds sit alongside: Cottontail at $175 a night for a maximum of 35 people, and Quail at $200 for a maximum of 50.
The Feeling
The campground sits tucked into orange sandstone cliffs, and the walls hold the day's heat and then release it after dark. Snow Canyon is small enough that you can walk to most of what matters from your tent - petrified dunes, lava tubes, and slot-like sandstone drainages - and the light on those cliffs at the two ends of the day is the reason people keep coming back to a park this size.
Rules & Regulations
- •Backcountry camping is not permitted in Snow Canyon - camping is in the designated campground only
- •Reservations can be made 48 hours to 4 months in advance online; camping within 48 hours is walk-up only
- •One extra vehicle per site is permitted, at $20 per night
- •Snow Canyon is inside the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, and both the Reserve and the park require people and pets to stay on designated, mapped trails at all times
- •Off-trail hiking is prohibited: it damages desert plants, disrupts the cryptobiotic crust that holds the sandy soil, and can collapse wildlife burrows
- •Johnson Canyon is closed March 15 through September 14 except on ranger-guided hikes
- •Washington County leash law applies in addition to the statewide Utah State Parks regulation
Gear Checklist
Required
- A tent that can be carried a short distance from the parking area
- Sun protection and more water than you think - this is low-elevation Mojave-edge desert
- A camp stove, and firewood only if the park is not under fire restrictions
- Warm layers for winter and early spring nights, which drop hard once the sun leaves the canyon
- Sturdy shoes with grip for slickrock and petrified dunes
Plan Your Trip
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Hike-In
Shuttle Services
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Key Landmarks
Snow Canyon Campground
The park's only camping, 38 sites two miles in on Snow Canyon Drive, with the park office and bookstore inside it
Petrified dunes
Fossilised Navajo sandstone dune fields, walkable slickrock within the park
Lava tubes
Basalt flow features on the canyon floor, reached by short trails
Johnson Canyon
Closed March 15 through September 14 except on ranger-guided hikes, to protect sensitive wildlife and habitat during feeding and breeding seasons
Hike-In FAQ
Can I backcountry camp in Snow Canyon State Park?
No. The park answers this directly: backcountry camping is not permitted in Snow Canyon. All camping is in the 38-unit campground, which includes the hike-in sites.
How far in advance can I reserve a Snow Canyon hike-in campsite?
Four months. The park says reservations can be made 48 hours to 4 months in advance online, and camping within 48 hours is walk-up only. Book through Utah State Parks reservations at 1-800-322-3770 or online, not through Recreation.gov.
How much does camping at Snow Canyon State Park cost?
$40 per night for a non-hookup site and $45 for a hookup site with water and electric. One extra vehicle per site is permitted at $20 per night.
How many sites does the Snow Canyon campground have?
38, covering partial hookups, tent camping, hike-in and group camping. The park office and bookstore are inside the campground.
Are dogs allowed at Snow Canyon State Park?
Yes. Dogs are permitted on all park trails and in the campground, on leash. Snow Canyon is inside the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, so people and pets must stay on designated, mapped trails at all times, and Washington County's leash law applies as well.
Is Johnson Canyon open at Snow Canyon State Park?
Not for most of the year. Johnson Canyon is closed March 15 through September 14 except on ranger-guided hikes, to protect sensitive wildlife during active feeding and breeding seasons.
What group camping is available at Snow Canyon State Park?
Two group campgrounds. Cottontail Group Campground is $175 per night with a 35-person maximum, and Quail Group Campground is $200 per night with a 50-person maximum.
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Late afternoon on the orange sandstone walls above the campground, when the cliffs go fully saturated for about twenty minutes.
Best Light
First light on the petrified dunes, before the contrast gets harsh and before the day-use traffic arrives.
Beat the Crowds
Weekdays, and the hours either side of the day-use crowd. Staying in the campground is the practical way to get the canyon at sunrise.
Classic Shots
- 📍Red Navajo sandstone against black basalt lava flow, the park's signature contrast
- 📍Petrified dune ripples raked by low sun
- 📍Lava tube openings from the canyon floor
- 📍The campground tucked under its cliff wall at dusk
Where to Stay
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