Petrified Dunes, Snow Canyon UT

• 4-star hike
• 1 mile out-and-back
• Easy | Gain 260 feet
• St George, UT | Southwest US
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The image shows two people walking on a rocky terrain with a backdrop of towering red rock formations. The landscape is characterized by its rugged, layered rock structures and sparse vegetation, typical of a desert environment.

The image shows two people walking on a rocky terrain with a backdrop of towering red rock formations. The landscape is characterized by its rugged, layered rock structures and sparse vegetation, typical of a desert environment.

Just five miles north of St George, Utah the dramatic red rock scenery of Snow Canyon is often overlooked by those heading past in the direction of Zion National Park. We chose a family friendly 1.4 mile hike across the Petrified Dunes to Hidden Pinyon Lookout, where you can also explore the landscape as we scrambled off-trail, over rocks and up and down ledges to investigate the curious geological features of this area.

Dramatic is not an understatement - the twists and turns, the crevices and the little nooks in the eroded red 180 million year old sandstone dunes have an otherworldy feel to them. Scattered around and protruding from the dunes' surface are dried peppercorn-like ironstone pebbles and stones sometimes referred to as moqui marbles - harder, metal-rich concretions that better withstand the erosion of time.

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 4★ Petrified Dunes Trail 1.4 mi out & back, easy, gain 260 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX?

Although our suggested trail is short, be mindful that this area offers little in the way of shade - although we were able to find an occasional shady crevice from which to enjoy rest and a quick snack. Sometimes the trail can be difficult to follow - particularly in the middle - but it may be better just to follow where your eyes want to take you anyway.

The image is a split view of a scenic desert landscape. The left side shows a wide view of a road winding through a valley surrounded by red rock formations and sparse vegetation. Several cars are visible on the road, and there are green trees in the foreground. The right side shows a closer view of the red rock formations with a person sitting on a rock, resting with a backpack beside them.

The image is a split view of a scenic desert landscape. The left side shows a wide view of a road winding through a valley surrounded by red rock formations and sparse vegetation. Several cars are visible on the road, and there are green trees in the foreground. The right side shows a closer view of the red rock formations with a person sitting on a rock, resting with a backpack beside them.

Tangents:
• Official: UT State Parks
• AllTrails Public: Petrified Sand Dune Trail
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us

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