Explore Utah's Red-Rock Country On The Short, Easy Johnson Canyon Trail
By Catherine Armstrong|Published June 03, 2020
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
The beauty of Southern Utah’s red rock country is without compare, and the best way to witness it is by getting out on a hiking trail and walking amongst the canyons, cliffs, and rock formations. There’s a short, easy trail just outside of Snow Canyon State Park that’s a perfect adventure for hikers of every skill level. Check out Johnson Canyon Trail:
*Please note that Johnson Canyon is closed from March 15th – Sept 14th to protect wildlife. It’s illegal to enter the canyon during this time.
Your adventure starts at the Johnson Canyon trailhead, located at the south entrance to Snow Canyon State Park. There's a parking lot and some information available there.
The trail extends east from the parking lot. It's a total of 1.7 miles out and back, and the trail is rated as "easy," so it's appropriate for most hikers. Much of the trail is sun-exposed, so make sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat.
If you're looking for scenic Southern Utah beauty, you just found it. The red rock cliffs meet bright blue skies here, and the effect is amazing. At the beginning of the hike, you'll walk along Snow Canyon's sheer rock walls, eventually turning into Johnson Canyon.
The deep gulch is a point of interest, with its lava rocks. Watch for wildlife in this area, where you might see leopard lizards, gopher snakes, desert tortoises, and even gila monsters.
Its rock walls and formations provide plenty of visual interest. The Navajo sandstone that formed them hardened from sand dunes into rock, and over millions of years, water cut through this stone to form the canyon.