This is the plan for days when nobody in the group should be hiking: a summer afternoon, a baby, a grandparent with a bad knee, or all three. It is built from the park’s heat guidance. It is not medical advice.

The park’s heat rules

  • Summer daytime temperatures can run from the low 100s to 117°F, and July and August frequently top 105°F.
  • Avoid hiking, biking, or other activity between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (park web page). The Sept 2026 brochure words it as 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. when it is over 95°F. Use the stricter window.
  • When the air is 100°F, the park says the ground can be over 150°F.
  • Most trails have no shade. Cell coverage is limited. Don’t hike alone.
  • Infants, young children, and older adults overheat much more quickly. Stick to the shortest outings with them.

A no-hike Snow Canyon day

  1. Scenic drive. The park’s own suggestion for late arrivals is a driving tour and a picnic. Snow Canyon Drive runs through the park; the speed limit is 25 mph.
  2. Snow Canyon Scenic Overlook. Off State Route 18, about one mile south of the park’s north exit on the west side of the highway. The park calls it the best spot for sunrises and sunsets, and your day-use fee is valid in that lot.
  3. Visitor center. Inside the campground, about two miles from either entrance, with exhibits and a bookstore. Check hours with the park before you count on it for shade.
  4. A ten-minute walk, if anyone wants one. Tortoise Walk is 0.3 mile round trip and ADA accessible. Do it early, not at 2 p.m.
Golden winter grass below banded red and white sandstone cliffs on a December morning, Snow Canyon State Park.
A December morning, Snow Canyon State Park. Photo: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

For grandparents

Utah residents 65 and older pay a reduced vehicle day-use fee with a Utah driver’s license ($10 per vehicle on the fees page). Non-resident vehicles are $20. A pass does not change the heat rules. The drive and the overlook are the sure things; a short walk is a bonus.

For babies

Keep the outing to the car, the overlook, and a short shaded break. Do not leave anyone, including a pet, in a parked car. The toddler page has the stroller and carrier trails for cooler months.

If you would have arrived after 11 a.m. in summer, this page is the plan. Heat exhaustion signs the park lists include heavy sweating, nausea, weakness, dizziness, and muscle cramps. If someone has them, stop and get help. That is a park warning, not our medical advice.

Related: heat and water guide, easier access, no-signal safety.

Quick FAQ

What hours should we avoid in summer?

The park web page says 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The September 2026 brochure says 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. when it is over 95°F. Use the longer window.

What can we do at Snow Canyon without hiking?

Drive Snow Canyon Drive, stop at the Snow Canyon Scenic Overlook off SR-18, picnic, and visit the visitor center in the campground.

Is there a senior discount?

Utah residents 65+ with a Utah driver’s license pay $10 per vehicle. Non-resident vehicles are $20. Recheck the fees page before you go.