Snow Canyon Overlook via Red Mountain Trail

There is no better view of the gorgeous Snow Canyon State Park than from high above its northern end. The Red Mountain Trail parking lot starts outside of the Red Mountain Wilderness but soon takes you into the protected area. The trail to the overlook is boring and ugly, but it leads to an absolutely breathtaking view of layered sandstone below with large cliffs above in the far distance. Doing this hike at sunset is an absolute must and really makes the experience far more dynamic. The entire area near the overlook is quite fascinating with large sand dunes, rocks and spires jutting out of the terrain and large pinion pines dotting the landscape. The area gives you several options to decide where you want to enjoy the views with enough space to spread out even when the area is relatively crowded. The area is mostly exposed, so bring your water and a hat if you are hiking in the middle of the day. Another great reason to hike at sunrise or sunset is simply to avoid the heat or to improve your chances on seeing some of the elusive wildlife. While rare, there are reports of peregrine falcons in the area.