Trail Overview
Snow Hollow Loop is an easy, scenic dirt route perfect for beginners, families, and seasoned offroaders looking for a relaxed ride with beautiful desert and mountain vistas. Spanning approximately 17.8 miles near Vernon, Utah, this trail loops around the distinctive Red Skin Knolls and offers gentle grades that make it highly accessible to most high-clearance vehicles, four-wheel-drive rigs, and SxSs. Starting from the turnout off Highway 36 just southeast of Vernon, the route heads south into the valley, climbing from an elevation of 5,580 feet up to a peak of 6,926 feet. The trail provides stunning views of the surrounding Sheeprock Mountains to the west and Sabie Mountain to the east, with a total elevation gain of roughly 1,440 feet.
The well-maintained dirt and gravel surface is generally smooth and easy to navigate from spring through fall, though winter snow makes the route drifted and impassable. While the technical rating is a low 2, drivers should exercise caution after rainfall, as the silty clay material becomes extremely mucky, slick, and difficult to traverse when wet. Along the loop, travelers can stop at the scenic Vernon Reservoir, a popular spot stocked with trout for shore fishing or non-motorized watercraft, which also features about a dozen pavilions with firepits and non-flushing restrooms. Parking and staging are convenient, with options at the Highway 36 turnout, five miles down Main Canyon Road, or directly at the reservoir.
