IVINS – Winter in Snow Canyon State Park is beautiful, and the park has announced a dozen events to help you enjoy the seasons.
The park’s winter event schedule includes a New Years Day hike, lava tube explorations, two different star walks and the chance to sketch the canyon’s beauty.
Snow Canyon State Park is a 7,400-acre scenic park located in the 62,000-acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, which was established to protect the federally listed desert tortoise and its habitat.
“We do it for fun, we do it for educational purposes,” Snow Canyon State Park Naturalist Jenny Stucki said about the activities. “And to help people get connected with the park, maybe in a new way.”
Learning more about different aspects of the park can help visitors gain a new level of appreciation for the park, Stucki said.
The park offers a series of events each spring, fall and winter. The activities can help encourage visitors to enjoy and appreciate the park, which can translate into better stewardship by the public.
“You protect what you love,” Stucki said.
The educational and interpretive programs are offered to the public by both park staff and guest presenters, Stucki said, to tap into available resources in order to highlight the value of park stewardship.
Shorter winter days give the opportunity to offer the popular moonlit hikes and star walks at an earlier time, and these two events always fill up, Stucki said. The hikes are limited in number to preserve the quality of the experience.
The first guided hike is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. Register by phone or in person at least two days prior to the event. For more information or to register for a program call 435-628-2255.
Winter event schedule
- Moonlit Hike
- Join park staff for a moonlit, 2-mile hike. Enjoy the unique opportunity to see the canyon by moonglow | Dec. 26, 8-9:30 p.m.
- First Day Hike
- Start your New Year immersed in Snow Canyon’s scenic red rock, joining park staff on a 2-mile round-trip hike to appreciate the beauty of the canyon and welcome in 2016 | Jan. 1, 9-10:30 a.m.
- Lava Tube Hike
- Join park staff for a 2-mile, round-trip hike and the chance to explore the unique formations of a lava tube | Jan, 2, 1-2:30 p.m.
- Winter Circle Star Walk
- Join park staff for a stroll under the stars and explore the “Winter Circle” – a bright pattern of stars adorning chilly skies | Jan. 8, 8-9:30 p.m.
- Nature Sketching
- Explore the fun of sketching nature and learn how to make a new connection with the canyon | Jan. 16, 1-2:30 p.m.
- Moonlit Hike
- Join park staff for a moonlit, 2-mile hike, enjoying the canyon by moonglow | Jan. 22, 7-8:30 p.m. and Jan. 23, 7:30-9 p.m.
- Raven Intelligence
- Did you know Ravens are one of the most intelligent birds worldwide? Come and learn more about the remarkable feats of this feathered Einstein | Jan. 30, 1-2 pm
- Sunset Hike
- Explore the twilight sights and sounds of the canyon during a 1.5-mile, round-trip hike | Feb. 5, 5:30-7 p.m.
- Moonlit Hike
- Join park staff for a moonlit, 2-mile hike to see the canyon by moonglow | Feb. 19, 6:30-8:00 p.m. and Feb. 20, 6:45-8:15 p.m.
- Nature Sketching
- Explore the fun of sketching nature and learn how to make a new connection with the canyon | Feb. 27, 1-2:30 p.m.
- Star Walk: The North Star
- Join park staff for a 1-mile, round-trip hike and the opportunity to learn more about the north star and its nearest constellations. March 4, 7-8:30 pm
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