Butterfly Trail
The Butterfly Trail is one of the most overlooked trails in Snow Canyon. This trail is advertised more as a connector trail than anything, but it really can and does...
Trail Facts
Overview
The Butterfly Trail is one of the most overlooked trails in Snow Canyon. This trail is advertised more as a connector trail than anything, but it really can and does stand on its own! After parking, head down the Petrified Dunes Trail and continue West where the Petrified Dunes Trail turns south. The trail drops down and follows along a huge petrified dune until if finally climbs up and turns west again. You will feel like the only person in the Park on this trail. The views are fantastic as you look up and down the canyon. Eventually this trail connects with the Lava Flow Trail, where you can turn around or follow down to the West Canyon Overlook (adds another .8 miles round trip). This is a great trail to take your family on, even if you don’t hike the whole trail. The views and colors on this hike will not disappoint!
Know Before You Go
Trail Map
Map of the route “Butterfly Trail”: 1,929 m, 84 m of climbing and 84 m of descent, elevation between 1,092 m and 1,114 m, time 00:32:24. It is a loop that starts and ends at 37.21567, -113.64388 (latitude, longitude).
Getting There
From St. George: 11.5 Miles (25 minutes driving)
Get Directions to Trailhead. From St George, head north on Bluff Street and take exit to Red Hills Pkwy/Snow Canyon Pkwy. Turn left onto Snow Canyon Pkwy and travel 3.2 miles until you come to a traffic circle. Proceed through the circle and continue 0.7 miles. At the next traffic circle take the first exit onto Snow Canyon Dr. In 3.6 miles (after passing through the main gate) the parking lot for the trail head will be on your left.
Trailhead GPS: 37.21568, -113.643872
Also, about half way going out to the lava tube there is a split rock on the right that, with a roundish rock at the bottom of the split, looks like butterfly wings and head. My grandchildren thought it was fun to pretend they were the butterfly body.