Looking to escape the snow and get wild in St. George this winter?

If you’re craving red rock, lava flows, and a quick adventure you can squeeze in after a farmers market, the Snow Canyon Lava Tubes are calling.

Why the Lava Tubes?

Hey, it’s Tyler — a.k.a. Granola Guy. Welcome back to the Stay Wild: Adventure Report Series, where I share monthly guides to hikes, ski lines, backpacking trails, and bike routes that keep us exploring. My goal is simple: help you feel ready, motivated, and fueled (with Granola Girl Granola in your pack, of course) for your next adventure.

St. George is becoming a shoulder season getaway for us — partly for the sunshine, partly for the incredible downtown farmers market we’re planning to sell at a few weekends this year. After a long, satisfying day of selling granola and meeting locals, vacationers and a lot of high school band students,  we were itching to get outside before making the drive home.

Snow Canyon delivered: short, playful, and full of magic.

Trail Stats

Trailhead & Starting Out

The drive into Snow Canyon State Park is unreal — those towering cliffs, that mix of red and black rock, the kind of winding road that makes you instinctively turn the music down just to soak it all in.

We pulled into the Lava Flow Trailhead in the later afternoon and claimed a nearby bench to finally eat lunch. Sandwiches hit different when you’re sitting in warm desert air with sandstone glowing all around you. It was the perfect reset after a full day at the market.

Breaking Down the Hike

Desert Stroll (Trailhead → Lava Field)

The trail starts off mellow, winding through sand and scattered lava rock. Snow Canyon’s color palette in late afternoon is ridiculous — golds, reds, deep blacks. It already felt like we were stepping into another world.

Into the Tubes (Main Cave Area)

It’s not far to reach the lava tubes. There were two and while the first was enticing, we found the second more accessible. Climbing inside felt like being little kids again — crawling, squeezing through tight spaces, and laughing every time the ground dipped unexpectedly.

This is where we learned our lesson:
We forgot headlamps.
Regrettable. Hilarious. Extremely dark.
Phones got us by, but next time… we’re coming prepared.

Even with limited light, discovering each nook and chamber was a blast — cool air, silent rock, and a sense of mystery you just don’t get on most desert trails.

Golden Hour Magic (Lava Tubes → Trailhead)

As we climbed out of the tubes, golden hour had settled across the canyon. The whole desert seemed to glow, and we found ourselves stopping every few steps just to take it in. On the way back, we opened a bag of Cinnamon Lover's — not a flavor we usually reach for — and snacked as we walked. After a few bites, we looked at each other and laughed: “Wait… this is really good.” It was one of those small reminders that the simplest things can sometimes end up being the best.

On the Trail: Highlights

The Lava Tubes Themselves
Scrambling, ducking, exploring — it’s hands-on adventure for any age.

Regretting the Headlamp Situation
We laughed about it as we stumbled around trying to not fall on our faces. Lesson learned.

Golden Hour Photography Stops
We probably doubled our trail time with all the “Wait, one more picture!” moments.

Bench Lunch Before the Hike
Food is more enjoyable when the backdrop is a canyon.

Final Thoughts & Tips

• Bring a headlamp — trust me on this one.
• Snow Canyon charges a day-use fee; have a card ready or grab a pass.
• This is a great add-on hike to a farmers market day — quick, energizing, and kid-friendly.
• Start near sunset for maximum magic, and cooler temps.
• Don’t rush the drive in — it’s part of the experience.

The Snow Canyon Lava Tubes prove that adventure doesn’t always need miles of trail or hours of climbing. Sometimes it’s the simple, spontaneous ones — the ones squeezed between a market day and a drive home — that stick with you.

Next time you’re in St. George, grab a sandwich, toss some Granola Girl in your pack, and wander into the tubes.

They’re waiting.