But that's not stopping me from heading to Snow Canyon -- it'll be a different experience from my prior visits.
I want to start the day at the north edge of the park by going to the White Rocks Amphitheater first. It's a beautiful bowl with high white rock walls and it's a popular spot. My plan is to get there early before the crowds.
Unfortunately, I'm a little slow this morning heading out at 9am instead of 8 -- I was up and ready, but just dragging - I'm blaming the clouds for that lack of motivation.
The trail is actually just outside the park but oops, I turned into the park -- not wanting to look like an idiot to the guard by entering and exiting in under a minute, I decide to continue into the park and hike the White Rocks Trail. The trail is 2 miles and actually goes from parking lot to the Amphitheater parking lot with the option to go to the Amphitheater.
I've never been on this trail, so I decide to give it go. My destination is to the north but the trail heads west to the lava tubes.
The trail starts in a lava field - big (and little) black rocks across the landscape. I pass by and over those lava rocks enjoying the scenery as I head west towards the rock mountains.
Soon I reach a big lava tube - some of these you can actually go inside. The one look possibly but not for me.
I continue past leaving the lava rocks for a more sandy trail.
Soon I come upon some white petrified dunes near the rock mountains -- I take a quick peek (to the south)
to the north
before moving on. (I'll stop on the way back.)
I've been travelling basically west and in a parallel direction to the white rocks but now I'm finally heading north'sh towards the destination.
Finally see a new cactus species.
I finally reach the south end of the White Rocks -- gorgeous rock formations!!
I continue northeast around the rocks and reach an unexpected wooden bench at the base of the rocks. Cool but I'm not stopping. It's a long way around the rocks so the trail heads up and over the rocks and soon reaches more dunes. I scramble up the sand dunes ducking under a juniper tree and get to a smaller white amphitheater. Pretty cool!
I continue upwards and now can see the other parking lot. There are lots of cars there (no surprise) so I decide to continue back to that little Amphitheater and enjoy the pleasure of having it too myself!!
Time to head back. Many, many people coming up the trail now
I do stop to explore along the white petrified dunes looking for that perfect view to the north
And to the south
Before heading back to my car.
From there I head south through the parking stopping at the official Petrified Dunes - red ones. Been here several times and I simply love it! Time to roam!!
Fun time as always at the park but time to move onto my next destination - the White Dome Nature Conservancy site on the south side of St George.
