SNOW CANYON STATE PARK, Utah — DarkSky International has certified Snow Canyon State Park as an Urban Night Sky Place, marking the 10th Utah State Park location recognized for its conservation of night skies. This scenic park provides a sanctuary for various native desert species, including the Mojave desert tortoise, and a variety of recreational opportunities for all abilities and ages.
DarkSky International’s Community Program Manager Michael Rymer believes Snow Canyon State Park will continue to serve as a leader in nighttime conservation in the state that possesses the most certified International Dark Sky Places in the world. “Snow Canyon State Park’s certification as an Urban Night Sky Place speaks volumes about its commitment to reducing light pollution in Southwest Utah, and its effort to inspire the surrounding communities in Washington County to do the same. The park’s staff deserves immense praise for addressing all of its outdoor lighting to achieve one hundred percent compliance, and demonstrating to visitors what responsible outdoor lighting looks like.”
Snow Canyon State Park is located in Washington County, Utah, which has long been recognized as a premier tourist destination with its abundant public lands and scenic vistas. Established by the Utah Division of State Parks in 1959, Snow Canyon is one of the most visited state parks in Utah. Visitation has surged dramatically since the park opened to the public in 1962, with more than one million guests in fiscal year 2024 (July 2024 – June 2025). This 7,400-acre park lies approximately ten miles northwest of the city of St. George, Utah, two hours from Las Vegas, Nevada, and five hours from the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. This location offers an accessible night sky to city-dwellers near and far.
The park’s strikingly beautiful and colorful canyon offers opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Recreational opportunities in the park are diverse, and include more than 38 miles of hiking trails, 17 miles of biking trails, 15 miles of equestrian trails, two canyoneering routes, 180 technical rock climbing routes, a 38-unit campground, various picnic areas, as well as wildlife viewing, photography, and night sky viewing areas. The park is also viewed as an important site for solitude, personal discovery, and spiritual connection. This is the homeland of the Southern Paiute people, with the Shivwits Reservation residing five miles outside the park.
The climate of Snow Canyon is characterized by low humidity and precipitation, with cool winters and hot summers. In this desert environment, average summer temperatures climb to well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), and winter temperatures linger in the mid-50-degree Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) range. The aridity, low humidity, and over 250 cloudless days per year contribute to great night sky viewing conditions.
Ringtails, kit foxes, spotted skunks, kangaroo rats, canyon tree frogs, red-spotted toads, and scorpions are just a few of the elusive nocturnal creatures that thrive in this area. Numerous species of nocturnal birds such as the great horned owl nest and forage within the park as well. Bats are an essential nocturnal species that inhabit the area. Bats are common in Utah, and due to the mild climate in the southwestern corner of the state, they can be seen year-round in Snow Canyon. Park staff are aware of the importance of maintaining and protecting the park’s nightscape and have taken care to minimize nocturnal impacts.
Park Manager Kristen Comella, Park Naturalist Cheyenne Winchester, and other Snow Canyon State Park staff members are furthering dark sky preservation within the park for the benefit of visitors, nocturnal ecosystems, and future generations. They modified all non-compliant light fixtures and luminaires to achieve one hundred percent dark sky-friendly lighting compliance. Staff have also committed to the policy that all future lighting projects set forth by the park, and concessionaires will conform to the Utah State Parks’ Lightscape Management Plan in addition to Urban Night Sky Place lighting standards.
Park staff provide interpretive and educational opportunities throughout the year for more than 4,000 guests a year. Activities include K-12 school visits, seasonal naturalist hikes, and presentations with topics that highlight the park’s natural resources, including our dark skies and nocturnal critters. The park naturalist will also continue the development of a multi-year project of building a night sky interpretive trail and stargazing location on the east rim of the canyon.
“Our park staff are so passionate about conserving dark skies,” Park Manager Kristen Comella said. “It’s so satisfying to see all of our efforts come together and become a part of the dark-sky community. We are so grateful.”
“This is a sanctuary for so many unique species. I am ecstatic that we are able to protect this resource for current and future generations, as well as educate the public on the importance of dark skies,” Park Naturalist Cheyenne Winchester said.
Snow Canyon staff will continue to develop partnerships with the four certified International Dark Sky Places within 62 miles (100 kilometers) of Snow Canyon State Park: Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Pipe Spring National Monument, and the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation.
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