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Print Friendly MapParalleling State Highway 18 outside of the city of St. George in southwest Utah, this trail provides a great recreational opportunity. Spectacular views can been had from numerous points along the trail.
To reach the upper trailhead from the south, take I-15 to Exit 6 (S. Bluff Street/SR 18) and go for 11.1 miles. Take a left on SR 300/Snow Canyon Drive; the parrking lot is just on the left.
To reach the upper trailhead from the north, take I-15 to Exit 8 (St George Boulevard) and go right. In just under 2 miles, turn right onto Bluff St/SR 18. Travel for 9.1 miles then turn left on SR 300/Snow Canyon Drive; the parking lot is just on the left.
To reach the lower trailhead, use the Chuckawalla trailhead on SR 18, 0.3 mile north of Snow Canyon Parkway.
park at the TH just outside the north entrance of Snow Canyon Park and you park for free. Travel southward on Hiway 18 and connect to the Snow Canyon park trail in St Geo. I tried the loop counterclockwise (i was lured in this direction by the stellar views of the Park. I should have followed the reviews tho). The hills on this path are over 15% - there are 3 of them. on our ebikes they were still a struggle. although there is one big hill going northward in Snow Canyon Park (entrance fee is $5 per bike versus $15 for car), the top 1.5 miles where you share the park road allows you to maybe hitch a ride with a friendly vehicle going northward (and uphill) thus allowing you to complete the loop and not push your bike uphill for 1.5 miles. the use of internal combustion engines (unless you hitch a ride with an e-car) is the way to go.
The crazy thing is that the path designers should have used switchbacks on the steep hills (there was room on all the hills) instead of paralleling the highway. At times it made more sense to bike the highway to avoid the hills (the highway hills were at a less steep grade).
I rode this trail southbound in November 2020. The path parallels Highway 18 with adequate separation. There are some pavement cracks, but not bad.
The upper part by Snow Canyon are flat and benign. The lower portion is a bit more fun. The path does not follow the grade of the road but the natural elevations up and down outside of the road cuts. I call it a "Roller Coaster". Riding south is fairly easy, but riding north would be quite a challenge with some 10% grades.
I made a clockwise loop with Snow Canyon for a fun late-fall ride.
Location: St George, UT
Trail Condition: Wide pavement in good condition.
Signage: This trail is signed as SR18 vice the TrailLink identification as Highway 18 trail. St George trail system has excellent signage.
Comments: This is an uphill trail if starting in St. George and going north. Change in elevation of 1,100 ft. Several of the hills on the trail are steep. We made a loop by taking the Snow Canyon Trail (State Park) route back. Was nice downhill for that portion. The trail parallels the highway but far enough away from the highway to not be bothersome. This trail gets out of town into the desert and surrounding red rocks, beautiful scenery. Combined with the Snow Canyon Trail this makes a great ride. Recommend this loop ride. We liked the counterclockwise direction. Can’t say enough good things about the St George trail system and parks, can only get better with time and more inter-connectabilty (if such a word).
Some really tough uphill grades going north from pioneer park through the Ledges. Return trip is mostly fast downhill until the red hills trail intersection. Nice 15-17 mile round trip depending on where you park on red hills parkway.
Pedaled 3.8 miles south from upper trailhead to possible 20% grade both directions, turned around. Trail is open, no shade. View down into Snow Canyon State Park and of surrounding mountains. Surface excellent condition. Noel Keller 31 Mar 2011
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