Cinder Cone Trail
The Cinder Cone Trail takes visitors to the rim of one of Washington County’s beautiful cinder cones. Two cinder cones sit almost completely within the boundaries of Snow Canyon State Park, a smaller one to the north, and the larger one to the south, the host of the Cinder Cone Trail. Part of the Santa Clara Volcano, these two cinder cones were responsible for the lava flow that covers so much of the area, one of the youngest lava flows in the Colorado Plateau.
The smaller cinder cone lies one mile north of the Cinder Cone Trail on State Route 18. The volcanic area that these two cinder cones belong to is very large, including all of St George.
The Cinder Cone Trail is short—beginning at the northern end of Snow Canyon State Park—but steep, gaining over 500 feet of elevation within 3/4 of a mile. The trail consists of much bare lava rock, meaning that visitors would be wise to wear boots and pants in order to keep from injuring themselves on the sharp rock.
Cinder Cone Trailhead
(37.243333, -113.634)
The trailhead is on the right (east) side of the road as visitors drive up the canyon, one mile north of the Snow Canyon Drive junction with State Route 18.
Cinder Cone Saddle
(37.241038, -113.630136)
The Cinder Cone Trail winds past a small saddle that gives hikers the chance to catch their breath and rest before continuing the steep route up the side of the volcano.
Cinder Cone
(37.242224, -113.62907)
The cinder cone sits just over 500 feet higher than the canyon around it. Its crater is elliptical at top, 616 feet across at its widest, and just under 100 feet deep.