Horseback Riding in Snow Canyon State Park

Towering sandstone cliffs, sweeping desert vistas, ancient lava flows, and miles of quiet trails make horseback riding in Snow Canyon State Park and the surrounding Ivins and Santa Clara area an unforgettable way to experience Southern Utah. Long before paved roads crossed this landscape, horseback travel was part of life in the desert—and today, riders can still explore portions of the Snow Canyon area from the saddle.

Snow Canyon State Park contains more than 15 miles of designated equestrian trails, while additional riding opportunities extend into the Red Mountain Wilderness and the desert surrounding Santa Clara. Whether you bring your own horse or join a guided trail ride, horseback riding offers an entirely different perspective on the red-rock landscape.

Snow Canyon State Park officially welcomes horseback riders on designated equestrian trails. These routes travel through portions of the park’s remarkable landscape, where red and white Navajo sandstone rises above black lava flows, sandy washes, and native desert vegetation.

Not every hiking trail in Snow Canyon is open to horses, so riders should use the park’s official Equestrian Trail Map and remain on designated routes. Current maps and trail information are available from the Snow Canyon State Park Visitor Center and Utah State Parks.

More Than 15 Miles of Equestrian Trails

Snow Canyon contains more than 15 miles of equestrian trails, giving riders an opportunity to experience several different sides of the park. Rather than following only the busy main canyon road, equestrian routes venture into quieter portions of the landscape where the scale of Snow Canyon becomes even more apparent.

The terrain varies from sandy desert routes and broad washes to trails beneath sandstone formations. Because these are multi-use areas, horseback riders may encounter hikers and other trail users along the way.

West Canyon

West Canyon is one of Snow Canyon’s most important corridors for horseback riding. The broad unpaved route travels approximately four miles into the western side of the park, gradually leading deeper into the canyon beneath massive sandstone cliffs.

Because West Canyon Road is closed to most motorized traffic, the experience is considerably quieter than traveling along Snow Canyon Drive. Riders share the route with hikers and cyclists while enjoying expansive views of the surrounding cliffs, lava formations, and open desert.

Three Ponds & Padre Canyon Area

The western side of Snow Canyon also provides equestrian access toward the Three Ponds area in Padre Canyon. This portion of the park feels more remote than many of the popular roadside attractions, with sandy washes and towering canyon walls creating a classic Southern Utah riding environment.

Snow Canyon’s long-range management planning specifically recognizes horseback riding in West Canyon and toward the Three Ponds area as part of the park’s equestrian recreation. Riders should follow the current equestrian map, since permitted routes and conditions can change over time.

Bring Your Own Horse

Experienced equestrians can bring their own horses to Snow Canyon, but riding is restricted to designated horse trails. Before arriving, riders should check the current equestrian map and confirm trail conditions, closures, parking information, and any current regulations with the park.

The desert environment also requires preparation for both horse and rider. Water can be limited, shade is scarce, and summer temperatures can become extreme. Spring and fall are particularly popular times to visit Snow Canyon because of their generally milder temperatures.

Guided Horseback Riding Near Snow Canyon

You don’t need to own a horse to experience the Snow Canyon landscape from the saddle. Guided horseback riding is available in the area surrounding the park, giving first-time and visiting riders an opportunity to experience Southern Utah’s red-rock country with a guide.

One of the most established local options is Snow Canyon Trail Rides, which operates in the Red Mountain Wilderness adjacent to Snow Canyon State Park. Guided rides explore the high-desert landscape above and around the canyon rather than simply following the park’s main road.

Snow Canyon Trail Rides

Snow Canyon Trail Rides takes visitors into the approximately 18,700-acre Red Mountain Wilderness bordering Snow Canyon State Park. The riding area offers panoramic viewpoints looking into Snow Canyon, where red and white Navajo sandstone meets ancient black basalt lava flows.

From the higher terrain, riders can also see across the surrounding Southern Utah landscape toward Zion National Park, the Virgin River Gorge, and the Beaver Dam Mountains. The route travels through a mixture of red sand, slickrock, sandstone outcrops, pinyon pine, Utah juniper, sagebrush, and other high-desert vegetation, creating an experience noticeably different from riding on the canyon floor.

Red Mountain Wilderness

Rising directly above Ivins and Snow Canyon, the Red Mountain Wilderness provides some of the most dramatic horseback riding terrain in the area. The wilderness encompasses approximately 18,700 acres of sandstone cliffs, upland desert, slickrock, pinyon-juniper woodland, and elevated viewpoints.

Equestrian trails lead toward spectacular overlooks into Snow Canyon, providing a perspective of the park that most visitors never see from the canyon floor. Because this is rugged wilderness terrain, riders should be prepared for changing trail conditions and should use established routes to protect the surrounding landscape.

Horseback Riding Around Santa Clara

West of Snow Canyon, the Santa Clara River Reserve provides another extensive area for horseback riding. The reserve protects thousands of acres of desert landscape surrounding Santa Clara and includes a network of multi-use trails open to equestrians, hikers, and mountain bikers.

Unlike the towering canyon walls found inside Snow Canyon, riding around Santa Clara often takes place across broad desert mesas, washes, historic routes, and terrain overlooking the Santa Clara River. The trail network can be connected in different ways, allowing experienced riders to create longer outings through the reserve.

Upper Graveyard Trail

Upper Graveyard Trail is particularly important for equestrians exploring the Santa Clara/Land Hill portion of the Santa Clara River Reserve. The Bureau of Land Management specifically identifies this smooth dirt singletrack as the preferred entry trail for horseback riders.

From Upper Graveyard, riders can connect with other trails extending deeper into the reserve. The route provides access to a fascinating landscape where natural scenery is combined with thousands of years of human history.

Tempi’po’op & Land Hill

The Land Hill area above Santa Clara contains one of the region’s most significant collections of prehistoric rock imagery. Trails through this portion of the reserve pass near petroglyph sites created by Indigenous peoples who lived in and traveled through the Santa Clara River corridor long before modern settlement.

For horseback riders, the area combines desert scenery with an extraordinary cultural landscape. Riders should remain on designated trails and never approach, touch, trace, or otherwise disturb petroglyphs or archaeological sites.

Enepitsi Trail

Enepitsi Trail follows an old pioneer road along the Santa Clara River beneath the cliffs of Land Hill. The approximately 1.5-mile one-way route is officially designated by the Bureau of Land Management for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Along the way, riders can encounter views of both prehistoric petroglyphs and historic pioneer graffiti. Because private property borders portions of the route, riders should remain on the established two-track trail and respect all posted boundaries.

Farmstead Loop

Farmstead Loop provides another equestrian-friendly route within the Santa Clara/Land Hill trail network. It can be reached from the surrounding interconnected trails and adds another opportunity to explore the open desert west of Santa Clara.

The broader network allows experienced riders to combine several trails rather than following a single out-and-back route, making the Santa Clara River Reserve particularly appealing for riders looking to spend more time exploring the desert.

Tava’atsi Trail

Tava’atsi Trail is a short two-track route within the Santa Clara/Land Hill portion of the reserve that is designated for equestrians, hikers, and mountain bikers. Its name means “two striped chipmunk” in Southern Paiute.

Current access is important to understand: the BLM notes that subdivision construction has eliminated direct public access to Tava’atsi from its former entrance. The trail can currently be reached only from other trails within the reserve, with a future trailhead planned at its northern end.

Riding Through Southern Utah History

Horseback riding feels particularly at home in the Snow Canyon and Santa Clara landscape because horses played an important role in the region’s more recent history.

Snow Canyon was used by Indigenous peoples for centuries before Mormon pioneers arrived in the region during the 1850s. Santa Clara later became one of Southern Utah’s early pioneer communities, and old roads and routes through the surrounding desert still provide glimpses into how people once traveled through this rugged landscape.

Today’s riders can experience that landscape at a pace that allows time to notice the cliffs, washes, desert vegetation, wildlife, and immense open spaces that are easy to overlook when traveling by car.

Wildlife Along the Trail

Horseback riding can also provide excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. Snow Canyon and the surrounding Red Cliffs Desert Reserve protect habitat for a remarkable variety of desert animals.

Mule deer, coyotes, jackrabbits, cottontails, hawks, quail, roadrunners, and other wildlife may be encountered throughout the region. More elusive animals such as mountain lions, bobcats, and kit foxes also inhabit the surrounding wilderness.

The federally protected Mojave desert tortoise is one of the region’s most important residents. Riders should never harass or disturb wildlife and should give animals plenty of space.

Horseback Riding for Beginners

Visitors don’t necessarily need previous riding experience to enjoy horseback riding around Snow Canyon. Guided trail rides provide an opportunity for first-time riders to experience the landscape with trained horses and experienced guides.

Guides typically provide basic instruction before heading onto the trail and match riders with horses appropriate for their experience level. Anyone unsure about age requirements, physical limitations, rider weight restrictions, or required clothing should confirm those details directly with the outfitter before booking.

When to Go Horseback Riding

Fall, winter, and spring are excellent seasons for horseback riding around Snow Canyon, with cooler temperatures making longer rides much more comfortable for both horses and riders.

Summer requires considerably more caution. Southern Utah temperatures can exceed 100°F, and exposed desert trails offer very little shade. When riding during warmer months, early mornings are generally preferable, and riders should always carry plenty of water and plan around current weather conditions.

Share the Trail

Many equestrian trails around Snow Canyon and Santa Clara are multi-use, meaning horseback riders may encounter hikers and mountain bikers.

All visitors should approach trail encounters carefully and communicate with one another. Cyclists and hikers should give horses adequate space and avoid sudden movements that could startle an animal. Riders should remain on designated routes and minimize impacts to fragile desert vegetation and soils.

Protect the Desert

Snow Canyon lies within the larger Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, an area established in part to protect habitat for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise. The surrounding landscape may appear rugged, but many desert soils and plants are surprisingly fragile.

Stay on designated equestrian trails, avoid cutting switchbacks, respect seasonal or temporary closures, and keep horses away from sensitive vegetation and archaeological sites. Responsible riding helps ensure these trails remain available for future equestrians while protecting the landscape that makes the experience so special.

Plan Your Snow Canyon Horseback Adventure

From quiet rides beneath Snow Canyon’s sandstone cliffs to elevated journeys through the Red Mountain Wilderness and historic desert trails around Santa Clara, horseback riding provides a unique way to experience the Snow Canyon area.

Bring your own horse and explore more than 15 miles of designated equestrian trails inside Snow Canyon State Park, join a guided ride overlooking the canyon, or venture into the Santa Clara River Reserve to discover desert mesas, pioneer routes, petroglyphs, and views across Southern Utah.

Whether you’re an experienced equestrian or climbing into the saddle for the first time, exploring Snow Canyon on horseback offers something that hiking or driving simply can’t replicate—a slower, quieter journey through one of Utah’s most remarkable desert landscapes.