Golden Hour Glory: Hiking to Scout Cave Before the World Falls Asleep

Hiking the Scout Cave Trail in Snow Canyon State Park is a rewarding adventure for visitors seeking a short, scenic trek in southern Utah. The easy-going trail winds through stunning red rock landscapes, offering panoramic views of the surrounding desert cliffs and unique sandstone formations. The path gradually leads hikers to Scout Cave, a natural alcove where the rock walls create cool shade and offer a quiet spot to explore or take photos. Along the trail, hikers will encounter the park’s signature red and white cliffs, making it a perfect hike for families, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts. With its scenic views and geological interest, the Scout Cave Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Snow Canyon State Park, ideal for those looking to experience the beauty of Utah’s red rock scenery.

Trailhead elevation 3,150'

Water none

Don't miss sunset from the cave

Hiking to Scout Cave

I’ve just set up camp at the Snow Canyon State Park Campground, fresh off backpacking Zion’s incredible West Rim Trail. Looking for a few more miles and a sunset view, I decide to tackle one of the best hikes in the park—the Scout Cave Trail. Parking at the Johnson Canyon/Scout Cave lot on the west side of Snow Canyon Drive, I cross the road to the trailhead and set out.

It’s a hot late-September evening, with the temperature still well above 90 degrees. From the start, the trail heads east for about 0.3 miles before reaching a signed junction with the Scout Cave Trail, where I turn right. The path alternates between compact sand and sharp volcanic rock, surrounded by the park’s signature sandstone cliffs and dark lava flows—a classic Snow Canyon hiking landscape.

The route is easy to follow but rocky enough to demand attention. I’ve already stumbled a few times within the first mile, thanks to the uneven volcanic terrain. A little over a mile from the trailhead, I drop through a lava field and glance back at Johnson Canyon glowing in the late sun. It’s a beautiful view, but with the light fading fast, I push on toward the cave.

Soon the trail crosses a narrow wash and skirts a sandy bench lined with cottonwoods—the only stretch offering a bit of shade. I re-enter the wash, and the teardrop-shaped opening of Scout Cave appears in the distance, still about a mile away.

After working around a dry falls, I climb a staircase of 112 steps and reach a junction: left offers a longer but gentler route, while right is shorter with a brief scramble. I take the right fork and soon arrive at Scout Cave, just as the day begins to cool.

The cave itself is impressive—a high, rounded alcove cut into the sandstone with sweeping views of Snow Canyon below. I relax in the shady back of the cavern, watching pigeons dart in and out of their nests. Though Scout Cave has no confirmed archaeological significance, the area was once inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) from around 200 to 1250 AD and later by the Southern Paiute from about 1200 AD through the mid-1800s. Both cultures used the canyon for hunting, gathering, and crafting tools, and while there’s no evidence the cave was lived in or ceremonial, they almost certainly knew of it.

A family from Salt Lake City stops by for photos, and we chat about favorite Snow Canyon hikes and nearby spots to explore. I mention the Lava Tubes and Pioneer Names Trails, then stick around for a while, taking pictures as the sun slips behind the Beaver Dam Mountains to the west.

After one last photo about twenty minutes after sunset, I start the hike back. The return is just as scenic, though the dark volcanic rock keeps me cautious in the fading light. My headlamp proves very useful. Back at camp, I stretch out beneath a sky full of stars—another perfect Southern Utah adventure in the books. Tomorrow, I’ll meet up with my dad and head north to Great Basin National Park for a few days of hiking, cave tours, and Milky Way photography. I can’t wait. Any time that I can spend out here with my dad is a gift.