HomeUtahIvins › Johnson Canyon Trailhead (Fee Area)

Johnson Canyon Trailhead (Fee Area)

4.8 ★★★★★ 102 Google reviews · Running trail in Ivins, Utah · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
2 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Johnson Canyon Trailhead (Fee Area)'s own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Mixed2 miOpen 24hShadedScenicFlat & fastHillyTrailhead parkingMile markers

Family-friendly trail featuring a waterfall at the end and an arch along the way.

What runners say about Johnson Canyon Trailhead (Fee Area)

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (102 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 14 mentions

“Easy trail through lava flow bed that leads to shaded canyon area with a natural arch on one side and lots of beautiful red sandstone.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Easy trail through lava flow bed that leads to shaded canyon area with a natural arch on one side and lots of beautiful red sandstone.”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“It’s well-marked and perfect for a morning or evening hike when the light dances across the rocks.”

👟 good for all levels 6 mentions

“Easy trail through lava flow bed that leads to shaded canyon area with a natural arch on one side and lots of beautiful red sandstone.”

The trail is under two miles round trip and located just south of the Snow Canyon entrance. The trail is rated moderate but I thought it should be rated easy. The views are spectacular and the arch easy to spot. Dogs are allowed on the trail but have to be leashed.

★★★★★ — Linda , Oct 2023

Easy trail that even the children can go on. Around 1 mile round trip. Well defined trail and signage. Large parking area is fee free. Just outside Snow Canyon State Park. arch is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous! Easily on the caliber as Arches National Park with less crowds and access is free. I highly recommend this hike.

★★★★★ — James , Jan 2023

Definitely my family’s go-to hike. Highly recommended. Although until doing this review I thought it was called Johnson Family Canyon.. pretty sure because that’s what it was called in the All Trails app. This is an easy, quick and scenic round trip.

★★★★★ — Jared , Jul 2021

The trail leads to Padre Canyon (where we hiked most of the time). It's strenuous in some places where you rock scramble uphill, but it's beautiful! We went at noon on a 100° day. We took lots of water but ran out. There wasn't much shade at that hour. We started in the Tuacahn parking lot and that was a great idea....

★★★★★ — Cameron , Jul 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 102 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 24 mentions

“Easy trail through lava flow bed that leads to shaded canyon area with a natural arch on one side and lots of beautiful red sandstone.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 8 mentions

“The Johnson Canyon trailhead can be accessed just before the park entrance to Snow Canyon State Park and no fees are required.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 5 mentions

“The partial hike I did was easy besides the areas where lava rock makes up sort of steps to climb up or down the rise and falls of the trail.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Easy trail through lava flow bed that leads to shaded canyon area with a natural arch on one side and lots of beautiful red sandstone.”

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Flat & fast 3 mentions

“The hike was around 2 miles and relatively flat out and back.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“The trail features rocky sections, particularly around the lava tubes, so be prepared for some uneven terrain.”

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📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

“It’s well-marked and perfect for a morning or evening hike when the light dances across the rocks.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone

“No water; large, nice, gravel parking.”

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Plan your run at Johnson Canyon Trailhead (Fee Area)

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • Distance2 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitestateparks.utah.gov
  • Phone+1 435-628-2255
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Johnson Canyon Trailhead (Fee Area)

Ivins, Utah

Get directions

Running trails near Ivins

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Jenny's Canyon Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 514 reviews

Dammeron Valley, UT

ShadedLitScenic

Family-friendly destination featuring an easy trail to a small slot canyon.

under a mile away

Padre Canyon Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Ivins, UT

Scenic

1.1 miles away

Scout Cave

4.7 ★★★★★ 81 reviews

St. George, UT

3.5 miNatural surfaceShadedLit

Hiking route through desert terrain featuring a cave, waterfalls and lava fields.

1.1 miles away

Berm Trail - Ivins Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 72 reviews

Ivins, UT

ScenicDog-friendly

Area suitable for hiking and biking with varying difficulty levels, plus scenic views.

1.7 miles away

Snow Canyon State Park Petrified Sand Dunes

4.9 ★★★★★ 256 reviews

Dammeron Valley, UT

PavedScenic

Kid-friendly park featuring red rock formations and petrified dunes, plus scenic walking trails.

2.4 miles away

Snow Canyon State Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 4,942 reviews

Ivins, UT

MixedScenic

Scenic locale offering trails for hiking, climbing & horseback riding amid dunes & sandstone cliffs.

2.8 miles away

All running trails in Ivins, UT →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.