Scout Cave is the Navajo sandstone alcove in the Johnson Canyon area on the BLM land just east of Snow Canyon State Park, accessed by a 4.5-mile out-and-back trail that climbs onto the slickrock benches above the canyon and ends at a large open-faced alcove that scout troops have used as a base camp for decades. The “cave” is really a deep alcove cut into the cliff — open on one side, with a flat sandy floor and the kind of curving ceiling that makes desert alcoves photogenic.
What “Scout Cave” means
The cave’s name comes from its long history as a destination for Boy Scout troops from the St. George area. Troops would hike in, camp in or near the alcove, do their scout activities, and hike out the next morning. The tradition continues, though decreased with modern leave-no-trace ethics that discourage camping in or under sandstone alcoves where evidence of occupation lingers visibly. The BLM has not formalized the camping ban but discourages it.
The walk in
From the trailhead off Snow Canyon Parkway (on the eastern side of the park), the trail climbs through pinyon-juniper, gains a slickrock bench, and traverses around the curve of the canyon to the alcove. The grade is steady but moderate. Total round trip is 4.5 miles with around 600 feet of cumulative elevation change. Most parties take 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
What you see at the alcove
The cave itself is a large open-faced alcove — perhaps 50 feet wide and 30 feet deep, with a curving sandstone ceiling and a flat sandy floor. The cliff face above is several hundred feet tall, making the alcove’s floor the only flat ground for a stretch. From inside, looking out, the canyon opens onto the broader country to the south, with views toward St. George and the lower basin on clear days. The effect is similar to many Anasazi-period alcove dwellings elsewhere in the Colorado Plateau — though there’s no evidence Scout Cave was used by Indigenous peoples in the same way.
The connection to Snow Canyon
Scout Cave sits just outside Snow Canyon State Park’s eastern boundary. The trail crosses BLM land but the geology and ecosystem are continuous with the park. Some parties combine Scout Cave with Snow Canyon’s interior trails by linking through the West Canyon Road or by parking in the park and walking out through the eastern border. The unmanaged nature of the BLM section means fewer rules and lower visitor density than the park interior.
Tortoise habitat applies
The lower sections of the trail are in tortoise habitat. Standard rules: leashed dogs, on-trail travel, no off-trail wandering. BLM enforces.
Heat and seasonality
The trail is exposed for most of its length. Summer afternoons are too hot. October through April is the comfortable window. The alcove provides a shaded lunch spot for parties who reach it; the walk back across the open slickrock is the heat-exposure section.
Don’t damage the alcove
The Navajo sandstone is soft. Don’t carve initials, don’t add to the wall, don’t break off pieces. The alcove has decades of visible scout-era graffiti that the BLM has not actively cleaned, and adding more is a real concern. The leave-no-trace expectation is strong here.
Where it fits
Scout Cave is the trail for parties wanting Snow Canyon’s geology without the entrance fee, or for visitors who’ve already done the in-park trails and want a less-developed alternative. The drive is short from Ivins, the trail is moderate, and the alcove is a satisfying destination. Pair with a Snow Canyon morning or with a Kayenta-area dinner for a full day on the west side of the basin.