Source: St. George News, “November brings stargazing, desert hikes and a giant American flag to Snow Canyon State Park” by Frank Lowery, Nov. 5, 2026. Event times and locations confirmed from the Utah State Parks Snow Canyon calendar. Read the original article for the full story.
Cooler nights and shorter days make November one of the best months to look up in Ivins. According to St. George News, Snow Canyon State Park has released its slate of ranger-guided activities, celestial events and visitor tips for the month—and because the park is an Urban Night Sky Place, managers lean into stargazing as fall evenings grow longer.
Dark skies come first
St. George News reports that park naturalist Cheyenne Winchester schedules night events and star parties first, then builds the rest of the month’s programs around those. That focus fits Snow Canyon’s Urban Night Sky designation and gives neighbors and visitors a clear calendar of when the sky is darkest and most inviting.
From the celestial calendar St. George News shared:
- New moon on Nov. 9 — darker skies for stargazing
- Leonid meteor shower most visible Nov. 17–18
- Beaver moon rises Nov. 24
- Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter visible early morning Nov. 14; just Mercury early morning Nov. 20
Under the Milky Way — Friday, Nov. 6
Utah State Parks lists Under the Milky Way for Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Snow Canyon Scenic Overlook. Expect telescopes, a constellation tour and hands-on fun. Bring a chair, a blanket and a red flashlight. The park is at 1002 Snow Canyon Drive, Ivins, UT 84738.
Ranger-guided days in November
Beyond the night sky, St. George News and the Utah State Parks calendar list several daytime programs:
- Lunch and Learn — Thursday, Nov. 20, 12:00–1:00 p.m. at Upper Galoot Picnic Area. Pack a lunch and learn about park ecology from a naturalist; topics change monthly.
- Nature’s Bounty — Friday, Nov. 21, 9:00–11:00 a.m. A moderate guided hike. Registration is required; call the Snow Canyon Visitor Center at (435) 628-2255 and sign up early.
- Stretch & Sketch — Friday, Nov. 28, 9:00–10:00 a.m. at Sand Dunes Picnic Area. Guided stretches and nature journaling; bring a half-filled notebook and a writing or sketching utensil.
Follow the Flag and race-day closures
St. George News also notes that Follow the Flag hangs a large American flag in the park Nov. 8–14, and that the Half Marathon and 10K on Nov. 14 mean Snow Canyon Drive and the Whiptail Trail will be closed. Utah State Parks lists the closure as 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 14, for the race held with St. George City, and notes Nov. 7 and 15 as set-up and take-down days when visibility of the flag may be limited. Stay on designated mapped trails, park in designated lots, and see followtheflag.org. I covered the flag display in more detail in Follow the Flag Returns to Snow Canyon for Veterans Day Week.
Tortoises and trail etiquette
St. George News reports that Mojave desert tortoises are preparing to brumate this time of year. Winchester warned visitors to keep out of their way. Snow Canyon sits on the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, so stay on the trails—stepping into brush can mean stepping on tortoise dens.
Why it matters for Ivins
Having an Urban Night Sky park minutes from home is one of the quiet joys of living in Ivins. Clear November evenings, ranger programs and a little trail courtesy make Snow Canyon easy to enjoy without leaving the neighborhood.
More from Ivins
- Follow the Flag at Snow Canyon for Veterans Day week
- Living near Snow Canyon and Living in Ivins, Utah
- Things to do this week around Ivins and St. George
- All articles from The OwnUtah Journal
- OwnUtah.com home
See you under the stars.
— Robert Bolar, REALTOR®, Summit Sotheby's International Realty
801-737-3333 · Robert@OwnUtah.com