Community gathers to celebrate unveiling of new pavilion at Chuckwalla trailhead

ST. GEORGE — The power of community support was highlighted during the dedication of the Chuckwalla Trail day-use pavilion. The trailhead is located along state Route 18, a 1/2 mile north of the Snow Canyon Parkway intersection.

Friends of Snow Canyon board members with now Canyon State Park Manager Kristen Comella (second from the right) at the Chuckwalla Trail Day-Use Pavilion was dedicated Friday at the trailhead, Ivins, Utah, May 10, 2024 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News

An unveiling ceremony was held Friday morning to showcase this new visitor amenity. Snow Canyon State Park Manager Kristen Comella said many partners made this project possible.

“There was a little bit of money that came from our state parks budget, but all in all, this project — we’re probably in the realm of about $90,000 — almost 100% is donor-funded,” Comella said.

Donors included Vera Bensch Rowley, Black Desert Resort, the Ironman Foundation, the Erica Lockhart trust fund and Friends of Snow Canyon State Park. 

“It took a lot of people and a lot of support and partners to make it happen,” Comella said. “It’s one thing to have an idea; it’s another thing to be able to pull together the funding and pull together the expertise to make it happen.”

She thanked the Utah Department of Natural Resources Southern Utah region crews based out of Cedar City, who provided their skills to construct the pavilion.

“Without them, we would have had just a bunch of parts laying in the parking lot and bare dirt, you know, that’s what we’d be standing on,” Comella said. “So, they get a lot of credit.”

New vault toilets at the Chuckwalla Trail day-use pavilion which was dedicated Friday at the trailhead, Ivins, Utah, May 10, 2024 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News

Comella added that the upgrades to the Chuckwalla trailhead include a covered picnic table, vault toilets and a soon-to-be smoother parking lot.

“St. George’s is a rapidly growing urban area, and having access to Snow Canyon State Park and the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and the trail system, kind of right in people’s backyard, makes it special,” Comella said. “There’s a wonderful trail network right here.”

Comella added that upgrades can also be enjoyed by those who want to venture outdoors but may not be able to get out on the trails. The site is great for people to sit in nature and appreciate the Southern Utah views.

“It still gives people the opportunity to get out and enjoy themselves,” Comella said.

 She also thanked the Friends of Snow Canyon board and group members for serving light refreshments. After the dedication, Phenix Johnson, Snow Canyon Park naturalist, led a short hike along the Chuckwalla Trail.

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