Name: Snow Canyon Exploratory: The Colosseum
Start: 2025-11-29T09:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-11-29T16:00:00-07:00
Location: Tuacahn Amphitheatre

**Rating:** **5 miles**, easy to strenuous, about **1000 feet of climbing** and descending. Some very minor bushwacking, and quite a lot of fun, easyish rock climbing. About 5-6 hours with a nice slow pace. The route has some vertical exposures, so confidence with heights is necessary.

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This hike is in conjunction with **[Red Rock Hiking](https://www.meetup.com/red-rock-hiking)**.

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Note that this hike will **require a car shuttle** between Tuacahn school and the middle of Snow Canyon, which is a fee area. The drive time is roughly 15 minutes one way.

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You may have already seen the Colosseum. If so, you are one of the lucky few. It's a magnificent sandstone bowl up on top of a high mesa near the west side of Snow Canyon. Cameras are mandatory for this one, folks.

It's visited so rarely because there are monstrous high cliffs guarding most of the approaches, so usually we start from Tuacahn, climb to Padre Pass and thence go cross-country to the Colosseum, returning the same way.

But this time we're going to try a new approach from the north side, which climbs 400 feet up a large ridge. This route is well described online, and is said to be "Class 3" with cairns marking the route.

Once at the Colosseum, we will go on to Tuacahn via the usual route, no problem, then finish the car shuttling.

By going in from the road in Snow Canyon we eliminate the 600 feet of climb and descent on Padre Pass Trail, replacing it with a shorter distance that has far less climbing and some deep sand for a half-mile.

If the new ridge-climbing route proves more difficult/dangerous than described, we can just back out and climb over Padre Pass via the trail to Tuacahn, which is a pretty darned good hike in itself.

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**Note:** This is an *exploratory hike*, so only those with experience on difficult terrain should attempt it. Even the known portions of the route have a couple of spots where beginners are somewhat challenged.

But assuming you are an agile hiker with good arm and leg strength, and plenty of stamina, you'll do fine.

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**Prep:** The usual, gloves, 2 big bottles of water, and food. It could be crisp at first so layers are called for, and a hat too.

**Meetup:** We meet in the Tuacahn Parking lot on the right side, a few rows back from the school where there's room to park.

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**See you there! M+J :)**

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Notice:
Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being.

By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you - at any event.

All attendees participate at an event at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or injury to themselves or their guests.

By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer and that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of or related to this Meetup event against the organizers of this Meetup group.

Meredith Bowman

John Gallant

Mindful Scramblers

Travel & Outdoor

Photography

Hiking

Meditation

Travel

Outdoors

Adventure

Travel Photography

Nature Photography

Exploring

Landscape Photography

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Richard Behling

Jose Sicairos

Alan Holben

Vicki Yost

Pasquale

Richard

Tejbir Singh

Snow Canyon Exploratory: The Colosseum

Tuacahn Amphitheatre

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Snow Canyon Exploratory: The Colosseum

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