Talk about an awesome base camp for adventure. Kanab, Utah is the perfect location for fun in the sun – squeeze through slot canyons, surf sand waves, and explore mysterious caves – all within a 45-minute drive.
If you have little ones, that’s no excuse for missing out on outdoor adventures. Don’t underestimate what your kids can do – they might surprise you. You’re bound to find some crazy adventures in Utah that your entire family will love. And Kanab is a great place to start.
Also, be sure to work up an appetite by day, because you’ll want to indulge in the delicious eateries by night. So good!!!
Kanab, Utah – who knew?!
Shimmy Through Slot Canyons
If you’re craving a slot canyon without the guides and crowds of Antelope Canyon, then you have to check this one out.
Buckskin Gulch, in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, is a beautiful slot canyon that will blow you away.
It may not be quite as gorgeous as Antelope Canyon, but the experience was more peaceful and genuine without the commercialized tour and huge crowds that you get with Antelope.
Also, I’ve seen photos of Buckskin Gulch that resemble the famous lottery Wave – not surprisingly as it is in the same region. I don’t think we went far enough to catch that part.
The slot canyons get pretty narrow, but not enough to have to suck it in after a yummy Kanab lunch! Jeff and Ella were able to get through the narrowest ones together with the carrier, no problem.
This portion of the Wire Pass Trailhead hike was moderate in difficulty without too much elevation change. Tough out the rather boring 1.25 miles of wide gravel road…
…because once you hit that first slot, it’ll be more than worth it!
There are a few mini-challenges, like 3-foot drops and fallen tree stumps to maneuver.
If you’re a tank, hike the 20 miles. But if you have small children with you and as much patience and energy as I do, then you’ll see plenty of slot canyons if you turn around after about 1.75 miles.
This turn-around is a calm, cool area to sit and relax for a bite, taking in the impressive orange rock wall. Our tour guide (Dada) found us the perfect lunch spot, or should I say “munch” spot, my daughter’s latest nickname.
Here’s a glimpse of where we ate:
Getting there: The most direct route to the slots is through the Wire Pass Trailhead, about 30 minutes east of Kanab on highway 89, depending on how fast you drive the last 5+ miles of rocky, dirt road (turn onto House Rock Valley Road from highway 89). As long as conditions aren’t wet, any vehicle can safely drive out there.
Side note: It’s Peekaboo Red Slot Canyon on the other side of Kanab that requires all-wheel drive to access. I know. We tried. There is no reservation or permit required for that hike.
Reservations: You need a day-use pass ($6/person, one pass per car) from the Recreation website to access this trail. It’s recommended to get it in advance. Cell service can be spotty.
Heat and flood warnings: Start early as it heats up quickly in Utah, especially May to September.
There is an increased chance of flash floods in July and August. It’s very important to check the weather reports and trail info to ensure it’s safe before venturing out there, even if it isn’t raining in that region per se.
Accessibility: Pretty poor. You could get an all-terrain track chair down the gravel road, and maybe into the first or second wide canyon, but not much further due to the narrow paths.
Sand-Surf the Dunes
The Coral Pink Sand Dunes, that is.
Rent a stand or sit board and slide away! Check out my Instagram Kanab story highlight for videos of us boarding.
We all had a blast, even more than I expected! Despite the crazy winds, we stayed out there awhile. The kids played with toy trucks at the bottom of the hill while we kept riding, just to give them a break from the sand blowing on them. Well, and give our legs a break too!
The little ones were climbing over mama, fighting over who was going to ride first! You know this adventure-mom was lovin’ that.
Beware… this is one hell of a workout in that thick sand. We started with hiking boots but barefoot felt easier to me. Carrying a toddler wasn’t fun either, especially up the steepest slopes. But so worth it!!!
From the parking lot, you have to walk about, I don’t know, a 1/4 mile, if that, to get to the first smaller slope. We mainly did the steeper slopes at the further end.
Getting There: The visitor center address is 12500 Sand Dune Road, Kanab. It’s about 25-30 minutes from Kanab, using highway 89.
Parking is $10.
Board Rentals: The visitor center rents boards for $25. You can get a standing or sitting board. With the little ones we vouched for the sitting ones. They can run out on very busy days, and it’s first come, first serve.
Wind Advisory: We were in Utah during one of the windiest weeks ever. I’m talking 20+mph winds with gusts much stronger than that. We didn’t let it stop us though!
Watch the weather more closely than we did, although we didn’t have much wiggle room since I had already reserved the Buckskin Gulch permit for a different day.
I now know the meaning of true grit. In your teeth!!! That sand felt like stabbing needles to our skin once we hit the top of those dunes.
Accessibility: Not great. You can get to a viewing station and picnic area from the parking lot, but the trek to the dunes is pretty brutal. Action Track Chair replied to me saying that their chairs can handle a 20% grade as well as sand, so if I had to guess that chair could get to the smaller slopes, but nothing further out or too steep.
Climb To Ancient Caves
The Kanab Sand Caves (or Moqui Caverns) are visible from the road. We saw them during our last visit to Utah but had no idea we could climb up and explore them up close.
So this time I was determined to get up there. And so was this girl…
The caves are man-made, carved into the mountainside, and were used to sand mine for glass.
The shadows of the caves were such a cool contrast with the bright views looking out. Sunset would probably be a pretty time of day to catch some great shots.
You can go all the way to the back of the caves, if you’re brave that is. I used my phone light and it was still creepy. We felt like mini-explorers peeking around each corner.
Getting there: It’s a quick 5-minute drive north of Kanab, on yep, you guessed it, 89.
You could do this on the way to the sand dunes. You probably won’t want to do it after the dunes because you’ll be pretty wiped after that.
There is an electronic traffic sign with the words “Sand Cave Parking”. If you miss it, you probably should just go back to your hotel and rest your tired, sandy eyes.
After parking in that lot, hike the sandy trail for about a 1/2 mile until you veer right toward the mountainside and start climbing up (past the caves).
Wear good hiking boots and careful of any slippery rocks. Young children would likely need a hand-hold for the steep slanted portion.
It’s a short trek back the other direction (toward the parking lot) to the caves.
Needless to say, go down the same way you came up.
Note: This is not to be confused with the Moqui Cave a few hundred feet up the road, which is a natural cave that has been turned into a museum and gift shop. We didn’t even go there because I’ve heard it’s not worth it.
Accessibility: Unfortunately, there is no wheelchair or stroller-friendly route up to the caves that I know of.
Brave the Belly of the Dragon
Speaking of creepy. This one was even creepier, but a nice and quick, adventurous stop with little ones.
I couldn’t believe how fearless our four and one-year-old were. They charged ahead with no light, unable to see where they were stepping.
But don’t worry, there is light at the end of the tunnel!
This proud mama had to act quickly and ignore my own hesitations! They were on the move!!!
The cave felt a bit anti-climactic, so it may help to know beforehand that it’s just a drainage tunnel carved into the sandstone. But the name itself makes it feel a bit more exciting, doesn’t it???
And it was still worth the quick stop on the way into Kanab. It was perfect after our 5-hour drive from Moab. The cave is right before Kanab if you’re going that direction.
Getting there: Head16 miles north of Kanab, less than a mile south of Mount Carmel Junction. We turned off 89 and followed a gravel road for a few minutes, parked right there in the big open space by the tunnel entrance (or exit?).
I’m actually still unsure the best way to start this walk, but we just did the walk through the tunnel, which only took about 15 minutes there and back, if that. You can keep going and do about 1.5 miles round trip, but it didn’t sound like much else was out there after the tunnel.
After you escape the “belly”, fill your own with some scrumptious chicken strips and fries from Archie’s Food Truck down the way. Thank me later.
Accessibility: I don’t think a wheelchair could fit due to the drop off and then the somewhat narrow, rocky path once inside the tunnel. There are two short drop-offs where we had to pass the little one like a hot potato, but other than that it was pretty flat. You could peek into the cave though before that drop-off.
More to come on the best places to eat and stay in Kanab, Utah. Now go find some red-rock adventure!
