Sand Caves | Kanab

Hiking Sand Caves - Kanab Hiking Sand Caves

Kanab

Overview | Getting There | Route | Photos | Maps | Comments

Overview

RATING: Easy hike, some scrambling
LENGTH: 1 hour
MAPS: KANAB, UT

Tue

Rain. Cloudy. High near 50, with temperatures falling to around 47 in the afternoon. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

50 | 35

Wed

Rain likely before 8am, then rain and snow likely between 8am and 11am, then a chance of rain and snow between 11am and 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. North northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

49 | 36

Thu

Sunny, with a high near 48.

48 | 22

Fri

A slight chance of rain and snow between 11am and 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

49 | 21

Sat

Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

49 | 23

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Any when the slickrock is dry.
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear
WATER: None, bring all you need.

Tue

Rain. Cloudy. High near 50, with temperatures falling to around 47 in the afternoon. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

50 | 35

Wed

Rain likely before 8am, then rain and snow likely between 8am and 11am, then a chance of rain and snow between 11am and 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. North northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

49 | 36

Thu

Sunny, with a high near 48.

48 | 22

Fri

A slight chance of rain and snow between 11am and 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

49 | 21

Sat

Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

49 | 23

View Full Weather Details
The entrance to the Sand Caves

The entrance to the Sand Caves

The Sand Caves, aka Moqui Sand Caves, near Kanab, is a very popular hike. The short hike, right next to the highway, is popular for good reason. The caves, though not very deep, have incredible colors and patterns in the sandstone. Reaching the caves requires a fairly short hike, then a little adventurous scrambling to get to the entrance. Though the route is easy, it does have some exposure. People with a little hiking and scrambling experience should be able to visit the caves, but if you are afraid of heights, this is not a good choice. If you have children, keep a close eye on them. It would be easy in a few spots to slip and tumble off a fairly good size cliff.

History: These man-made caves are a result of historical sand mining operations in the early 1900s. The caves were excavated to extract sand, primarily used in making glass. The fine-grained sand in the area was ideal for this purpose. Miners dug into the soft Navajo sandstone, creating a series of interconnected chambers and tunnels. Mining likely occurred in the early 20th century but ceased as other materials or methods became more efficient, and the demand for this type of sand declined.
Really neat textures at the Sand Cave (and a small door

Really neat textures at the Sand Cave (and a small door

Getting There

From Kanab, head north on US-89 for about 5 miles to the signed Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and Sand Caves Parking on the right. This is at mile post 69.6 on US-89. Alternatively, this is about 12 miles south of Mt. Carmel Junction.

A sand cave monster!

A sand cave monster!

Route

From the trailhead, the trail leaves on the west side of the parking lot. It is signed, well traveled, and easy to follow. After leaving the parking area, it soon descends into the wash and follows the wash. You may notice a log fence on the right away from the wash after a couple of minutes. There are some historic signature here, you can visit on the way to the Sand Caves, or on the return.

Once you are below a couple of the cave openings high above, continue in the wash a short distance, then the trail leaves the wash on the right and ambles along the base of the cliff.

To reach the caves, continue past the caves for a few minutes until the slick rock is a reasonable angle to climb. On my visits, there has been a fixed rope marking the easiest spot. Make sure you are comfortable coming down anything you climb!
Once up the slick rock, traverse back to the cave entrances. There are some exposed spots along this section, but reasonable if you are careful and choose a good route.

Return the same way. If you didn't visit the old signatures on the way to the caves, on your return, stay on the trail that is close to the base of the cliff. Once you reach the log fence and signatures, the trail goes back to the approach wash.


Maps

Route / 0.00 miles / Elevation Range 5,198 - 0 ft.
Printable Maps:

Sand Caves Trailhead

12S 361793mE 4108618mN

N37° 06' 49" W112° 33' 20"
Sand Caves

12S 361377mE 4108932mN

N37° 06' 59" W112° 33' 37"
Route Up

12S 361278mE 4109075mN

N37° 07' 04" W112° 33' 41"
Signatures

12S 361436mE 4108847mN

N37° 06' 57" W112° 33' 35"

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