6 Easy Hikes Near Kanab, UT
You don’t always need to drive an hour down a 4x4 dirt road or hike 10 miles to find beautiful, wide open spaces - especially in places like Kanab, Utah. In this post we’re sharing our favorite roadside hikes around Kanab. These hikes are easily accessible with any vehicle, family and dog friendly, and can all be done in one day!
Quick Hikes Near Kanab
Belly of the Dragon near Kanab, UT
Evan entering the Belly
Distance: 1.8 miles out and back
Elevation Gain: 183 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Information: All Trails
Dogs Friendly?: Yes!
Time on Trail: 30 Minutes or less
Tips: The highlight of the hike (the cave pictured above) is at the start of the hike.
Just off HWY 89, a few minutes south of Mount Carmel Junction, and down a short dirt road you’ll find the Belly of the Dragon cave. It’s a fun stop if you’re already in the area. Visiting a cave is always fun, right!? It’s dog friendly, kid friendly, and feels a little magical. However, it’s worth noting that this cave is not natural. It was originally carved for drainage but over time water has also left an impact with natural carvings. Natural or not, we think it’s worth a visit!
Evan and Penelope deep in the Moqui Sand Caves
There are several different openings in the Moqui Sand Caves
2. Moqui Cave
Distance: .9 miles out and back
Elevation Gain: 88 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Information: All Trails
Dogs Friendly?: You know it!
Time on Trail: 30 Minutes or less
Tips: It’s best to visit in the morning when the light is perfectly shinning through into the caves.
Between Mount Carmel Junction and Kanab you’ll find the Moqui Caves. You can actually see them from the road - they are that easy to get to! Use the All Trails link for exact directions and park in the roadside pullout across the street from the caves. Getting up to the caves requires a little scrambling but we saw people from ages 3 to 70+ getting up there with no issue. There is no one official route up so if you feel like the one you are about to take is too difficult, back track a little further from the cave and there should be an easier option. This is a fun stop if you’re in the area already and the lighting is very fun to play with!
Beautiful golden hour light on the Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Sinking into the sand after trying my best to run around the Dunes
3. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Entrance Fee: $10 per Vehicle
Distance: As little or as much as you want!
Elevation Gain: ~190 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Information: All Trails
Dogs Friendly?: Dogs love sand! Yes!
Time on Trail: As little or as much as you want
Tips: Visit at Sunrise or Sunset for best light.
If you’re coming from Mount Carmel Junction you can take N Sand Dunes Rd. If you’re coming from Kanab or the Moqui Cave (mentioned above) you can take Hancock Rd. With either road you decide to take, it is about a 14 mile detour off HWY 89. There is a $10 per vehicle entrance fee but once you’re in, you’re free to roam anywhere on the dunes. There is a side where vehicles are allowed on the dunes and another side just for hikers. Whether you have an off road vehicle, a sand board, or just your feet and a camera, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes are so worth the stop! We showed up in time for golden hour and the lighting was perfect! The “coral pink” sand isn’t exactly pink but it is a very beautiful, deep orange tone and incredibly soft. We visited in November and there were almost no other visitors. Expect windy conditions so bring a jacket and make sure you wear shoes that you don’t mind submerging in sand. Or go barefoot!
It’s like a mini wave that few know about!
Feels like we stumbled across a hidden gem
4. The Nautilus
Distance: .9 miles out and back
Elevation Gain: 36 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Information: All Trails
Dogs Friendly?: Yes!
Time on Trail: 30 minutes or less
Tips: There are no trail markers here. Mark this route as a “favorite” in All Trails so you can access the trail map without cell service.
44 Miles east of Kanab - heading towards Lake Powell - you’ll find The Nautilus. It’s a fun area with rock formations, slick rock, and cave or wave like alcoves to explore. Out of all the stops we are recommending, this is definitely the best hidden gem. It seems very few people know about it and during our visit in November, we were the only ones there. We probably spent an hour running around and taking fun photos with different perspectives of the unique rock formations. Plus, it’s only a few minutes up the road from another great stop - The Toadstool Hoodoos (below).
Such funky rock formations along the Toadstool Hoodoos trail in Southern Utah
5. Toadstool Hoodoos
Distance: 1.8 miles out and back
Elevation Gain: 141 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Information: All Trails
Dogs Friendly?: Yes!
Time on Trail: 60 minutes or less
Tips: There is no shade along this trail. Try going on a day that isn’t too warm or early in the morning.
This may be longest hike on this list but it’s definitely worth the stop. The Toadstool Hoodoos are incredibly unique and super fun to see up close. You do have to hike almost a mile before getting to the Hoodoos but believe us, it’s worth it! There is a clearly marked trail head for parking right off HWY 89 and I’ve never seen it completely full the handful of times we’ve driven by. If you’re really short on time but still want to make a stop, this is our top recommendation!
Evan and Penelope taking in views from the edge of Horseshoe Bend
6. Horseshoe Bend
Entrance Fee: $10 per vehicle
Distance: 1.5 miles out and back
Elevation Gain: 137 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Information: All Trails
Dogs Friendly?: Yes!
Time on Trail: 60 minutes or less
Tips: This trail is ALWAYS packed with tourists. Don’t let that discourage you from going. There are plenty of “iconic” spots to photograph and explore without feeling like you’re fighting for space.
Horseshoe Bend is probably one of the most iconic places to photograph in Southern Utah - though it’s technically in Arizona. If you haven’t been already, you’ve probably seen photos and have heard how crowded it can be. All those rumors are true, it is very crowded by comparison to all the other hikes on this list. That said, we still feel like this is worth a stop. The area around the bend is quite large and there is so much space to spread out from the crowd and still get that shot you’re looking for. The one where you’re sitting near the edge overlooking the bend. I know you know the shot I’m talking about! Sunset is a great time of day to visit if you’re taking photos. The trail is pretty easy to navigate and dogs are allowed. In fact, the people at the entrance booth even gave Penelope a treat during our last visit. This is so worth a stop if you’re in the area!
Other Notable Mentions
The Wave - A sandstone rock formation that resembles a wave. This has become incredibly popular over the years and understandably so, it’s beautiful! However, a permit is required. Permits are awarded on a lottery based system. You can enter the lottery months ahead of your planned hiking day or if you’re feeling lucky you can show up at the Kanab Recreation Center to enter a next day permit lottery. We tried the next day permit method 2 days in a row with no luck. Only 4 groups, or 16 permits (whichever comes first) are awarded per day for next day hiking. The hike is 6 miles round trip and moderate.
Lake Powell - There are endless activities to do here from renting a boat, paddle board, or kayak to camping by the shore in your tent, RV or Van. We haven’t spent much time here but with our national park pass it’s an easy pit stop to make lunch by the water and relax for an afternoon. A National Park Pass or $30 entrance fee is required.
We hope this helps with any future trip planning you have coming up. If you’ve already been to the area and have other roadside stops you recommend, let us know in the comments below!