Last summer when we were visiting Kanab, we went to the Sand Caves. This was so much fun! If you are in the area, I highly recommended adding this to your list of places to visit. This is also a short drive from Zion National Park, so you can visit here or there easily depending on where you are going.
I have included a map of the approximate location. It is south of Moqui Cave. There are a couple of ways to get there. Most people park across the street and then hike up the trails (you can see them on the map below). Or if the caves are closed, you can park there and hike up. The rocks can be slippery from the sand, so be careful as you are climbing. And there is a lot of cactus, so be mindful of that, especially if you have pets.
You can see the caves in the picture below – the two-three holes on the edge of the cliff in the middle. They don’t look very big – but it goes back a ways and is actually chilly and gets pitch black in the back.
There are STEEP DROP-OFFS so be sure to watch your step, and keep kids away from the edges. With the slick rock and the sand, it is very easy to slip.
While the flowers are beautiful, the cactus is scary, so stay away from it lol.
There are so many photographic scenes here. Take your time and really enjoy all the angles and take a lot of pictures with your camera. The lighting can be tricky, so be sure to change positions a few times for the same shot to try and get the best light. We went around 4 or 5 pm so the sun was at a great angle to light up the caves.
This is a great place to explore and you will probably spend about an hour (give or take) here from start to finish. You probably don’t need water (or extra water) but you will want to clean the sand out of your shoes when you get back to your car lol.
We just shared all about the Toadstool Hoodoos and the Nautilus, both located in this area. So you want to plan a fun day of hiking in the area, you can hit all three!
The Sand Caves in Kanab are a great little stop to see something super unique on your road trip and a nice free break for you to stretch your legs. If you are looking for more unique things to do and see in Utah, be sure to check out our post Unique things to do in Utah.
Pin the picture below so you can remember to add this to your list of places to visit.
Other places in Utah to visit:
Bryce Canyon National Park in 1 day
