Sand Caves, UT

The Kanab Sand Caves offer a quick roadside adventure in the Kanab/Zion area. Located just outside Kanab, Utah, this easily accessible hike leads you to a series of man-made caves carved from the vibrant sandstone cliffs. Apparently, they are the result of sand mining for glass production.


Logistics/Getting There:
The Sand Caves are located 5 miles north of Kanab on Highway 89. You can't miss them – they're visible from the roadside and there is a parking area just south of the openings.Trailhead:
The trailhead for the Sand Caves is the designated parking area. There is no water or bathrooms at the trailhead. There was quite a crowd as the trail is short and easy enough for almost anyone to attempt.

Navigation:
From the parking area, follow the sandy trail with the small sign for a short distance until you can see the caves opening up in the cliffside. The route borders private property and there is plenty of signage indicating which way you are supposed (or to supposed) to go. That said there are still a lot of social trails in the area but you won't get lost as long as you go in the right general direction.

Trail Conditions:
The trail to the Sand Caves is a short walk on a dirt path with some loose sand. However, the final ascent to the caves involves scrambling on loose sand and slickrock.

General Comments and Musings:
The Sand Caves offer a fun and interesting pitstop near Kanab. The interconnected caves and viewpoints made for unique views and photos from the sandstone perches. This was just what we were looking for to break up the 8-hour drive back to Phoenix from Zion National Park. On the hike back to the trailhead we accidentally took a slightly different route and found some petroglyphs on the cliffside. These were faint but another point of interest.

2024-04-08 KingLeonidas