Unique Attractions Near Kanab, UT

Kanab, Utah has grown to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southern, Utah. And for good reason.

The unique outdoor attractions here will have you updating your bucket list. Beyond the must-visit trail to The Wave, there are plenty of other striking attractions worth visiting. Follow this travel guide to find many other unique attractions near Kanab, UT.

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The Wave:

The Wave is probably one of the main reasons Kanab will draw you in. Although it’s actually located in Arizona, the trail starts in Utah.

You must also get a permit from the Kanab Visitor Center beforehand. The Wave hike is 6.2 miles with 1,167 feet elevation change. The hike can be challenging because it is over sandstone rock, so the trail is hard to follow.

Plus, they only allow 20 people to visit the wave per day, which makes this place even more majestic. Because you have a decent chance of having The Wave all to yourself with complete solitude! But in contrary, it makes getting a permit for this hike extremely difficult.

The hike starts at the Wire Pass trailhead, which is a long sandy road (4×4 or AWD highly encouraged). The road can become unpassable if its wet, or recent water flows have washed out the road. Check with a ranger at the visitor center to make sure the road conditions will be passable for your trip.

For the full details on this hike, check out our post: Hiking The Wave

Belly Of The Dragon:

One of the most unique attractions near Kanab, UT is Belly Of The Dragon. The hike is located right off Highway 89. It is a very short hike, where you travel into a long deep cave. The hike is less than .5 miles roundtrip.

The Belly Of The Dragon is a long dark tunnel that has been carved out under highway 89. The tunnel is used as a drainage for the North Fork River. We suggest bringing a headlamp or light source as it can be dark, and a few spots you need to watch your footing!

Use the GPS tracker on AllTrails, to find the Belly Of The Dragon.

Belly Of The Dragon: Unique Attractions Near Kanab, UT

Sand Caves:

Another awesome cave located right off the highway are the Sand Caves. You park on the side of highway 89 (don’t park in the Moqui Caves parking lot unless you plan to pay for that adventure). You will then need to cross the highway and follow a sand path that will lead you to the sand caves.

Then you climb up a semi-steep rock wall, so if you are scared of heights or don’t have the proper footwear then this hike could be a challenge for some.

You can see the sand caves from the highway, but if you want to follow a GPS to make sure you are going to the right location, then use AllTrails.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes:

The Coral Pink Sand Dunes is another great attraction near Kanab, UT. It is even better if you have an off-road vehicle where you can ride around in the sand dunes. But you can also enjoy them without having an off-road vehicle. The cost to get into the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is $8 per vehicle.

Jake and I enjoyed a nice sunset at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. You can even rent a board so you can slide down the dunes in style. Or enjoy a nice picnic (if it’s not windy) at the top of the dune. We also had a lot of fun running down the dunes, but it is a challenge to climb back up!

If you are interested in renting an off-road vehicle, check into: Coral Pink ATV Rentals or ATV Rentals Utah.

Emily walking up the Coral Pink Sand Dunes: Unique Attractions Near Kanab, UT — Coral Pink Sand Dunes: Unique Attractions Near Kanab, UT

Paria Rainbow Mountain:

One of the best unique attractions near Kanab, UT is the Paria Rainbow Mountains. It has some of the coolest mountain textures and rock layerings. The encrusted minerals like iron oxides, cobalt, manganese and others are what make up the stunning colors of the mountains.

The drive out to the rainbow mountains is sandy, but can be done in a 2wd vehicle (when dry). You can witness the mountains simply from your car, but you can also get out and explore the beautiful rainbow mountains. It is spectacular to walk around the stunning colors that have been made up over many years. But stick to trails that have already been made to help preserve the land!

Buckskin Gulch:

A backpacking hike that has been high on Jake and I’s bucket list is Buckskin Gulch. It might be one of the most unique attractions near Kanab, UT.

Ever since backpacking The Narrows (Zion NP), we have craved more slot canyons. And Buckskin Gulch is another slot canyon with similar views of The Narrows.

But unfortunately, we haven’t planned enough in advance to secure a backpacking permit. And during peak season, they are usually hard to come by.

The hike for Buckskin Gulch ranges from 20-45 miles. The “shorter” route is from Wire Pass to White House Trailhead, which is 20.6 miles. And the second “longer” route is from Buckskin Gulch Trailhead to Lee’s Ferry which is 45.6 miles.

There are many sections you might need to wade in ankle to neck high water on both routes, so be sure to have proper footwear and quick-dry clothing. If you are having trouble picking your route, check out Clever Hiker’s breakdown of the trail differences.

Permits for Buckskin Gulch

Backpacking permits can be purchased up to 4 months in advance of the day you plan to go. There is a 20 person limit for overnight backpacking, so permits go fast. The cost for overnight backpacking is $5 per day.

Day hiking does not require much advanced planning. Although, you do still need a permit for day hiking Buckskin Gulch, a pay station is located at the trailhead where you can pay the fee and pick up your permit. The cost is $6 per day. Day hiking is not encouraged as the hike is long and strenuous.

There is one shorter route, called the middle route exit (escape). It is the one section within Buckskin Gulch where the canyon walls lowers to 100 feet and you can escape the canyon via a class 3 scramble. Middle Route Exit is about 8.5 miles into the hike. This route is not suggested because it can be dangerous, but it can make your day hike shorter. It is also a way to escape in case of a flash flood.

For more information on the route from Wire Pass to White House Trailhead, refer to Your Hike Guide.

White Pocket:

A common alternative to The Wave hike is White Pocket. It might not have the golden yellow, orange and white swirls of The Wave, but it does give off similar vibes. You can experience complete solitude in this remote location.

Once you reach the trailhead, the hike is only 1.5 miles (or really however long you want to adventure around). But the drive out to White Pocket is an adventure in itself. After turning off Highway 89A, onto House Rock Road, you will travel 24.3 miles down a long sandy road.

You will need to have high clearance, 4×4 vehicle for this road. Don’t risk this drive if you don’t have either as you are far away from civilization and often out of cell range.

But White Pocket is a beautiful place where you can roam around to enjoy red and white swirled sandstone. If you want to follow a GPS loop hike, refer to AllTrails.

Takeaway | Unique Attractions Near Kanab, UT

Camper van driving down the road to Paria Rainbow Mountains: unique attractions near Kanab, UT

Kanab is a gem in the state of Utah. Many tourists flock to Utah’s “Mighty 5” National Parks. But, if you are looking for some awesome things off the beaten path, then Kanab, UT is your place.

It is best visited in spring or fall because the temperatures rise over 100 degrees mid-summer. You will want to make sure Kanab, UT is on your bucket list. We hope you enjoy our guide to unique attractions near Kanab, UT.

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