We love Kanab, Utah, as a place to enjoy pet-friendly lodging and dining – and even more so because so many wonderful places are located nearby for easy day-tripping. Coral Pink Sand Dunes, a state park located about 20 miles from Kanab, features dramatic and unique hillocks of sand varying – according to the light – from deep russet to orange pink in color. As you approach the park from the highway, and first catch a glimpse of the dunes, you feel like you are about to enter an otherworldly place, as the undulating ridges of sand seem to go on for miles, deep gold under the summer sun.
How The Dunes Were Formed
The Coral Pink Sand Dunes have been formed over time as the forces of nature weather away sandstone to fine grains of sand, which are then picked up and carried away by the wind. As the wind funnels through two nearby mountains – Moccasin and Moquith – it accelerates then slows, dropping the grains of sand where, overtime, they have accumulated into the silky-soft hillocks that form the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. This area became a state park open to the public in 1963. It features a campground, a visitor’s center, a nature trail and an observation platform. Visitors can rent sand “sleds” and sand “boards” to slide down the dunes, and can take a rappelling or ATV tour. We were surprised to learn that visitors have access to all of the dunes, and that ATV’s are able to cover up to 90% of the area. It sure must get noisy at times! Thankfully, it was very peaceful and quiet when we visited, early in June.
A Morning Visit To The Dunes
Our first visit to the Dunes was early in the morning, before the visitor’s center had opened. Before heading to the main park entrance, we parked at the first of several pull-outs. There was a sign there identifying some of the plant and animal life we might see in the dunes, and we had fun trying to figure out who might have made the many tracks we saw criss-crossing the sand. Rabbits, coyotes, snakes, and mice clearly are some of the inhabitants of the area. We were very curious about one set of unique tracks we kept seeing over and over again. From the sign at the pull-out entrance, we learned that these belong to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes Beetle, which is unique to the park. These insects are very susceptible to drought conditions and are easily crushed by ATVs, as are their habitat and their prey. While they are not endangered, they are on the “threatened” list under the Endangered Species Act, so there is some space set aside to protect their critical habitat, as this is the only place on earth that they exist.
Coming Back Later – For The Best Colors
Having walked the trail and slid up and down a few of the dunes, we decided to return later in the evening to catch the sunset. We again parked by the first pull out, and enjoyed climbing up and down the dunes (watching for snakes!) and taking pictures in the beautiful golden light. The shifting dunes, caught against the dramatic backdrop of the mountains made for some spectacular photographs – even if we did have ATVs in a few of them.
We made a short video of our visit to Coral Pink Sand Dunes, which you can see below.
- Fodor’s Travel Guides (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 06/13/2023 (Publication Date) - Fodor's Travel (Publisher)
Well Worth A Visit
We would definitely recommend a day trip from Kanab to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes if you are in the area. They’re easily accessible from the main highway and down a paved and well-maintained access road. Exploring the dunes and taking photos certainly was fun (and great exercise) as well as being pet-friendly. Just be sure to carry lots of water, check the temperature before taking your pooch along, and visit in the early morning or late evening during summer months to keep things cool and comfortable for your four legged friend.
For more info you can visit the park website.
For another nice day trip from Kanab, Utah, see our post about visiting the Paria Ghost Town
For more things to do near Kanab, Utah, see our video below.
