How to Visit the Kanab Sand Caves, Utah
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 05 Sep 2025
The Kanab Sand Caves (also known as Moqui Caverns), are one of the quirkiest roadside stops in southern Utah. This strange pitstop is easily reached by a straightforward hike that leads to the super photogenic cliff-side caverns! Read on for everything you need to know to visit.
I had stayed in Kanab quite a few times and driven towards Zion more times than I can count, but never craned my neck quite high enough to spot the weird and wonderful Kanab Sand Caves badly concealed in the cliffs.
Then one sunny morning, many years ago (I think it was before they’d been all over the internet), I spotted them. These hollows in the cliffs were too curious to miss, so we pulled the car over right underneath the caves (you’re not allowed to do this anymore) and scrambled up the cliffs to investigate.
Back then, the walls were a little less etched with names and the floor had a few less footprints, but the caves were the same: weird, alien, and unexplained (it turns out they’re not unexplained at all but I had no clue at the time).
Since that first visit, I returned several times more over the past few years. These strange, man-made ‘rock holes’ on the tops of the magnificent red rocks surrounding the little outpost town taunt me from the roadside and I have to pop in and check them out each time I pass!
Interestingly, they don’t look accessible. However, they’re really easy to get to and, nowadays, even have a dedicated parking area! It’s rare that something this photogenic is car accessible, moderately easy to reach, and free.
They’re honestly so weird – and no way should they be as interesting as they are. Yet somehow, they’ve become an mini Instagram sensation.
It’s easy to drive by and not even know they exist; we did it so many times. So, here we’ll explain how to reach them, where the (relatively) new parking lot is, which route up the cliffs is easiest and how they came to be!
IN THIS GUIDE //
Sand Cave Adventures
Some Sand Cave History – Are They Natural?
The Difference Between Moqui Caverns and Moqui Cave
Are the Kanab Sand Caves Worth Visiting?
Finding the Sand Caves
– Kanab Sand Caves Parking
Hiking to the Sand Caves
– Is the Hike Difficult?
– Our Hike: Experience and Advice
Are the Caves Dog Friendly?
Best Time to Visit
Where to Stay Nearby
Other Things to do in the Area
Kanab Sand Caves Map
Final Thoughts
This post may contain affiliate links. If you book through these links we may make a small commission at zero cost to you. It helps us pay for the upkeep of this blog. Thank you!
Some Sand Cave History: Are They Natural?
Although the Kanab Sand Caves look like they were naturally formed by weather and erosion, they were actually man-made.
Back in the 1970s, the cliff caves were created for harvesting sand which was, in turn, used for making glass. Nowadays there are no signs of mining and the soft Navajo Sandstone has been gradually worn down to leave these smooth, beautiful sandy caverns.
Unfortunately, although there is minimal evidence or hint any of miners, there are signs of other people in the form of rock carvings/graffiti. Please leave no trace when visiting this site.
Seriously, I cannot understand the appeal of carving your name into some beautiful rocks – Chase (see picture below). Of all the things to do in Kanab, defacing nature should not be one of them.
The Difference Between Moqui Caverns and Moqui Cave
Moqui Caverns and Moqui Cave seem to be constantly confused on social media (and the internet at large).
Moqui Caverns | this is another name for the Kanab Sand Caves (this is the name to search on Google Maps). It is an unmaintained site of manmade, cliffside caves that does not have any organisation attached to it. You can just pop in whenever suits you and check it out.
Moqui Cave | a few hundred metres up the highway, is a museum inside a cave filled with all sorts of quirky local stuff, including dinosaur fossils, fluorescent rocks, and historical paraphernalia. There is a little gift shop and café, entry is $7.
WHAT DOES MOQUI MEAN?
Moqui (sometimes spelt Moki, like in Moki Dugway), might be related to an ancient tribe in the Anasazi-Hopi region. The name may also originate from a word in the Hopi language ‘Moki’ meaning ‘the dead’.
–
Are the Kanab Sand Caves Worth Visiting?
Yes, the Kanab Sand Caves are worth visiting! However, to be honest, I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit them. They are a quick roadside stop rather than a main event, if you see what I mean.
The caves are strategically located between Zion National Park and Kanab – two major stops on any southern Utah road trip, so it makes sense to stop by on the way. Plus, they are free, easy to access and photogenic!
Finding the Sand Caves
The Kanab Sand Caves can be found on Highway 89 heading north, about 7 minutes out of Kanab (about 9 kilometres away). The sand caves are on the right side of the road, just past the turn off up Angel Canyon Road to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
Google Maps has the correct location for the beginning of the sand caves trail if you search for ‘Kanab Sand Caves’. The actual caves are found at exactly 37.116479, -112.560260.
Kanab Sand Caves Parking
Previously, free parking, suitable for two-wheel drive vehicles with low-clearance, was across the road on the left just opposite the Kanab Sand Caves and the trail. From the parking spots, if you were to look across the road and up, you’d be able to spot the caves along the ridge of the cliffs!
Now, in 2025, there is a large designated, signed car parking area half a mile down the road from the sand caves, on the same side, called ‘Sand Caves Parking’ on Google Maps. There is a small sandy path that follows parallel to the road which leads to the caves. This is a much longer walk, but at least you don’t have to run across the road anymore! There are no amenities at the car park.
The original parking, mentioned above, now has ‘no parking’ signs all over it, so don’t use it.
KANAB SAND CAVES – QUICK FACTS
Dogs | allowed, leashed
Distance from Kanab | 9 kilometres
Hike length | about one mile round trip from the new car park
Time needed | 30-45 minutes
Elevation gain | less than 50 feet
Difficulty | easy peasy
Fees | none
◊
Hiking to the Sand Caves
The hike the Kanab Sand Caves is around 1.2 miles long. Follow the sandy, flat route from the car park, adjacent to the road, for a little over a third of a mile and then up a mildly steep walk/scramble along a small cliff.
From the car park there is a sign for ‘Sand Cave Trailhead’, so it’s impossible to get lost!
Is the Hike Difficult?
The Kanab Sand Caves hike is not difficult, at all.
Hiking tip | the only very mildly tricky section is the climb up the cliff. The further north along the ridge you start your ascent, the easier and less steep it will be.
It’s a fun little walk that you can take the whole family on, although very small children would definitely need assistance. Keep an eye on any kids while in the caves – there are sheer drops at the openings that are maybe 25-30 feet up.
Sand Caves Hike: Experience and Advice
On our most recent visit, we arrived around 11 am on a weekday in May and there were around a dozen cars in the large car park (11 am is not an ideal time – visit in the early morning or later evening for less humans). It’s also probably best to avoid weekends – we’ve only ever visited on weekdays.
Temperatures and exposure | be aware of the temperature – the route is short, but exposed. The sandy hike wasn’t as bad as I thought, and it took less than 10 minutes to reach the bottom of the cliff face that houses the caves, but consider wearing a hat in hot weather.
Bring sturdy shoes | it’s a very easy and short hike to the caves, but the climb at the end would probably be tricky for most people wearing flip flops or loose-fitting sandals. We wore trailrunners, which worked perfectly. The cliffs are made from extremely grippy sandstone, so it’s really easy to ascend and descend (when dry).
At the top | following the upper cliff edge to the caves is a bit narrow, but there’s no risk of falling off.
The caves | these are flat and sandy, and once inside, the caves can easily be explored in just a few minutes – they’re not very big. You can stand up the entire time, and even at the back of the sand caves it does not feel claustrophobic at all. They are also a fair few degrees cooler than the outside temperatures during the hottest parts of the day.
Are the Caves Dog Friendly?
Yes, the Kanab Sand Caves are dog friendly, as long as your dog is happy scampering up cliffs and not jumping randomly off ledges.
If your dog is small enough, it is possible to carry them up the cliffs, but I’d imagine most dogs would be chill with this very easy hike. We saw two average-sized dogs on our second visit that seemed perfectly happy!
Be careful of their paws burning on the ground during summer.
Best Time to Visit
The best time of day to visit the Kanab Sand Caves would be later afternoon, to avoid the midday heat and also because the light is nicest. Early morning would also be good during summer.
In terms of month, you can technically visit the sand caves at any time of year; they are easy to access.
However, it’s worth noting that Kanab is scorching hot in summer, often above 100F degrees and the walk from the car park is pretty exposed. Be careful not to burn your dog’s feet (or yourself)!
Conversely, in winter, Kanab is pretty cold. There is often snow and ice on the short, but steep, slick rock incline/decline, which could be difficult to navigate. I definitely wouldn’t bring young children at this time of year.
Rain, at any time of year, would make the usually grippy slick rock very slippery.
◊
WHERE TO STAY IN KANAB
We find Kanab to be a far more affordable option than nearby towns, like Page, and has nicer, more unique choices. Here are a few places we’ve stayed in Kanab that we love (we’ve stayed in almost every hotel there!):
Red Canyon Cabins – quality, mid-range budget accommodation, with cute, individual little huts, laundry and parking right outside your cabin.
Best Friends Mercantile – just a totally amazing place to stay. Beautiful rooms, enormously pet friendly, lovely vegan breakfast. We recommend this one over and over.
–
Other Things to do in the Area
Belly of the Dragon | another very family friendly stop near Kanab involving a wander through a manmade tunnel; on the way to Zion.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park | a pretty state park near Kanab with lots of action packed activities available like sandboarding and dune bashing. We found it to be permanently windy, so take a buff or you’ll just inhale sand the entire time.
Zion National Park | one of the most famous landmarks in Utah and most beautiful places in the United States.
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary | a popular no-kill rescue shelter with lots of animals you can visit. Great for kids and animals lovers – you’ll need reservations though.
Peekaboo Slot Canyon (also known as Red Canyon Slot on Google) | fun and easy slot canyon hike near Kanab but does involve full four-wheel drive capability due to deep sand.
Wirepass and Buckskin Gulch | the longest slot canyon in the world and probably the most spectacular. If you are interested, read more about our favourite slot canyons in Utah.
Toadstool Hoodoos Hike | easy but impressive family friendly hike near Kanab with some otherworldly rock formations.
The Wave | the most elusive hike on this list – try and get a permit!
Check out the numerous other points of interest at the visitor centre located on the east side of Kanab.
For a more detailed list, check out our dedicated post on things to do in Kanab.
Kanab Sand Caves – Map
Below is a savable Google Map of the Kanab Sand Caves, things to do in the area and recommended hotels.
⬩ Yellow are things to do nearby.
⬩ Orange are hotel recommendations.
⬩ Purple are the Kanab Sand Caves and parking.
To view these sections, select the icon in the top left corner of the map.
To save the map, click the star next to the title.
CAR HIRE FOR YOUR AMERICAN SOUTHWEST TRIP
We always rent our vehicles all over the world, including our recent trip in the United States, with Discover Cars. They’re often the most affordable, plus they paid out immediately on an insurance claim we made when our car took some heavy damage in Sicily. We fully recommend them.
–
TAKE A LOOK BELOW OR CHECK CAR RENTAL
Final Thoughts
The Sand Caves are a short little trip from Kanab, and entertaining and photogenic. We try to avoid gimmicky, touristy things but this was actually kind of fun, which genuinely surprised us. Considering almost every visitor to Kanab will drive directly past them anyway, we fully recommend a stop here.
If you are staying in Kanab after your trip – check out our favourite restaurant – the Peekaboo Woodfired Grill and Kitchen. It’s the best!
If you are looking for other family friendly hikes in Kanab, consider checking out the Toadstool Hoodoos. It’s a perfect hike for kids (and also any adult adventurer who wants to check out some crazy alien-like toadstool formations).
Have a great day!
Hi, thanks for visiting our blog! If this post has been of help to you, or you’ve just enjoyed our random ramblings and musings, say thank you by buying us a coffee! It helps keep The Restless Beans blog up and running.
Thank you, Claire + Nick
