Sand Caves

The Sand Caves are one of Kanab's best-known short hikes, a set of wind-carved sandstone alcoves tucked into the cliffs on the edge of town. It's an easy walk in across flat ground before the trail turns into a scramble up a sloped, sandy rock face to reach the cave openings — grippy shoes make a real difference here. The caves themselves are roomy, sand-floored chambers with views out over the trees below, plus a darker back section that's worth exploring with a flashlight.

What to know before you go

• Distance: about 1.5 miles round trip
• Difficulty: mostly easy, with one moderate scramble section near the top — doable for kids and dogs, though the sandy rock can be slick
• Parking: free, near the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary area on the edge of Kanab
• Facilities: none — no restrooms at the trailhead or caves

Visitors consistently rate this a fun, low-effort stop with a genuine payoff — the trail is marked with white paw prints, making it easy to follow even for first-timers. It's earned a 4.7 rating across more than 1,000 reviews, with families and hikers alike calling it a highlight of a Kanab visit. Note that generations of visitors have carved their names into the soft sandstone, so don't expect pristine, untouched walls — just a genuinely cool, easy-to-reach formation worth the short detour.