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Nature Trail Loop

Kanab, Utah

4.5/5
based on 6 reviews

Details

Distance

0.75 miles

Elevation Gain

33 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Sarah Levant

Discover the untouched beauty of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park right outside of Zion National Park.

This state park is not heavily visited and for a makes a great day trip from Zion National Park or Kanab, UT. Expect endless beautiful pink dunes and Utah's red rocks as your backdrop. Once you park, walk out onto the boardwalk and the short Nature Trail will head out just beyond the signs explaining more about the dune formations. The nature trail is fenced off to prohibit ATVs from riding through this section. If you are looking for more, feel free to venture off and explore any dune that inspires you. The entire park is open for hiking and about 90% is open for ATVs.  The dunes are estimated to be over 10,000 years old and the sand can shift as much as 50 feet per year so you might see slightly different formations each time you visit. You can hike in this park for hours. 

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Features

Chillin
Photography
Hiking
Bathrooms
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Groups
Picnic Area
Scenic

Nature Trail Loop Reviews

Ethereal.

To be honest, the dunes were less “pink” than I expected but they were still a fairly vibrant orange/salmon color and this probably changes a bit seasonally, and based on time of day. The sand was very fine and it was fun to ditch the shoes and walk around the dunes barefoot (until it got too hot). It’s a state park and there’s an entrance fee but it’s a good spot for a picnic, there’s even an observation deck (grandstands) where you could sit and watch a sunset dance over the dunes.

The Coral Pink Sand Dunes were a fun pit stop on the way from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to Zion. It's about 30 miles, 40 minutes from Zion. The sand was so smooth and fine and pretty, I had a lot of fun playing in it! The color was amazing, and the expanse of sand felt so peaceful. We camped at the nearby Ponderosa Grove Campground for $5/night, with vault toilets, a picnic table and fire pit, no water.

Now that I have lived in Utah for almost years and now I write children's books about the national parks, I am often on the road to sell my books and explore more. I would say that this state park is closer to Bryce and just outside of one of my favorite Utah town's Kanab. I am also trying to explore all of Utah's 43-44 State Parks and have been to this one many times and have found camping VERY easy to find here. There are some great places for dinner in Kanab, too, like Peekaboo Canyon Woodfired Pizza and Rocking V Cafe. I highly recommend the Kanab Balloon Festival called Balloons and Tunes Roundup and camp at Coral Pink Sand Dunes!

The Coral Pink sand dunes are unique in that there are also pine trees growing. The sand is also a pretty pinkish red, hence the name of the park. Worth a visit!

I went and tried sand skiing for the first time at these dunes. Although not very big, they are an easy way to get some quick lines in if you have an old setup you don't care about. From the parking lot go to the dune straight back as this one has the necessary steep pitch to get you moving.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

See Dinosaur Tracks at the Moccasin Mountain Dinosaur Tracksite

Sand Caves of Kanab

Kanab's Peek-a-Boo Canyon

Water Canyon Arch (Eye of the Heavens)

Water Canyon Trail in the Canaan Mountain Wilderness

Hike through the Red Caves (Sand Wash)