Last Updated on January 11, 2024 by foxintheforest
For a dreamy desert landscape, come to Kanab! It is truly a unique place full of undulating red and white sandstone formations that you can explore on the many Kanab hikes.
Visit the iconic Wave or shimmy through narrow slot canyons on an adventure you won’t forget in Kanab.
If you’re looking for recommendations for Kanab hikes from someone who deeply knows the desert, you’re in the right place.
I explore the best hikes in Utah several times each year, so I’ve got the insider info on all the top Kanab, Utah hikes.
About this Guide to Kanab Hikes
Inside this local guide to Buena Vista trails, you’ll find expert advice about:
- Location of Kanab
- The best time to visit Kanab
- The best slot canyons near Kanab
- The top Kanab hikes, broken down by difficulty
- Desert hiking tips
- Additional Utah hiking resources
Where is Kanab?
Kanab is near the southwestern corner of Utah, on the edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and right on the border of Arizona.
It’s about an hour away from Zion National Park and 1.5 hours from Bryce Canyon National Park, so it’s a great home base for visiting both.
Why is Kanab Famous?
While Kanab is known for its proximity to Zion and Bryce, it is probably most famous for being close to The Wave (which is actually in Arizona).
It is also known for slot canyons and sandstone formations on Kanab trails, so most of the things to do in Kanab involve hiking.
The Best Time to Visit Kanab
Kanab is deep in the desert, so visiting in the fall or spring offers the most pleasant temperatures. Winter can also be a good time to visit Kanab, but you do risk the chance of snowstorms. Summer is not ideal, since it is not only brutally hot but also monsoon season.
The Best Slot Canyons Near Kanab
The desert landscape near Kanan is full of cool slot canyons through the sandstone. Some of the best slot canyons near Kanab include:
- Buckskin Gulch
- Peek-a-Boo Canyon
- Paria Canyon
Pro Tip: Flash floods are a serious danger in any Utah slot canyon, so do NOT hike them if rain is in the forecast.
The Best Easy Kanab Hikes
Dip your toes into the desert sand with these easy but spectacular Kanab hikes.
1. Moqui Caverns/Sand Caves
The Moqui Caverns, aka Kanab Sand Caves, are man-made caves which are fun to explore and offer a neat viewpoint from inside.
The hike is short, but it goes up steep slickrock so make sure your shoes have good traction.
Distance: 1.2 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 121 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 30 min
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
4WD/High Clearance Required: No
2. The Nautilus
The Nautilus is a unique formation that looks like the corkscrew pattern of a seashell.
It can be reached via a short and easy hike, making it a nice alternative to The Wave and one of the must-do Kanab hikes.
Distance: 1 mile out & back
Elevation Gain: 160 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 30 min
Dog Friendly: Yes
4WD/High Clearance Required: No
Drive Time from Kanab: 55 min
3. White Pocket
White Pocket is one of my favorite Kanab hikes and another great alternative to The Wave.
On this hike in the Vermillion Cliffs wilderness, you’ll find spectacular white-capped rock formations seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
Distance: 1.5 mile loop
Elevation Gain: 160 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Dog Friendly: Yes
4WD/High Clearance Required: Yes
Drive Time from Kanab: 45 min
4. Toadstool Hoodoos Trail
This hikes features more unique rock formations – but these look like mushrooms! The Toadstool Hoodoos Trail is a quick excursion with fantastic views.
Distance: 1.8 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 141 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 45 mins
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
4WD/High Clearance Required: No
Drive Time from Kanab: 45 min
5. Willis Creek Short Trail
The Willis Creek Short Trail is a good intro to slot canyons with sections of narrows to explore. Expect to encounter lots of water on this trail since you’re hiking right along the creek.
Distance: 2.8 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 305 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 1-1.5 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
4WD/High Clearance Required: Yes
6. Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch
Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch starts at the same trailhead as The Wave and is an awesome alternative.
Wire Pass features some serious narrows, and you can extend this hike deeper into Buckskin Gulch, which is a truly incredible slot canyon cut through walls of Navajo sandstone.
Local Tip: Permits are required but there is no quota (unlike The Wave).
Distance: 5.6 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 616 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 2-2.5 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
4WD/High Clearance Required: Yes
Drive Time from Kanab: 55 min
The Best Moderate Hikes in Kanab
These moderate Kanab, Utah hikes offer a variety of amazing desert landscapes to explore.
7. The Wave
The Wave is at the top of the list of Kanab hikes and is definitely one of the best hikes in Arizona.
You’ve probably seen photographs of this breath-taking sandstone formation, and it absolutely lives up to the hype when you hike through it.
Local Tip: Permits are required and are available through a highly competitive advanced or daily lottery.
Distance: 6.7 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 1,233 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Time: 3 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
4WD/High Clearance Required: Yes
Drive Time from Kanab: 55 min
8. Coyote Buttes South
Coyote Buttes South is a super cool choose-your-own-adventure hike since there are no actual designated trails in the area.
But there are a bunch of formations to check out as you meander around, including Rainbow Cove, the Southern Wave, and Witches Hat.
Local Tip: Permits are required and distributed through a lottery, but it is less competitive than The Wave.
Distance: Varies
Elevation Gain: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Time: 3-4 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
4WD/High Clearance Required: Yes
Drive Time from Kanab: 1 hour
9. Mansard Great Diverse Trail
The Mansard Great Diverse Trail leads to beautiful petroglyphs, up a steep and sandy trail with some scrambling.
If you do this hike in the spring, you’ll also see gorgeous desert wildflowers in bloom.
Distance: 5.3 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 1,223 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Time: 3 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
4WD/High Clearance Required: Yes
10. Peek-a-Boo Canyon (aka Red Canyon)
For one of the best slot canyons in Utah, check out Peek-a-Boo Canyon, aka Red Canyon.
Most of this hike is along a deep sandy trail which you could drive on in a 4×4 for an off-roading adventure.
But at the end of it, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning orange slot canyon.
Distance: 7.5 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 629 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Time: 3-4 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
4WD/High Clearance Required: No (but you can bypass most of the hike if you have it)
The Best Challenging Hikes in Kanab
For a longer day hike or a backpacking trip, check out these challenging Kanab hikes.
11. White Domes via Water Canyon
This hike will challenge you with steep climbs, but reward you with waterfalls, the namesake white domes, hoodoos, and incredible views. Some of the trail is unmarked, so be prepared to navigate.
Distance: 7.2 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 2,106 feet
Difficulty: Challenging
Estimated Time: 4 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes
4WD/High Clearance Required: No
Drive Time from Kanab: 55 min
12. Paria Canyon
Paria Canyon is a seriously special place in the Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, and you can do a long 15-mile day hike or take the full 38-mile trail and make it into an epic backpacking trip you won’t forget.
Distance: 15 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 846 feet
Difficulty: Challenging
Estimated Time: 7-8 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes
4WD/High Clearance Required: No
Drive Time from Kanab: 45 min
Desert Hiking Tips
While the desert is beautiful, it is lso an unforgiving place to hike. Here are some key tips for respecting the desert landscape and staying safe when hiking near Kanab, Utah.
- Don’t bust the crust – The bumpy black soil you see throughout the desert is cryptobiotic soil, and it contains living organisms. Avoid stepping on it!
- Bring plenty of water – The desert is extremely dry and hot, and you will rarely find water sources on Kanab hikes, so make sure you pack all the water you need. This is true for the best hikes in Escalante too.
- Pack out your trash – Anything you bring into the canyon, you need to pack out, including wrappers, peels, and dog poop. You have to pack out your own poop, too, so bring a WAG bag for emergencies.
- Don’t touch or deface artifacts – It should go without saying, but don’t touch historical artifacts or petroglyphs, and definitely don’t graffiti or carve anything into rock. Especially if you decide to go to the Cosmic Ashtray.
Additional Utah Hiking Resources
Wanna see more of Kanab? Check out these nearby attractions
