![]() ![]() Coyote ButtesĬoyote Buttes comprise a sprawling landscape of sandstone knolls, ravines, and arches marked by their signature kaleidoscopic colors striped across the rocks. You’ll find the trailhead toward the southern end of Cottonwood Canyon Road, about 60 miles east of Kanab. Exploring all three hoodoo zones and hiking back to the trailhead clocks in at about 9 miles round trip, with little or no shade coverage for most of the day. Making the off-trail journey up the typically dry creek bed (pools and mud sloughs may appear after floods) to the three sets of hoodoos is worth it for an adventurous group. Nicknamed the “white ghosts,” these hoodoos catch your eye not only for their picturesque contrasting colors but also for their seemingly impossible height, with several reaching up to 50 feet tall. Wahweap HoodoosĪfter hiking three miles up the Wahweap Creek wash, the first throng of cream-colored sandstone pillars capped by purplish-red balanced rocks come into view. Try the lottery system up to four months in advance or test your luck in snagging one of the coveted walk-in permits at the visitor center in Kanab. Hiking into The Wave (about a 5-mile round trip) requires a permit. Situated along the Utah-Arizona state line in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, the swirling layers of red, pink, gold, and white sandstone create a surrealistic pattern that entices hikers with a setting-and photo opportunities-unlike any other. It’s hard to conjure up images of wild rock formations in the Southwest without the vibrant stripes of curved sandstone strata known as The Wave coming to mind. The Wave You need a bit of luck to get a hiking permit to visit The Wave, but it’s well worth the effort to get one. Meanwhile, hiking on the soft dunes or even trying your hand at sandboarding (think snowboarding but without a parka!) make for other great ways to explore this unique setting. Winds continually shape this wild landscape, causing sand dunes to shift as much as 50 feet per year.ĪTV enthusiasts can have a field day exploring the park, as about 90 percent of the dunes are open for riding. Situated about 20 miles west of Kanab, this park owes its dramatic landscape to high-velocity winds funneling into the valley and depositing rich-colored sand from eroded Navajo sandstone. The panorama of windswept sand hills at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park will have you wondering if you somehow left Utah and ended up in the Sahara. ![]() The trail leads up a generally flat, sandy wash and gets full sun exposure, so plan accordingly during summer months. Eroded in their bizarre forms by wind, these fragile sandstone towers take on shapes reminiscent of mushrooms, gnomes, mythical creatures, and just about any other form gleaned by your imagination. From the trailhead just off US-89 about 45 miles east of Kanab, it’s an easy, 1.8-mile round-trip hike to explore this area, defined by the red and white striped hoodoos-the namesake Toadstools-that fill the valley. The Toadstoolsįamily-friendly, accessible, and awe-inspiring, The Toadstools are an excellent introduction to southern Utah’s otherworldly landscapes. The town of Kanab serves as an excellent base camp for your trip to explore the area’s most mesmerizing natural features. Hidden arches, windswept sand dunes, brightly colored cliffs, and amazing rock formations are just a few of the surreal landmarks you’ll uncover in Kane County, Utah. These unique landscapes provide a sense of must-see-to-believe magnetism. When making a trip to southern Utah, visitors know they’re about to see some of the most beautifully fantastic natural scenery in the country. ![]()
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