The Moqui Caverns near Kanab are a popular stop along Highway 89. Chances are that you’ll see a few cars parked at the trailhead along the main road because while these caves are small, we think they are best things to do near Kanab.
In this guide we’ll tell you everything you need to know to visit Kanab’s interesting Sand Caves including what to expect along the trail and where to park. It’s a short hike, but it certainly packs a lot of punch.
Our Experience
We visited the Moqui Caverns in December 2021 after visiting the Belly of the Dragon and before checking out the famous Moqui Cave. The main reason we planned to visit Kanab was to win a permit for the Wave. Luckily, we won a permit for the following day so we had some time to spare in town.
The sand caves are a unique hike in southern Utah and can be completed quickly. It took us about an hour to hike which included taking a lot of photos. Before entering the caverns, you’ll have to climb a steep hill which is often covered in sandstone and we highly recommend shoes with good grip so you have traction. Read more about us.
What Are The Moqui Caverns?
The Moqui Caverns are a series of small artificial sand caves originally created by humans in the 1970’s to mine sand for glass production. There are multiple openings around 10-15ft in height as you can see in our photo above and you’ll be able to see the openings as you drive along Highway 89. While the area is no longer used for mining, you can now explore inside the caverns.
After visiting, we thought the caves went further back than we expected. And as you go deeper into the caverns, there is less artificial light so you may need a flashlight at times. But it’s a picturesque spot and we also found a few large sand dunes inside.
These sand caves were not well known until the rise of social media. But once photos began appearing on Instagram, the Moqui Caverns quickly became a must visit spot on any Utah road trip itinerary.
Travel Tip: The Moqui Caverns and Moqui Sand Caves are terms interchangeably used to describe the same location.
Visitor Information
The Moqui Sand Caves are located about 6 miles from Kanab in southern Utah. As you leave town, look for a bright orange sign to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary before turning right onto Kanab Canyon Road. Take the right turn and immediately take a left turn into a very obvious parking lot. This is the official parking lot for the Moqui Sand Caves and here’s the Google Maps location.
When we visited the official trailhead parking did not exist. Hikers originally had to park in the sandy roadside area you can see below which was incredible dangerous because you had to cross the road to see the sand caves. Today, strict no parking signs have been implemented here and we highly recommend you use the official parking lot because it’s much safer.
Near the sand caves, you can also visit the Moqui Cave. It’s a small history museum with an eclectic mix of artifacts. Unfortunately, these two attractions are sometimes confused because the names are very similar and they are located close to one another along Highway 89.
We think the Moqui Cave is a unique roadside attraction worth visiting if you have the time to spare. It’s about 0.5 miles away to the north and has a separate parking lot. You can read our Moqui Cave guide next so you can visit both at the same time.
If you can see the sand caves while driving or make it as far as Moqui Cave on the right side of the road, you’ve gone too far. Turn around and make your way to the parking lot at the turn to Best Friends. Please also do not park at Moqui Cave to visit the sand caves because their lot is for paying customers.
Travel Tip: Moqui was formerly a term used for the Hopi people who one inhabited the area thousands of years ago.
You can visit the Sand Caves near Kanab any time of day and they are completely free to enter. A popular time to visit is about an hour before sunset for the best lighting inside the tunnel like maze. We had planned to visit Moqui Caverns at sunset, but spent a little too much time at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and arrived at the sand caves right as the sun was setting.
By this time, the sun had dropped down below the cliffs on the opposite side of Highway 89 and we missed the window of opportunity. But it was totally worth it for our time with the animals. So if you want the perfect photo, arrive at least one hour before sunset. You can check Kanab sunset times here.
Hiking To The Moqui Sand Caves
- Distance: 1.2 miles (0.6 miles one way)
- Elevation gain: 80 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time required: 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Dogs: Allowed, but trail is steep in sections
- Recent comments: AllTrails
The hiking trail to reach Moqui Caverns is relatively short at around 1.2 miles roundtrip. After you’ve parked your vehicle in the lot at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary turn, walk along the flat trail at the bottom of the cliff. Pass the caves to your right side and continue until you reach a section of the cliff with a less steep climb.
At the cliff wall, the hike turns into a bit of a scramble and we recommend wearing shoes with extremely good tread. The slick rock face will be covered in sand and it can be very slippery, especially after rain. Once you make it up the cliff wall, you’ll walk along a flat ridge directly to the sand caves themselves.
The trail will level out at the top and it can be a little dicey looking down so make sure you stay as close to the canyon wall as possible. Follow the trail for the short distance directly to the caves. It won’t take long to explore the sand caves, but check out the vantage points from the different Peek-A-Boo lookouts. We noticed the rocks also had Wave-like features which is cool to see.
There is not a lot of room to wander around so the caves can be crowded if several groups are visiting at once. However, be polite and take turns exploring sections of the caverns. After you’ve taken enough photos, turn around and retrace your steps back down.
We did see many kids enjoying this trail, but a few of them struggled with the rock scramble. You’ll also want to keep a close eye on them because there are a few steep drop offs in various points. If you get nervous descending, you can always slide down on your butt to lower your center of gravity.
We also want to remind visitors to Leave No Trace when visiting the Moqui Caverns. Unfortunately, there is a lot of graffiti and writing on the caves so please don’t add more. It’s also very important to stay on the main trail and minimize making new short cuts because this is harmful to the surrounding environment.
READ: 25 unmissable hikes in Utah
Directions From Nearby Locations
We think Kanab is located in a great spot geographically. Many visitors from Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park use the city of Kanab as a hub to hike popular trails in the region. For us, it was a great pitstop between the southwest Utah parks and Grand Canyon South Rim.
Here are distances from nearby attractions:
- Zion East Entrance (Mount Carmel Tunnel) – About 30 miles and 45 minutes
- Bryce Canyon National Park – About 70 miles and 1 hour 15 minutes
- Horseshoe Bend – About 80 miles and 1 hour 30 minutes
- Grand Canyon South Rim – About 220 miles and 4 hours
If you need a hotel in the area, make sure you check out the 12 best hotels in Kanab to plan the perfect adventure.
READ: Should you visit Horseshoe bend at sunrise or sunset?
The Morgan Conclusion
What we like: Overall we were happy we added the short hike to the Moqui Caves to our Kanab itinerary. It’s a free activity the entire family can enjoy not to mention a very picturesque spot. We also appreciate the fact they’ve created a parking lot because it was very dangerous crossing the road when we visited.
What we didn’t like: Seeing all of the graffiti on the walls was pretty sad and we’ll never understand why some people feel the need to destroy nature. It can also be very tight if multiple groups are visiting the Sand Caves at the same time.
Are the Moqui Sand Caves worth visiting? Yes, we think it’s worth seeing the Moqui Caverns because it’s a very short and fun hike to a unique location. We also like how easy it is to access the parking lot and trailhead making it a breeze for anyone who wants to hike. If you want to visit, you should plan for about an hour.
More From Utah
- Unique things to do near Kanab, Utah
- How to hike to the Wave in Arizona
- Tips for winning a Wave hiking permit
- 20 hikes you can’t miss in Utah
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes visitor guide
- Where to find the Belly of the Dragon
- What to expect at the Moqui Cave Museum
- Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch Slot Canyon hike
- Hiking to Toadstool Hoodoos nesr Kanab
- How to find the Dinosaur Tracks trail
- Best cool places to see in Utah
Want more Utah content? Head over to our Utah Travel Guides to explore the Mighty Five National Parks and beyond.
We hope our guide featuring the popular Moqui Sand Caves helps with planning your trip!
Please let us know if you have any questions about visiting the caverns or Kanab in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.
Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us.