Moqui Caverns – Kanab Sand Caves

Wherever are the Moqui Caverns/Kanab Sand Caves?

 The Moqui Caverns are located 6.4 miles north of the Kanab Customer Centre by means of Highway 89. Allow for 10 minutes of driving time. From the Mount Carmel Junction, they are a 12-moment drive to the south. There is a NEW significant, signed parking good deal for the Kanab sand caves, on the east facet of Freeway 89. You no for a longer time need to park on the west side of the highway – and then sprint across it preventing high pace cars, to achieve the trailhead.

If you are driving north from Kanab and you go the created Moqui Cave Museum, then you have gone too much, although quite a few people today will want to make a quick end and stop by the museum or get some thing to consume.

Do you have to stop by the Moqui Cave to stop by the Moqui Caverns?

I was bewildered just before we did the hike to the Moqui Caverns/Kanab sand caves as to no matter if we experienced to obtain them via the Moqui Cave Purely natural History Museum. You do not, so there is no fee if you only want to hike.

The hike starts off from the NEW signed parking large amount about a mile to the south of the entrance to the Moqui Cave ON THE Exact same Side OF THE Highway. You cannot park at Moqui Cave unless you are a having to pay client.

The museum is housed in the Moqui Cave – which at a single position was southern Utah’s very first dance corridor and bar. With an admission price of just $5 per human being, it’s a worthwhile cease. The museum parts are from the personal assortment of Garth Chamberlain, an proprietor of Moqui Cave from 1951 – 1988. Admire exhibits of Indigenous American artifacts, fluorescent minerals along with rocks and fossils, and over 180 dinosaur tracks, all discovered within a 15-mile radius of the cave.

For more facts test out the Moqui Cave web-site.

What is the best time of yr to visit the Moqui Caverns?

The space all around Kanab will get blazing hot in the summertime, but simply because this is a brief hike, you in concept could do it any day of the 12 months. Nonetheless, if the slickrock portion was protected in snow, it would be perilous with out the appropriate footwear.

It is always a lot more pleasurable to hike when the temperature is average so intention for the shoulder seasons – spring and tumble. But if you’re just passing by the location and you want to extend your legs, go for it. Just do not forget about the water and sunscreen. If you have a doggy with you on a warm day, be wary of burning their paws on sizzling sand – and they as well will want tons of drinking water.

The hike to Moqui Caverns

From the parking spot head for the sandy route with the little sign pictured two photographs over. Stick to the Kanab sand cave trail as it weaves by means of scrubby vegetation parallel to the highway for about a quarter of a mile. The trail is braided so take what ever path appears to be like the most applied. Glimpse up after rounding the corner and you ought to be in a position to see the Kanab sand caves. 

Hold walking on flat floor till the slope of the hill appears to be like it is protected to climb. The slope turns into significantly less steep the further more north you get from the sand caves. At a place that truly feel comfy for you, hike up the hill, planting your entire foot firmly on the rock. Friction will do the rest! The grip is great so there is no want to bend about like you see the people today carrying out in the image underneath.

After at the major of the hill, switch proper and stick to the sandstone ledge as it heads to the Kanab sand caves. Any person fearful of heights would do effectively to target on what’s forward. Consider your time, becoming mindful with foot placement and you will attain the cave inside 5 – 10 minutes – tops.

Idea: Footwear must have excellent traction. This is no location for thong-like sandals.

Enter the roomy cave and start checking out. You will detect how neat it is promptly – a handle on a very hot summer’s working day. The ground of the cave is sandy – a further explanation to dress in footwear relatively than sandals. John and I continued to the conclude of the cave – which is about 100 metres or 300 toes very long. It is very dim at the quite close of the cave so this is a excellent area to use your phone’s flashlight to examine the ceiling and the walls. The quantity of graffiti is astounding. Make sure you really don’t include any more. 

There are quite a few home windows carved into the rock when it was made use of as a sand mine. The Kanab sand caves are roomy with several “rooms” and more than enough head place that you should not experience claustrophobic. This is a well-liked hike, so be ready to phase aside so men and women can get their “shot”.

Try to take a look at the sand caves later in the day, about an hour before sunset for the finest lighting. The walls of the Kanab sand caves almost seemed to glow at instances.