The only major sand dune field on the Colorado Plateau, with 3,730 acres of pink Navajo sandstone sand open for hiking, OHV riding, sandboarding, and stargazing.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park sits about 20 miles northwest of Kanab at roughly 6,000 feet elevation, noticeably cooler than the canyon floors below. The dunes formed through a process called the Venturi effect: high winds funneling through a notch between the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains pick up loose sand particles and drop them in the valley on the other side. That process has been running for 10,000 to 15,000 years, producing one of the most unusual landscapes in southern Utah, and the only major sand dune field on the entire Colorado Plateau.
The sand itself is eroded Navajo sandstone, iron-rich and distinctly pink-orange in color. The dunes shift position by as much as 50 feet per year.
About 90 percent of the park's 3,730 acres are open to off-highway vehicles, which makes this one of the region's most popular OHV destinations. The remaining area, a 265-acre conservation zone, is non-motorized only. That protected section is home to the Coral Pink tiger beetle (Cicindela albissima), an insect found nowhere else in the world, and to Welsh's milkweed (Asclepias welshii), a federally threatened plant species that exists primarily here.
For visitors on foot, the park has one developed hiking trail: the Nature Trail, a roughly half-mile loop starting from the observation platform near the day-use parking area. The trail is marked with posts along the edge of the non-motorized zone and gains less than 100 feet in elevation.
Beyond the Nature Trail, the open dunes are accessible for unstructured exploring. There are no marked routes on the dunes themselves, and paths shift as the sand moves, so orientation is on the hiker. Sandboards and sleds are available to rent at the visitor center for $25, and the dunes near the parking area are popular for sliding. Early morning is the best time to hike, before the sand heats up and before OHV traffic picks up.
The park holds International Dark Sky Park designation, and the elevation and distance from town make for clear viewing on clear nights. The campground has 34 sites split between two loops: 22 dry camping sites and 12 with water and electricity. Both loops have hot showers, flush toilets, and RV dump stations. Advance reservations are strongly recommended in spring and fall.
Spring and fall are the practical sweet spots for visiting. Summer afternoons can push the sand surface temperature well beyond air temperature, and strong winds in winter make conditions on the dunes genuinely unpleasant. The park is open year-round, but a weekday morning in April or October is a different experience from a summer Saturday afternoon with OHV traffic at full volume.
The dunes at Coral Pink are the result of a geological process specific to this location — wind funneling through a gap in the surrounding mountains picks up iron-rich Navajo sandstone particles and deposits them in the valley below. The sand's distinctive color comes from that iron content, giving the dunes a warm pink-orange that shifts with light throughout the day. The park spans 3,730 acres, with the majority open to off-highway vehicles and a 265-acre conservation zone reserved for non-motorized use. The conservation zone protects habitat for the Coral Pink tiger beetle, found nowhere else in the world, and a federally threatened milkweed species. The dunes shift as much as 50 feet per year, so the landscape is genuinely dynamic between visits. Sunrise and the late afternoon light hours are when the color and shadow on the dune faces are most dramatic.
The park sits at roughly 6,000 feet elevation, noticeably cooler than the canyon floors of the southern Utah corridor. Plan for 1.5 to 3 hours depending on how much time you spend on the dunes or in the conservation zone. The developed Nature Trail is approximately half a mile and starts near the day-use parking area; the open dunes beyond the trail have no marked routes, as paths shift with the sand. The campground has 34 sites with showers and flush toilets; advance reservations are strongly recommended in spring and fall. OHV activity peaks on weekend afternoons — weekday mornings are quieter and the sand surface is cooler. The park is open year-round, but strong winter winds can make time on the open dunes genuinely uncomfortable.
3,288 reviews
4 weeks ago
Was a neat place, especially if you wanted to drive off road vehicles in sand dunes. Also rent slides or skis for personal use coming down the dunes. People were friendly. Open late. Sand was like powder. My deduction is because it looked more orange than pink. Probably beautiful at sunrise and sunset.
a month ago
a month ago
a month ago
Amazing
a month ago
Beautiful sand dunes