Kanarra Falls & Kolob Canyons

Exploring the Backyard

One of the reasons that we chose to retire where we did is that there are a ton of day trips that we can take that get us to some really cool destinations.

What we didn’t bargain for was the large number of even cooler destinations that we had never even heard of. One such spot is Kanarra Falls, less than two hours away in Kanarraville, UT. It’s a 3.6 mile trail through a forest, slot canyon and beautiful waterfalls. The town of Kanarraville manages it by limiting admission to 180 per day with a $15 per price tag. The creek serves as the town’s water supply, so please take care in keeping the trail and slot clean.

We made two trips there in April 2024 as we had two sets of visitors who needed to experience it. Water shoes are a must and trekking poles/walking stick probably aren’t a bad idea either. The water temperature in early April was 35 degrees, so you’ll want to dress accordingly. During our visits, the water was never higher than knee deep.

After a couple of minutes, your feet are numb and it’s no big deal.

Just a spectacular experience that I highly recommend if you’re in the area. FYI, don’t expect too much from Kanarraville for post hike food and drink. You’ll have much better luck in Cedar City to the north and St. George to the south.

We combined visiting Kanarra Falls with Kolob Canyons, an often overlooked section of Zion National Park just one exit south on I-15. Spectacular views, no shuttles, no crowd and no parking hassles. There are a couple of long hikes and one short one that offers high reward for minimal effort.

If you’re traveling through this area, I highly recommend making this a two for one.

Stay tuned!