Moqui Caverns: Exploring the Kanab Sand Caves

The Moqui Caverns, a.k.a. Kanab Sand Caves, are a series of man-made sandstone caves carved out of the side of a cliff in southern Utah. Located just minutes from Kanab, Utah on Highway 89, the Sand Caves are easy to access via a short half-mile round trip hike.

The Moqui Caverns are man-made, and are actually the remnants of a sand mine from the 1970’s. The sand mined from the caves was melted down to create glass products.

If you are wondering how the name “Moqui” came to be, the title refers to the Hopi tribe of Native Americans (previously known as the Moqui Native Americans) who inhabited the area centuries ago.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know before visiting the Moqui Caverns.

Moqui Caverns: Kanab Sand Caves

Warning: Hiking to the Moqui Caverns requires crossing Highway 89 from the parking area to reach the trailhead. Please use caution when crossing this busy road, especially if you have children with you, as cars often speed.

Map of Moqui Caverns

The map below displays the location of the Moqui Caverns/Kanab Sand Caves, the parking lot to start the hike, and the Moqui Cave Museum. Kanab and Zion National Park are also marked in yellow as reference points.

• To view more details about each location, click on the marker on the map.
• To save this map for future use, click the star next to the title. From your phone, open the Google Maps app and click the “saved” tab, followed by the “Maps” icon. From your Gmail account, navigate to Maps –> “Saved” –> “My Maps” –> “Maps” tab.
• To email this map to yourself, click the three dots in the upper right corner.

Moqui Caverns | Hike Guide

Our experience

We ended up visiting the Moqui Caverns after our plans to hike Buckskin Gulch fell through due to recent snow, making the road to the trailhead impassable.

Since we were in the Kanab area, we were looking for things to do and had seen photos of the Moqui Caves so we decided to check them out! We thought the sand caves were pretty and a nice way to spend half an hour in Kanab.

That being said, we probably wouldn’t go out of our way to return.

Parking and getting to the trailhead

Finding the parking area for the Kanab Sand Caves can be a bit confusing.

If you search for Moqui Caverns on GoogleMaps, it will take you to the parking area for the Moqui Cave Museum. AllTrails will take you to the same spot. This is NOT the trailhead and you cannot park here – parking at the Moqui Cave Museum is for paying guests only. 

The correct parking area for the Moqui Caverns is a small dirt pull-off located just across the road from the Moqui Caverns. To find the right spot, search for “Sand Caves” on GoogleMaps and then look out for the pull-off across the street.

Starting the hike

From the parking area, you can see the Moqui Caverns carved out of the cliff face across the street. To start the hike, cross Highway 89 and look for a sandy trail that leads to the base of the cliff. From there, you will have to scramble up the rock until you are level with the Sand Caves. 

If you have a really bad fear of heights, this may be a bit tough for you, but the good news is that you are never very high up. Take your time and you’ll be just fine!

Exploring the Moqui Caverns

Once you arrive at the Moqui Caverns you can spend some time exploring the different sections.

The floor of the caves is sand and there are several carved out windows with nice views of the orange cliffs below. The cave continues back until you reach a dark dead end. 

We were a little bit disappointed by the amount of graffiti inside the cave. That being said, there are also some really beautiful natural patterns and colors along the sandstone walls!

Moqui Caverns | FAQs

Are the Moqui Caverns worth visiting?

We personally thought the Moqui Caverns were a bit overrated, made famous by cute pictures on Instagram. That being said, they are quick and easy to access and worth a stop if you are driving through the area. We wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to get here.

What is the Moqui Cave Museum?

The Moqui Caverns/Kanab Sand Caves are not to be confused with the Moqui Cave Museum, located just down the road.

The museum, which is itself a cave, houses a collection of artwork, fossilized minerals and rocks, a set of dinosaur tracks and various Native American artifacts. Even on hot summer days, the interior of the Moqui Cave Museum doesn’t exceed 65 degrees, making it a great spot to cool off!

Visit the museum | Entrance to the museum is $5 per person, and you can find more information here.

How difficult is hiking to the Moqui Caverns?

The hike to Moqui Caverns is about 0.5 miles round trip and gains nearly 100 feet of elevation. Because of the short distance, we’ve rated the hike as easy. However, be aware that there is a bit of scrambling to get up to the caves. The rock is sandy and a little slick, so you will want a pair of hiking boots or shoes with good traction. 

Once you climb up, you will walk along a somewhat narrow sandstone ledge, which may be troubling for those with a serious fear of heights.

When is the best time to go?

For milder temperatures, the best time of year to visit Moqui Caverns is during the spring and fall. However, since it’s such a short hike and the caves offer some shade, visiting during the summer would be doable despite hot temperatures.

In the winter, the trail may be covered in snow making the scramble up to the caves more challenging and dangerous.

Other Utah Resources

Planning a road trip through Utah? Be sure to check out these other great hikes nearby:

Have you visited the Moqui Caverns in Kanab? Questions about visiting the Sand Caves? Let us know in the comments section below.

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