Kanarra falls hike

With all the attention it has been getting in social media, Kanarra Falls seems to have spiraled in popularity and has turned into a problem of management for locals. I had fortunately done the hike way back when it was not too well known. It used to be a welcome respite to the throngs of the Zion Narrows; basically all the trappings of a slot canyon hike without the crowds. Regrettably, not anymore.

Before Pinterest and Instagram really took off, the best kept secret hikes & faraway photogenic spots in Utah revealed themselves over time. Over multiple visits, one would accidentally run into an obscure place or a book that had a picture of a gorgeous place & then do their best to dig up more info. There was an element of discovery to it as well. Kanarra Creek Falls was such a spot for me. Over my many trips to Springdale, Utah to do Zion, I happened to stay in a motel that had this gorgeous photo of Kanarra Falls. It felt like a scene from an Indiana Jones movie. Ever since, it had been on my bucket list of places to do.

The trailhead is located just outside the Kolob Canyon section of the Zion National park. It is a moderate, 5 mile round trip hike that starts at the trailhead at Kanarraville town, 15 mins south of Cedar City off I-15.

You start off on a service road, and soon enough, you will find yourself meandering in and out of the Kanarra creek. Most of this part is in harsh sun, so you will be well served to wear a hat. However, the highlight is the last mile of the hike, which takes you into a beautiful narrow slot canyon where you are in ankle deep water for most of the hike.

As soon as you enter the slot canyon, the temperature drops at least 10 degrees and you start feeling cold even in early summer – if you’re sensitive to temperature fluctuations, then do pack another layer to wear on during this part of the hike.

There are two waterfalls that present a bit of a hurdle and cause a traffic jam. A tree trunk and a rope is placed to help hikers up the first one. Be prepared to wade at places. A fun slot canyon, the payoff is the incredibly photogenic slot canyon with it’s beautiful waterfalls.

As of January 2019, the Kanarraville Town Board has apparently voted to limit the number of permits for the Kanarra Falls Hike to 150 people per day for the 2019 season and the fee is being increased to $12 per tourist.

How to get there:

• A three hour drive from Las Vegas, Nevada:

• An hour drive from Zion National Park (Springdale, Utah):