Moqui Caverns in Kanab, Utah is a cool place to explore with kids of all ages. Our family of 5 took a short hike up a sandy trail to visit these sandstone caverns. Our kids, who were young at the time, loved scrambling over the rocks along the trail. Once inside the caves, we discovered rooms with arched ceilings, scenic views of the nearby wilderness, and several drop-offs! I don’t think our family will soon forget our visit to Moqui Caverns.
Amazing family adventures are made up of individual memories, right? Think back to your last great vacation. You probably remember the little moments much more than the expensive attractions. A stop by Moqui Caverns is a great place to visit in Utah. It’s situated along Highway 89, a unique detour on a trip to Zion National Park or Arches National Park. We stopped for a stretch break and discovered these very cool man-made sand caves to explore.
I later learned that people carved these sandstone caves by harvesting sand for glass production. Not only are the caves man-made, but many people have carved graffiti or names into the cavern walls. Nevertheless, the sand caves are still unique, with sandy floors, layered sandstone walls and multiple chambers. These caves are carved into the side of a hillside.
Short Hike to Moqui Caverns
Our kids had a great time scampering along the rocky trail to get to the sand caves. At times, we had to climb, slide, shuffle and step over rocks and sand. Overall, this is a reasonably easy and adventurous short hike up to Moqui Caverns.
Upon first seeing the entrances of Moqui Caverns in Kanab, Utah, it’s hard to get an idea of how deep they are.
Evidently, these sandstone caves were made by people who harvested sand in the 1970s to make glass. By carving out lots of sand, they created several sandstone chambers connected with arched entrances. Some of the openings exit the cliffside to a sharp drop-off below. You can see the nearby road and wilderness from Moqui Caverns, which is located along Highway 89 near Kanab, Utah.
Beautiful sandstone arches hold up the interior of these sandstone caves.
One cavern connects to another, with rocky ceilings and soft sandy floors.
Our kids had a blast exploring the sandstone caverns. They ran through the sand, crawled through tight spaces, and carefully gazed out the cliffside openings. This was a fun stop for our family on our RV trip to Arizona. Our hike and exploration of the sand caves took about an hour and we had the place to ourselves!
Carved names decorate the walls of Moqui Caverns in Kanab, Utah.
Exploring Moqui Caverns was a great adventure for our family. Our three kids really enjoyed touring the natural sandstone caves. Specifically, the stone rooms were interesting to explore and the gaping cave openings offered some cool views. If you can hike, these sand caves are easy to get to. Simply park along Highway 89 and hike up the short trail to the caves. Exploring the caves is a great road trip stretch break!
Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 4 kids in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, photography, and traveling. I’ve previously worked as a web designer, journalist, and barista. I hope you enjoy our creative projects and family adventures!
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The hard work that the makers of this sandstone caverns have gone through is admirable. Thanks to their thoughts and efforts for giving this wonderful gift to the many generations to come.