Kanarra Creek Canyon, Canyon and waterfall trail in Iron County, Utah
Kanarra Creek Canyon is a waterway passage carved through iron-colored sandstone, with rock walls rising on both sides and a creek flowing throughout. Multiple cascade points and water falls occur along the route as the stream descends through the canyon floor.
The sandstone layers formed over millions of years as flowing water carved channels through the bedrock. The canyon developed gradually into its current form through ongoing water-driven erosion.
The management of Kanarra Creek Canyon implements visitor limitations to protect local water resources and maintain the natural environment for future generations.
The hiking route spans about 4.5 miles and requires entry registration at the trailhead before starting. Wear proper footwear since the path involves wading through water and scrambling over rocks.
Two wooden ladders positioned at steep sections help hikers navigate vertical waterfall drops within the narrow passage. These structures allow visitors to climb through sections that would otherwise block the route.
Location: Iron County
GPS coordinates: 37.53774,-113.15261
Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:04
Utah preserves thousands of years of human history alongside some of North America's most varied geological landscapes. The region contains extensive rock art panels and Ancestral Pueblo ruins, including the 13th-century stone structures at Bears Ears National Monument and the 650-plus petroglyphs carved into Newspaper Rock over two millennia. Fremont Indian State Park displays more than 1,000 artifacts from the indigenous peoples who inhabited these lands, while fossilized dinosaur tracks near Moab record the passage of Allosaurus and Diplodocus across ancient mudflats 150 million years ago. The natural environment ranges from the sculpted sandstone formations of Goblin Valley, where erosion has created mushroom-shaped rocks rising 20 feet (6 meters) from the desert floor, to the narrow passages of Kanarra Creek Canyon with its red walls and cascading waterfalls. The Wedge Overlook reveals 1,000-foot (300-meter) cliffs above the San Rafael River, while Monroe's thermal springs emerge from the ground at 110°F (43°C). Whether exploring slot canyons, examining ancient handprints on rock walls, or walking among eroded sandstone formations, visitors encounter landscapes that document both geological processes spanning millions of years and the enduring presence of human cultures in this high desert region.
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