Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Permit Required
This hike requires a permit or fee. Check current rules before you go: recreation.gov or the managing agency.
Why Hike This
This one is unusual because the permit is not federal. Iron County and the City of Kanarraville run the access, the daily count is capped, and you book through the town's own system rather than recreation.gov. The hike starts from a city-maintained lot in Kanarraville, reached from I-15 exit 51 and about 13 miles of Old Highway 91, and the route goes up the creek itself rather than alongside it. Expect wet feet from the first crossing on, and shoes that drain.
The Trail
Slot canyon + ladders + waterfalls. Fee/permit capped daily - book ahead.
Heat note: desert country - in summer start at dawn and carry more water than feels reasonable.
Pack Loadout (Moderate)
2 liters water, trail shoes, sun layer, snacks, small first-aid kit.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: Kolob Reservoir (Fishing, 10 mi) · Skyline Pond (Cedar City area) (Fishing, 12 mi) · Lava Point Campground (Camping, 13 mi) · Point Supreme Campground (Cedar Breaks) (Camping, 20 mi)
More hikes nearby: Spectra Point / Ramparts (Hike, 19 mi) · Riverside Walk (Hike, 21 mi) · The Narrows (Bottom-Up) (Hike, 22 mi) · Angels Landing (Hike, 22 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Kanarra Falls hike?
- 3.8 miles round trip with 639 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Kanarra Falls?
- Moderate. Kid rating: 3 out of 5.
- When should I hike Kanarra Falls?
- Best season: May-Oct.
- Why hike Kanarra Falls?
- Because you get a water-carved slot with ladders past the falls, which is rare in Utah and rarer still this close to Zion. Access is capped and permitted by Iron County and the town of Kanarraville rather than a federal agency, so the canyon holds a set number of people a day. Book before you drive.