15 Nov Hiking to Kanarra Falls Outside of Zion

Kanarra Falls is less than an hour away from Zion National Park. It is approximately a four mile round trip hike that boasts two waterfalls as well as a natural rock slide. It is less expensive than Zion, if you are traveling by yourself or with one friend, at only $12 per person. Additionally, it is generally less crowded than Zion and other nearby attractions. Do not miss out on your chance to discover more of Utah’s natural beauty. 

Contents:

1) Location of Kanarra Falls

2) Opening Hours

3) Ticket Information

4) Quick Facts

5) General Trail Information 

6) Trail Directions

7) Two Waterfalls and Natural Water Slide

8) Recommended Items to Bring

1) Location of Kanarra Falls

• Location: Trailhead
• Parking: Parking Kanarra Creek Trail

Kanarra Falls is 55 minutes northwest of Zion National Park or 40 minutes northeast of the town of St. George. For reference, it is located just a few minutes off I-15, also known as the Veterans Memorial Highway. 

Consider planning a visit to Zion since it is in such close proximity. Zion boasts a variety of activities, including one of the most dangerous hikes in the United States. 

Nearby Airports

The closest airport is the St. George Regional Airport, though it is fairly small. There are also a variety of other nearby regional airports. However, the closest international airport is the Harry Reid International Airport located in Las Vegas. For our visit, we flew into Las Vegas and then rented a car to drive into Utah. I would recommend that you also rent a car, as it is the easiest way to get around the area. 

Parking for Kanarra Falls

There is a parking lot right next to the trailhead. It is a good size, so finding a spot should not be a problem. Additionally, there are restrooms in the main building as well as a ticket kiosk next to the parking lot.

Lodging

For nearby lodging, check out options in the town of Cedar City. Otherwise, there are plenty of options within the town of St. George, which is actually where we stayed during our visit. 

2) Opening Hours

• Open from dawn to dusk

There are staff present at the ticket kiosk in the spring, summer, and autumn seasons. The hiking hours are generally from dawn to dusk. Therefore, you will enjoy the greatest amount of hiking time in the summer season. 

In the winter season, there are generally no staff present at the ticket kiosk. Furthermore, no pets are allowed on the trail.

If you have any issues or questions, check out their FAQ or contact them at info@kanarrafalls.com or (435) 233-2467.

3) Tickets for Kanarra Falls

• Price: $12 per person
• Daily limit of 150 tickets

Purchase tickets either online in advance or at the small booth next to the parking lot. A ticket costs $12 per person, though children under three are free. For tickets purchased online, you must use them on the date specified. No refunds are offered for unused tickets or date changes. What if there is inclement weather or the trail is closed? You can then use your ticket on any future date. 

A portion of the ticket (10%) goes to Utah schools with the Utah School Trust Lands (SITLA). 

Daily Limit

One important note: the daily limit is 150 tickets. This means if you are the 151st person to try and purchase a ticket, they will turn you away. It does not matter if you are hiking alone or with a group. They thus highly recommend purchasing tickets online in advance. While we did purchase our tickets when we arrived, we also hiked in October, which is outside of the peak season.

4) Quick Facts

1. Kanarra Falls is located approximately an hour outside of Zion National Park.

2. Tickets to Kanarra Falls cost $12 per person, and there is a daily limit of 150 tickets.

3. The round trip hike is approximately 3.8 miles. 

4. There are two waterfalls as well as a natural rock slide on the trail for you to enjoy. 

5. You will need to scramble over some rocks as well as one boulder while hiking along the trail. 

Climbing up the rope ladder next to Kanarra Falls

5) General Trail Information – Kanarra Falls

• Trail length: 3.8 miles (~6.1 kilometers) round trip
• Estimated hiking time: 2 – 3 hours 

The trail to Kanarra Falls (or in other words to the second waterfall) is 3.8 miles (~6.1 kilometers) round trip. However, we hiked only to the first waterfall due to another commitment later that evening. It took us around one hour and 30 minutes round trip. Additionally, we spent about 15 to 20 minutes at the first waterfall exploring.

To hike to the second waterfall, plan for anywhere from two to three hours. The time you need depends on your pace, the busyness of the trail, and of course how much time you spend exploring the waterfalls and natural waterslide. 

Difficulty of Kanarra Falls Trail

The rating of the Kanarra Falls hike is moderate, for the beginning of the trail has a slight incline. After the incline, the trail then becomes mostly flat. However, it does require scrambling around and over some rocks. Nevertheless, you can hike through the stream to avoid the rocks on the trail. We generally avoided the stream because the water was cold in October. 

Words of Caution

Do NOT begin this hike if there is inclement weather forecasted for the area or it is raining. Flash floods and rockslides are a real possibility along this trail, especially from July to September. Check out the local forecast before beginning the hike. 

For another adventure in the area, book a canyoneering tour in Lambs Knoll just outside of Zion.

6) Trail Directions

• 1.6 miles to the first waterfall
• 1.9 miles to the second waterfall 

Do not let the first waterfall fool you, there is still more to see after that! 

For additional hiking trails in Utah, head north to Antelope Island State Park near Salt Lake City. While none of the trails leads to waterfalls, they do lead to panoramic views of the island and surrounding lake.

Directions to the First Waterfall – Kanarra Falls

The trailhead for Kanarra Falls is located at the edge of the parking lot mentioned above. Follow the dirt road from the parking lot for 0.8 miles to begin the hike. The road will then merge with the canyon trail, at which point there is another bathroom available. Additionally, you can decide whether to hike in the stream or on the trail next to the stream. The trail is somewhat overgrown, and thus you will have to climb / scramble over rocks at various points. If walking through the stream, I suggest wearing rain boots or water shoes and bringing a walking stick for balance. Consider the TrailBuddy trekking poles.

The trail continues for another 0.8 miles before arriving at the first waterfall, which is 1.6 miles from the parking lot. Be prepared to hike in the stream and get your feet wet to see the waterfall. Then go out and around the waterfall to continue along the trail. However, if you can safely maneuver up the rope, you can climb up the waterfall and then continue along the trail.

As you continue along the hike to the natural water slide, you will encounter a fairly large boulder. There are no handholds or footholds, so it does require a little bit of scrambling. This is where hiking with a group comes in handy. You can help one another get up and over the boulder. 

Directions to the Natural Slide and Second Waterfall

Approximately 0.2 miles from the first waterfall is the natural water slide, which is 1.8 miles from the parking lot. Go down the water slide for an exciting and refreshing ride. Just 0.1 miles further is the second waterfall. The falls are within a narrow canyon and will require hiking through deeper water than previously encountered on the trail. 

The Kanarra Falls trail does not continue after the second waterfall. Some people might try to continue on or put up a rope to continue, but this is not recommended. The trail can be dangerous. Furthermore, search and rescue has a more difficult time accessing the trail beyond the waterfall. 

Kanarra Falls inside of a small canyon

7) Waterfalls and Natural Water Slide at Kanarra Falls

• First waterfall at 1.6 mile marker
• Natural water slide at 1.8 mile marker
• Second waterfall at 1.9 mile marker

If you really want to see a vast array of waterfalls, then you need to head to the state of Maine. Some of my favorite waterfalls there include The Cataracts and Smalls Falls.

First Waterfall

The first waterfall is 1.6 miles from the beginning of the trail at the parking lot. It is within a narrow canyon, which means you have to walk through part of the stream to get there. When we arrived, there was no ladder as the website had detailed. Instead, there was only one rope with a couple of knots. My boyfriend hoisted himself up to the top of the waterfall, which is maybe 12 to 15 feet high. A couple of other people tried climbing up the rope as well. Some succeeded while others did not. I did not attempt the climb but rather acted as a cheerleader for those who did so.

Natural Water Slide

The natural water slide is 1.8 miles from the parking lot. Moreover, it is only 0.2 miles past the first waterfall. It is a fairly short slide, about 10 to 15 feet in length. At the end is a small pool of water. However, be careful if you choose to go down the slide, for it is not maintained in any way and thus could cause injury. 

Second Waterfall

The second waterfall is 1.9 miles from the parking lot. Moreover, it is only 0.1 mile past the slide and 0.3 miles past the first waterfall. Similar to the first waterfall, it is located within a narrow canyon. Walking through part of the stream to get to the falls is a necessity, though this time the water will be slightly deeper. The second waterfall signals the end of the trail. It is NOT recommended to continue beyond the falls, for it can be dangerous. 

8) Recommended Items to Bring

1. Water bottle: Please please please be sure to bring enough water with you while hiking. Water is even more important if you are visiting in the summer, for the heat can make you become dehydrated real quick. I brought along my Yeti water bottle.

Hygiene

2. Sunscreen: While this might not be as important on a cloudy day, it will be on a day full of beautiful clear skies. A fair amount of the trail is completely exposed, so the sun will be shining straight down on you.

3. Bug spray: Let’s be honest – mosquitos, gnats, and any other little type of fly can ruin an experience. You cannot truly enjoy a hike if you are swatting away bugs from your face the whole time. Therefore, be prepared with bug spray or a mosquito repellent bracelet.

Hiking Apparel

4. Hiking shoes: A pair of hiking shoes will be incredibly helpful as you hike along the trail and even have to scramble over some rocks and one boulder.  If you decide to hike in the stream, a pair of waterproof hiking shoes might be a better choice. 

5. Hiking poles: Hiking poles will be useful if you plan to walk along the trail or in the stream. A little extra support can go a long way.

6. Optional – crampons: These are only necessary in the winter months if there is snow or ice along the trail. Crampons are spikes that attach to the bottom of shoes. However, I would not necessarily recommend hiking in such conditions due to the fact the trail will become quite slippery and dangerous. 

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Check out some more hikes in Zion: The 3 Most Difficult Hikes in Zion.

Check out one of the best hikes in Arches: Skyline Arch Trail in Arches National Park.