Kanarra Falls — Attraction in Four Corners States

I’ve heard a lot about this hike over the years and finally got down to it. Social Media has made it very popular, but luckily when I went there were very few in the the canyon. I’m sure if you go on a weekend the place is packed (which is exactly what I strive to avoid).

There is a $8 fee (per person) which can be purchased online through the city of Kanarraville, or at the toll both at the trailhead. I’m all for the fee as long is it is used to help maintain the area and preserve its beauty.

The hike is in an area that can either be super hot (it was 92 degrees the day I went, brutal), or really cold due to rogue storms. Make sure to be aware of weather forecasts, and avoid this hike if rain is predicted. It is a slot canyon which can spell disaster if you get caught in it during a flash flood. As the first mile or so is not in the canyon it can get very hot hiking in the sun. Make sure to have plenty of water. There is one restroom before you cross the river for the first time. Go there for hold it till you get back.

I found the first part of the trail to be rather unimpressive. You go up an access road, cross the river twice before you reach the point where it is best just to follow the river. There are spots once you start getting into the canyon where you are getting out of the river and following short bursts of trail before reentering the water. NOTE: when I hiked it, I never got in water that was deeper than my knees (mostly in a couple pools). For the most part the water was just ankle deep. And it felt AMAZING on this blistering hot day. The rocks in the river can be quite slippery, so I highly recommend some good hiking water shoes or sandals.

Once I got in the canyon I loved every twist and turn. I always love exploring slot canyons. They are so unique and inspiring to me. This one did not disappoint. It is not technical no wedging or crawling required. There are the two famous waterfalls that have large tree branches with rungs bolted (first ladder) or lashed (second ladder) onto them. As long as you are careful with your foot and hand placement you should be fine. NOTE: they are a little wobbly, wet and slippery. BE CAREFUL. I saw some people trying to get some little kids up the first and biggest ladder. They did just fine, minus the two little boys that got “cliffed out” and couldn’t move up or down the ladders without major coaxing.

The pools located approximately halfway between the two ladders were kinda cool. This is where the rock slide is at. The “Rock Slide” is more like a rock slip. Very short and the pool is not deep enough to swim in so for an adult you just slip down and essentially do a squat as your feet impact the ground and you sit into the water. I’m sure kids find it quite memorable.

Wildlife exists in the canyon. Respect it. Let them be. I saw a very cool blue tailed Skink lizard just chilling on a rock and a King Snake (first one I have ever seen! So cool!) the black, red, and white striped snake (non-venomous). The sign at the trailhead has good information about rattlesnakes that also inhabit the area.

Respect the canyon. Unfortunately many people have carved their names on some of the rocks. Please don’t be one of the defacers of this canyon.

My hike was about 4 miles round trip. I turned around shortly after the second ladder. I’ve heard there is not much after it as the canyon widens up. It took me about 4 hours to complete, but I was taking my time.

I highly recommend Kanarraville Falls. It is a great place to go to cool off on a hot day (once you get in the canyon), it is a good place to inspire kids to enjoy the outdoors, and a good place to enjoy the beauty that nature can...

Worth the $30 it cost us to go on this hike. You have to reserve your date in advance and they sell out, so make sure you don't wait until the last minute - especially on a fri-mon. The best time of day to walk this trail is the hour or two after sunrise. When the sun starts to hit the sides of the slot canyon walls and you see a great contrast between the dark bottom of the wall and the bright orange (sunlit) top of the wall. The water will be absolutely freezing, regardless of the time of year you go. It will take about 10 mins for your feet to get used to the temperature and to stop being in pain. After a while your feet will become a bit numb, so make sure you step outside of the water every so often. If you are thinking you might be able to rock hop and avoid getting your feet wet - you will be sadly mistaken and likely hurt yourself trying to avoid the water. There is literally no way to walk this trail without getting your feet wet, so prepare for it. We wore keen closed toe sandals and neoprene socks. That will help keep your feet a little warmer and it will also help prevent blisters while you're walking out of the canyon.

There are clean bathrooms at the trailhead and a water fountain where you can fill up your water bottles.

There are some reviews online that mention going to a third waterfall - we considered it, but when we got to the second waterfall and realized we would have to climb through the waterfall to get up and around it, we changed our mind. Also, we saw a sign that said rescue teams can't reach you easily if you continue on to the third waterfall - so I'd strongly advise against trying to go past the second waterfall.

Honestly, the best thing about this trail isn't the waterfalls, it's the slot canyon, itself. Make sure you take the time to look around at the canyon walls because they're much more beautiful than the waterfalls. Also note that there are more than two waterfalls on this hike, although they've listed only two. We were confused about when we actually made it to the second waterfall because there were several waterfalls we passed between the first and...

I have hiked this 3 times now and it is worth it every time. It’s tucked away in a random small town in southern Utah but it is a wonder to behold. It’s like going to the slot canyons at Zion National Park without the crowds. It’s also as beautiful as Antelope Canyon in Arizona but no massive fees. If you go on a non-holiday, it isn’t crowded and you can get awesome pictures. Recently, they added a permit fee of $8 per person to make sure there aren’t too many people in the canyon at once (I think this is for environmental protection as well as crowd control in case of flats floods). They also added a nicer bathroom at the bottom of the trail and there are Porto-pottys at the parking lot. When we went the parking lot was free at the mouth of the canyon but we also got there early so there were still a few spots left. Go on a hot day and it will be perfect because the water is pretty frigid and yes YOU DO GET WET. So make sure you bring shoes (NOT FLIP FLOPS) that you don’t mind getting wet and muddy. Past the first waterfall there are some areas where you get wet up to your knees or thighs if you are short. The first waterfall is just as beautiful as the second and it has a ladder that is much more sturdy than the second waterfall. Be prepared to get totally drenched if you want to climb the second waterfall. DO NOT GO ON A RAINY DAY. PERIOD. Check the weather! You could die. You’ll see the wreckage of past flash floods and it is startling to see the size of trees and rocks being pushed by the force of water. Don’t die, choose a dry day to hike this slot canyon. Just be wise, and enjoy this hidden...