Hiking Kanarra Falls in Utah – EVERYTHING you need to know (2023) Kanarraville Falls 

Planning to do the Kanarra falls hike in Utah? Also referred to as Kanarra Creek Trail, Kanarraville Falls hike or Kanarra Falls Trail – all talking about the same slot canyon hike in Utah. Read this complete guide on how to hike the Kanarra falls, UT, how to get permits for Kanarra Creek Trail, directions to Kanarraville, Utah, what to wear, rental gear, when to go and more!

Kanarra Falls – is a beautiful waterfall hike in Utah, where you walk through a narrow slot canyon, with your feet in the water. When you reach the first waterfall, you get to climb the ladder (very unique experience), and then you can keep going until you reach the second waterfall.

Kanarra Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Utah, and among the best hikes in Utah with waterfalls (heck, I’d even say in the US). If the Narrows and the Antelope Canyon had a baby, that would be Kanarra Falls 🙂

I was completely blown away by the Kanarra Creek Canyon. It’s definitely must visit when traveling to Utah. Why? Well, first of all, the beauty of the narrow canyon. And there’s just something magical about hiking in the water, it is so fun and refreshing and super unique. And lastly, there are way less people here than in the famous the Narrows in Zion. I went during the week and only encountered may be 2-3 other groups during the entire hike! There’s also a limited amount of hikers per day, that are issued permits – 150 per day to be specific. Meanwhile you feel like a fish in a small aquarium in the Narrows with all the the crowds (don’t get me wrong, the Narrows is an amazing hike, but I believe Kanarra Falls is a great alternative and deserves more recognition).

So if you’d like to explore the some of the best Utah falls or Utah waterfall hike, look no further. Kanarra Creek Canyon trail is a great place to start.

LOOKING FOR MORE FUN THINGS TO DO AROUND THIS AREA? CHECK OUT MY OTHER GUIDES:

• 27 Best Things to Do in Kanab, Utah
• Kayaking Antelope Canyon

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Kanarra Falls Hike Overview

Kanarra Falls Hike Details

How do you get to Kanarra Falls

Kanarra Falls can be found in Kanarraville, a small town in Southern Utah. Kanarraville is located just 20 min away from Cedar City, 45 min away from St George, 1 hour away from Zion National Park or 2 hours away from Bryce Canyon.

To reach the Kanarra Falls Trail,  exit I-15 and drive to the center of the small town. Go east on 100 N in Kanarraville for a few blocks until the end at the trailhead. Here you will find a parking lot and public restrooms.

TIP: When using a GPS device or smartphone, be sure to enter “Kanarra Falls” as the destination and not “Kanarra Creek Falls Trailhead,” which is an incorrect location and will take you to a wrong location. At the time, when I went there, I found the Google Maps to give a more precise location.

Do You Need a Permit for Kanarra Falls?

Yes, you do need a permit to hike Kanarraville Falls. While it can be an extra hassle to get a permit, you will be really glad that they have this system in place, and the Kanarraville Hike is not nearly as crowded as it could be (like the Narrows for example).

The permit is $12 per person, and I really recommend purchasing the permit in advance because they do sell out. Click here to purchase the permit and check how many are left for each day .

You can also purchase the permit same day at the booth right at the trailhead, unless they are sold out. I don’t recommend that option.

Only 150 hikers are allowed on the Kanarra Creek trail per day, so there’s a risk of the permits selling out, especially if you’re planning to go on a weekend. I highly recommend purchasing the permit in advance! They do go quickly, sometimes months in advance for holiday weekends.

Permits are non-refundable, however, if the trail is closed due to weather you may be able to reuse your ticket on a future day.

TIP:  Before you begin the Kanarra Falls trail, you will pass a booth where they will scan your permit. Be sure to print out your permit beforehand or have the QR code ready on your phone.

When is the Best Time to Hike Kanarraville Falls?

The best time to hike Kanarra Falls is during warm weather, Spring to Early Fall (April-October). During the hike, you will be walking with your feet in a cold water, so I’d really recommend going during the warm months. During the winter, the ladder and the water might ice over, so you will definitely need some extra gear.

If you are hiking Kanarra Falls in the Spring or Fall, I recommend purchasing the neoprene socks, or renting socks and boots in the cities nearby. I rented the boots and socks from a local shop in St. George, where I was staying, and so glad I did – I don’t think I’d enjoy the hike as much if I didn’t.

In the Summer, it does get very hot in this area, but the trail through the slot canyon walls is shaded plus you’ll be walking in the cold water, so I prefer to do this hike during hot weather.

On the weekend, it get’s really crowded here (even though only 150 hikers are allowed per day, it is pretty large number for this narrow slot canyon), so I’d recommend going during the week if you can.

I personally visited in late September, during the week. The weather was really warm and pleasant, and I only encountered few people during the hike, which is AMAZING!

TIP: For the best experience, I’d try if possible to find the sweet spot, when there are less people but the weather is still warm, for example in the middle of week in September.

How Long is Kanarra Falls Hike?

You should budget 2-4 hours for this hike. Kanarra Falls Hike is about 4 miles round-trip. It takes 1.6 miles to reach Kanarra Falls (one-way), and .3 miles more to second warerfall. The trail is out-and-back, meaning you will return the same way.

So depending how far you choose to go, if you make any stops during the hike, Kanarra Falls trail should take about 2-4 hours to complete on average.

I spent 3 hours there, going at comfortable speed, making lots of stops for photos and to enjoy the view.

How Difficult is the Kanarra Falls Hike?

The Kanarra Falls hike is rated as moderate. I’d say the major part of the hike is relatively easy and enjoyable, with only small elevation gain.

But here’s the challenging (and fun!) part – you’ll be trekking through cold water and hopping on slippery rocks. But don’t get intimidated by that! There’s a special gear that can help to make this hike more comfortable. With some balanced hiking poles, sturdy hiking boots, or good water boots and neoprene socks, you’ll be able to conquer anything. 

And let’s not forget about the ladder – it’s been upgraded for your convenience, making it a breeze to use. It used to be the toughest part of the hike, but thankfully not anymore! So pack your gear, grab your friends, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure.

Safety Warning for Kanarra Falls – Very Important!

Make sure to check the weather before going on this hike! If there’s any possibility of rain, even the slight chance – DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS HIKE! Like all the slot canyons, Kanarra Falls Canyon is very susceptible to flash floods! Even rain miles away can flood the slot canyon.

Kanarra Falls sometimes will close if there is a threat of rain or thunderstorm, but please make sure to check the weather beforehand and do not risk your safety for this hike.

What to Bring to Kanarra Falls Trail

I highly recommend renting or buying special gear for this hike! I personally rented neoprene socks, waterproof boots and hiking poles (from some rental place in St George, but you can easily find them around Springdale or Cedar City as well, ex. Zion Outfitters). And honestly, I think I’d be pretty miserable without the gear – walking in a cold water and slippery rocks for 3-4 hours is no joke. 

• Kanarra Falls permits – if you purchase permits in advance, be sure to have a screenshot or QR code saved on your phone. Click here to purchase tickets.

• Neoprene Socks – are a must for a cold water! I love these ones from Amazon. Trust me they will make your hike more enjoyable.

• Waterproof Boots – major part of the hike is with your feet in the water, so good waterproof boots are really helpful. You can get them at rental shops.

• Good Hiking Shoes – if you decide not to rent the waterproof boots, make sure to have good stable hiking shoes that can handle walking on the rocks and in the water. These Columbia hiking boots are top rated shoes for hike.

• Hiking Sandals – another option for the shoes, if you’re going during the warm months is a hiking sandals. Check these top rated sandals, which I like (they might be not the prettiest, but are very comfortable).

• Hiking Poles – are strongly recommended due the nature of this hike – slick rocks, and a strong flow of water in some parts. I’d definitely fall a couple of times if I didn’t have the poles with me. Check this great hiking poles from Amazon.

• Enough Water for a hike.

• Dry Bag – to keep your phone and valuables dry if you fall in the water.

• Packable Wind Jacket – this one is easy to back in your bag pr even pocket. It gets a little cool when you enter the canyon. This one is my favorite jacket, it can feet in your small bag or even pocket.

• In the Winter months, the water levels are higher, so you can also rent the waterproof pants.

• Some dry socks and shoes ready to change for after your hike!

Here’s the links to everything I wore to this hike, plus some helpful links to good hiking gear:

My Experience Hiking Kanarra Falls 

I hiked Kanarraville Falls in the late September. The weather was very warm and sunny, which definitely made the experience better.

I went during the week, so there were almost no people there, I encountered may be 2-3 other groups during the entire hike (but it’s not like that during the Summer, I hear it gets very crowded and tickets sell out far in advance, especially on the weekends).

We stayed in St George, so we rented some hiking gear there for a day – neoprene socks, waterproof boots and hiking poles.

The Kanarra Falls Trails was relatively easy to find, but i found the Google Maps to give more precise location. Apple maps kept giving me direction to a completely different trail! When using a GPS device or smartphone, be sure to enter “Kanarra Falls” as the destination.

After taking the exit from the i-15 freeway, we drove to the small town Kanaraville, we saw some signs with the directions to the Kanarra Falls.

When we arrived at the Kanarra Falls parking lot, it was around 10am. There are some restrooms to use there before the hike.

After putting on our neoprene socks and boots, we checked in with the employee at the trail entrance, who was checking the tickets and started the hike.

It started out with steep uphill section, but this part is only around 10 min, and the rest of the hike is relatively flat. This part of the hike is exposed, with no shade, and can be pretty hot.

After about 1 mile, you will reach the first creek crossing.  We crossed it without getting wet. The trail continues, and at this part you can walk on the side of the creek without getting your feet wet.

The fun part starts when you enter the canyon! As you get closer to the slot canyon, avoiding the water becomes more challenging and at some point we just went all in! The water was pretty cold! But neoprene socks and waterproof boots did their job and kept our feet warm. The water still gets in the shoes, and you can feel it, but the feet still feel warm. 

Be really careful with walking on the rocks! After some time we started feeling comfortable and reckless, jumping from rock to rock. But rocks are slick and some are not stable, so I almost fell a couple of times, even with hiking poles!

When we reached the canyon, I was pretty impressed by the narrow and tall slot canyon walls. I had my camera out all the time, trying to capture every corner, and with every step the views get only better! When you enter the canyon, the only way to hike it is in the water – there is no way to avoid that!  But this is the best part of the hike!

Inside the canyon, it get a little cooler, because of the shade and tall canyon walls. After about 0.4 miles in a canyon, you will reach the first waterfall with a ladder – the most photographed part of the Kanarraville Falls hike!

This place is insanely beautiful! It is just so unique – the red narrow Utah Slot Canyon, beautiful waterfall, the ladder that you can climb, the sound of rushing water echoing through the canyon walls! I wanted to capture this moment in my head 🙂

The ladder got upgraded recently, which made it much easier to use. Looking at the older pictures of this hike, I think it was preety challenging to climb it before, so I’m so grateful they decided to upgrade it!

After climbing up the ladder, we spent some time sitting on the large stone and looking down the waterfalls. After this small break, we continued the hike.

Next obstacle is the massive boulder in the middle of the canyon and a few logs that you need to climb to continue, and I struggled at this part a little bit. It is a good idea to help each other during this part (one person pushes another, and then second person pulls the first one up, if that makes sense). The climb isn’t too high, but the slippery rock makes it a bit hard.

We continued the hike and soon after went into another narrow part of the canyon. And that is where it gets deeper – for me it was waist-deep, but only a super small section, and was totally fun and worth it! This part of the canyon is even more magical.

Shortly after, you will reach the second waterfall that marks the end of a trail. And this is a part where you turn back. 

I saw some people who attempted to climb the second waterfall as well, but it is pretty dangerous and strongly advised not to go beyond this point.

Best Places to Eat Near Kanarra Falls

After this amazing hike, you are probably starving! So, let’s explore some options for your well-deserved meal. There are not many options available right in Kanaraville, Utah, but you’ll find more options in Cedar City.

The closest option for lodging will be Cedar City, which is 20 min away. Click here to check out the available options. 

Check out this property – this hotel is very affordable and renovated.

Other Things to do Around Kanarraville Falls Utah

• Visit Zion National Park – it is only 3 hours away
• Visit Kanab
• Visit Kolob Canyons 
• Red Reef Trail – 40 min from the Kanarraville

Final Thoughts on Hiking Kanarra Falls in Utah

All in all, I really enjoyed the hike, and was absolutely impressed by it’s beauty and uniqueness of this place! I definitely recommend doing this hike! My top recommendation would be making a reservation ahead, checking the weather, going during the warm months, and renting or buying the special gear. Well, here you have it, everything you need to know about hiking Kanarraville Falls Trail and a little bit more!