TL;DR
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park near Kanab, Utah, opens about 90% of its roughly 1,200-acre pink dune field to OHV riding. Difficulty is moderate — open dune riding at 6,000 feet elevation, no technical rock obstacles, with sandboarding as a popular add-on.
Recommended
Recommended for this trail
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Best for getting unstuck from sand, mud or snow without another vehicle.
- Nylon recovery boards that give spinning tires grip in sand, mud or snow.
- Double as a shovel to clear sand from in front of the tires.
Best for airing all four tires down to a set pressure at once.
- Automatic deflators preset between 6 and 30 PSI.
- Air all four tires down at once, then stop at the set pressure.
Quick answers
- Need a 4WD, or will AWD/2WD do?
- 4WD is recommended. Some sections may be passable in high-clearance AWD in dry conditions, but the research basis for this place assumes 4WD. Noted vehicle needs: registered OHV with orange whiptail flag; valid driver's license or approved OHV certification to operate; helmet required for riders 17 and under.
- Trailers/RVs OK?
- Not confirmed — check with Utah State Parks before you go.
- Dogs allowed?
- Not confirmed — check with Utah State Parks before you go.
- Campfires allowed?
- Not confirmed — check with Utah State Parks before you go. Fire restrictions change with drought and season — confirm the current status with Utah State Parks before you light one.
- Permit or pass needed?
- Not required, per the research on file for this place.Official page
- Suggested air-down range?
- Check conditions — no official air-down range is on file for this place; ask at the entrance station or land-manager office.
- Seasonal closures?
- Day-use fee ($15/vehicle, $10 for Utah residents 65+) plus separate camping fees ($28-$60 standard sites, $45 hookup sites, $175-$225 group sites) apply; the park has no holiday closures
- Cell coverage?
- Limited given the park's distance from Kanab Don’t rely on it — carry a satellite messenger or PLB.
About this place
About Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park protects a striking field of wind-sculpted, pink-hued dunes near Kanab in southern Utah, with roughly 90 percent of the roughly 1,200-acre dune field open to OHV riding. It's a smaller, more contained dune destination than Little Sahara or Sand Hollow, but its color and setting make it one of the most photographed dune parks in the state.
Beyond OHV riding, the park is also a popular sandboarding and dune-sledding spot, with board rentals available at the visitor center — a mix that draws both off-road riders and casual day visitors to the same dune field.
The park sits at around 6,000 feet elevation, which most visitors don't expect and which noticeably changes the experience, especially climbing back up a dune on foot after a sandboarding run or a hike.
Why you need 4WD at Coral Pink Sand Dunes
The dunes here are fine, easily shifting sand typical of any dune field, so the same fundamentals apply: keep momentum, run appropriate tire pressure, and read the surface before committing to a line up a dune face.
The twist at Coral Pink is elevation — riding and any on-foot climbing is more strenuous here than at lower dune parks, and reviewers consistently note the walk back up a dune is a bigger workout than they expected.
How hard is it?
Level of difficulty
Open dune riding without technical rock obstacles; difficulty is mostly about sand technique and the added strain of the park's roughly 6,000-foot elevation rather than any single hard obstacle.
Gear this band commonly needs
- 4WD with functioning low range
- All-terrain tires
- Basic recovery board or strap
Hazards flagged for Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Not flagged in this place's research — see the pros/cons and rules below for the full detail.
Gear list is our generic trail-rating rubric for this band, not place-specific. Hazards are pulled from this place's own visitor reports and rules, only when explicitly mentioned.
Can My Rig Do It?
Save your rig (tire size & lift height) to see a quick comparison against what Coral Pink Sand Dunes commonly needs.
General guidance only — this compares your saved tire size and lift height against the band's typical gear list, not your actual driving experience, tread pattern, or current trail conditions. It is not a go/no-go decision.
What visitors say
Pros and cons, according to visitors
What visitors love
- Reviewers repeatedly describe the sandboarding here as a fun, memorable experience, distinct from the OHV side of the park source
- Owners rate the park highly for dune buggy and OHV riding combined with easy on-site camping source
- Visitors on guided UTV tours report feeling the guide made the dune riding both safer and more enjoyable for newcomers source
What visitors warn about
- Sandboarders report the climb back up a dune is far more tiring than expected, especially at the park's roughly 6,000-foot elevation source
- Wind is reported as a regular nuisance, kicking up sand and making it harder to walk or climb the dunes source
- Boards need re-waxing before every sandboarding run or they won't gain speed, something first-time visitors report not expecting source
Plan your trip
What it's like in the dry, wet and cold seasons
Dry season
March-May and September-October
Mild temperatures make spring and fall the most comfortable seasons for both OHV riding and sandboarding at this elevation.
Wet season
summer monsoon, July-September
Afternoon thunderstorms are possible in summer and can temporarily firm up or reshape dune surfaces.
Cold season
November-February
The park stays open year-round with no holiday closures, but cold and occasional snow at 6,000 feet make winter visits less common for riding.
Best time to go
Spring and fall for the most comfortable riding and sandboarding temperatures at this elevation.
Season & Access
Typical open window
Spring and fall for the most comfortable riding and sandboarding temperatures at this elevation.
Managing agency
Utah State Parks
Official map / permit page
Conditions change: confirm with the land manager before you go.
Our recommendations
- Rent a sandboard or book a guided UTV tour at the visitor center if you're new to the dunes
- Wax sandboards before every run — they slow down quickly otherwise
- Pace yourself on the climb back up a dune; the elevation makes it more tiring than it looks
- Carry an orange whiptail flag — required on all OHVs here
- Wear a helmet if you're 17 or under, and carry a valid license or OHV certification to operate
- Budget $15 per vehicle for day use ($10 for Utah residents 65+), plus a separate camping fee if staying overnight
- Plan trips for spring or fall for the most comfortable conditions
Amenities
Camping
Two on-site campgrounds — an older campground and a newer campground with water/electric hookups — both fee-based
Toilets
Restrooms at the visitor center and campgrounds
Drinking water
Available at the visitor center and newer campground
Fuel on site
None; fuel up in Kanab before arriving
Cell coverage
Limited given the park's distance from Kanab
Air-up
Not confirmed — check with the land manager before you go.
Also good to know
Sandboard and sand-sled rentals are available at the visitor center for a per-board fee
Recommended
Air down, air up
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Best for fast inflation of larger off-road tires.
- Heavy-duty 12V off-road compressor.
- Built for inflating larger off-road tires quickly.
Best for budget-friendly airing down before sand or rock.
- Adjustable 4-pack of deflators, 10–30 PSI.
- Screw on, set the pressure, and they stop automatically.
Getting there
Where is Coral Pink Sand Dunes?
Topo tiles: USGS The National Map. Fallback layer: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park entrance and visitor center near Kanab, Utah (37.0417, -112.6844) · Nearest town: Kanab, UT
How to get there
The park sits about 22 miles from Kanab via a paved and then gravel access road, well signed off US-89. There's a staffed entrance where the daily use fee is collected. OHVs need to be currently registered and display an orange whiptail flag, and operators need a valid driver's license or a state-recognized OHV operator certification.
Supplies & services
Gas, groceries, mechanics and towing
Nearest shops and gas stations
Gas station
- Sinclair Gas Station8.3 mi
212 W Center St, Kanab, UT 84741
Google Maps Apple Maps - Shell8.7 mi
51 E Center St, Kanab, UT 84741
Google Maps Apple Maps - Samco8.7 mi
289 S 100 E, Kanab, UT 84741
Google Maps Apple Maps
Groceries
- Glazier's Market8.7 mi
264 S 100 E, Kanab, UT 84741
Google Maps Apple Maps - Honey's Marketplace8.9 mi
260 E 300 S, Kanab, UT 84741
Google Maps Apple Maps - Terry's Food & Drug16.4 mi
65 E Main St, Orderville, UT 84758
Google Maps Apple Maps
Closest mechanics, towing and tire shops
Mechanic
- M D Auto & Diesel8.7 mi
285 S 100 E, Kanab, UT 84741
Google Maps Apple Maps - Tonys mobile auto repair8.8 mi
#1, Kanab, UT 84741
Google Maps Apple Maps - Little's Diesel Service8.9 mi
1600 S Hwy 89A, Kanab, UT 84741
Google Maps Apple Maps
Towing / recovery
- Ramsay Towing & Service Center8.7 mi
115 S 100 E, Kanab, UT 84741
Google Maps Apple Maps - Fab Rats LLC19.2 mi
30 W 400 S, Glendale, UT 84729
Google Maps Apple Maps - Casey's Auto Repair and Towing34.3 mi
465 E 800 N Ste 1, Hurricane, UT 84737
Google Maps Apple Maps
Tire shop
- Roadrunner Automotive and Diesel Repair, Inc.34.3 mi
221 N State St, La Verkin, UT 84745
Google Maps Apple Maps - Hurricane Auto Repair34.5 mi
28 E State St, Hurricane, UT 84737
Google Maps Apple Maps - Big O Tires34.9 mi
346 W State St, Hurricane, UT 84737
Google Maps Apple Maps
Distances are straight-line miles from the map pin; the drive is longer. Listings come from Google Maps business data (checked September 2026); emails are shown only where the business publishes one on its own website. Hours change, so call ahead, especially off-season.
Stay safe
Emergency services
In an emergency, call 911 first
Police, fire, ambulance and search & rescue. The contacts below are a courtesy and can change.
Nearest hospital
Kane County Hospital
355 N Main St, Kanab, UT 84741
Nearest hospital, in Kanab, with a 24-hour emergency room
Google Maps Apple MapsSheriff
Kane County Sheriff's Office
Covers Coral Pink Sand Dunes and the Kanab area
Land manager
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
PO Box 95, Kanab, UT 84741
Utah State Parks office managing the park
Google Maps Apple MapsBefore you lose signal
Cell coverage is limited given the park's distance from Kanab; carry water and let someone know your plans if riding into the more remote dune sections.
Good to know
Rules and permits
OHVs must be currently registered and fly an orange whiptail flag. Operators need a valid driver's license or an approved OHV operator certification, and riders 17 and under must wear a properly fastened helmet at all times. Utah's DUI laws apply on the dunes the same as on the road. Day use costs $15 per vehicle ($10 for Utah residents 65+), and camping is billed separately — $28-$60 a night at the older campground or $45 at the newer hookup sites, up to $175-$225 for a group site — with no holiday closures.
Permit: No special permit for general OHV riding. Day-use is $15 per vehicle (up to 8 people), or $10 per vehicle for Utah residents 65+. Camping is billed separately: $28/night for a standard Old Campground site, $60 for an Old Campground double site, $45 for a New Campground site with water/electric hookup, and $175-$225 for a group site (up to 5 units). No holiday closures. (official page)
- OHVs must be currently registered and display an orange whiptail flag
- Operators need a valid driver's license or state-recognized OHV operator certification
- Riders 17 and under must wear a properly fastened helmet at all times
- Utah DUI laws apply to OHV operation
- Day-use fee ($15/vehicle, $10 for Utah residents 65+) plus separate camping fees ($28-$60 standard sites, $45 hookup sites, $175-$225 group sites) apply; the park has no holiday closures
Gear for this trip
Gear for sand and beach driving
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Best for airing back up before you hit pavement.
- Portable 12V compressor rated to 150 PSI.
- Sized for truck and SUV tires.
Best for plugging a tread puncture on the trail.
- Reamer-and-plugger kit for tread punctures.
- Lets you plug a tire on the trail instead of changing it.
Best for rated connection points for straps and ropes.
- 3/4 in D-ring shackles, 41,850 lb listed break strength (2-pack).
- Connect straps to rated recovery points.
Best for a lighter alternative to steel shackles.
- 7/16 in synthetic soft shackle, 52,300 lb listed breaking strength.
- Lighter than a steel shackle and won't become a projectile.
We research products from manufacturer specs and owner feedback; we don't test them ourselves. How we choose.
Straight answers
Coral Pink Sand Dunes FAQ
Can you ride OHVs at Coral Pink Sand Dunes?
Yes — roughly 90 percent of the park's approximately 1,200-acre dune field is open to OHV riding, making it one of the more accessible dune-riding destinations in southern Utah.
Do you need a permit for Coral Pink Sand Dunes?
No special permit — just a $15 day-use fee per vehicle ($10 for Utah residents 65+) collected at the entrance, plus a separate camping fee ($28-$60 for a standard site, $45 for hookups) if you're staying overnight at one of the park's two campgrounds.
Is Coral Pink Sand Dunes good for sandboarding?
Yes — it's one of the most popular sandboarding spots in Utah, with board and sled rentals available at the visitor center, though the climb back up a dune is more tiring than expected given the park's roughly 6,000-foot elevation.
What OHV rules apply at Coral Pink Sand Dunes?
OHVs must be currently registered and fly an orange whiptail flag, operators need a valid license or OHV certification, and riders 17 and under must wear a helmet at all times.
How far is Coral Pink Sand Dunes from Kanab?
About 22 miles via a paved and then gravel access road off US-89, making it an easy day trip from Kanab or a short drive for overnight campers.
Is Coral Pink Sand Dunes open year-round?
Yes — the park operates daylight hours seven days a week with no holiday closures, though winter cold and occasional snow at elevation make it a quieter season for OHV riding.
Sources
Researched from official land-manager, county and hospital sites plus published visitor reports. We have not driven every trail ourselves. See how we research.
- Utah State Parks — Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park — Managing agency, fees, hours, contact address and phone number
- Kane County, UT — Sheriff — Sheriff's office phone numbers
- Kane County Hospital — Contact Us — Nearest hospital name, address and phone number
- Visitor reports (TripAdvisor, sandboarding/OHV blogs), summarized — Pros/cons paraphrased from real visitor reports
- Utah State Parks — Coral Pink Sand Dunes fee schedule — Day-use and camping fee amounts
- ReserveAmerica — Coral Pink Sand Dunes campground details — Campsite counts and nightly rate ranges
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