Kanarra Creek Slot Canyon

Kanarra Creek is a wonderful twisting, turning slot canyon located just east of the tiny community of Kanarraville, Utah. (population about 350 souls)   Yet another great Utah treasure!!  Kanarraville is located about 12 miles southeast of Cedar City.  Take exit 51 from I-15 and drive south on old highway 91 which becomes main street for Kanarraville.  Once you reach 100 North drive east a few blocks until you arrive at the designated parking area for the Kanarra Creek trail.  The parking fee is $10 per vehicle.  The first mile and a half of the trail follows an old access road into Hurricane Cliffs, past the water tanks.  This section of the trail is hot and very dry in the summer months so it is best to get an early morning start. When you reach the really fun part of the trail you will be wading in water for the rest of the hike.  Highly recommend water shoes and neoprene socks to help prevent blisters on the feet.  It is really quite remarkable that hikers are allowed through this slot canyon because Kanarra Creek is the water supply for the community.  Please be respectful of this beautiful resource.  I do fear that the popularity of this hike may limit hiker access if we are not careful.  The highlight of hiking Kanarra Creek is the two waterfalls you must climb to continue through the slot canyon.  The first rock jam waterfall has a nifty ladder to help you climb up. The second waterfall is a little more precarious and requires a lot more effort especially climbing down.  Many people especially those hiking with children will turn around at the second waterfall.  We hiked about a mile beyond the second waterfall and in my opinion the best of the slot canyon was before the second waterfall.  There was evidence of flood damage in the slot canyon, not the place to be during a thunder storm.  Here are my best pictures.  Loved this hike and will be back with the family!

A rip roaring flood hit the canyon at some point.

On the trail!

Along Main Street Kanarraville.

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 Wildflower of the Week

There were not a lot of wildflowers on the Kanarra Creek Trail, but I did find this pretty one that I haven't seen before.  It is Chicory.  Chicory is a highly nutritious forage plant and the roots when dried, ground up and roasted is used as a coffee substitute.  I loved the purple, blue color and look closely at the flower petals to see five distinct "teeth" at the end of each petal.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
317