Just south of Cedar City in the tiny town of Kanarraville, there’s a trail that manages to pack a lot of southern Utah’s beauty into just a few miles. Red rock cliffs, a cool flowing creek, a narrow slot canyon, and even a waterfall you climb by ladder, it’s all there. And thanks to a permit system that limits daily hikers, it’s still possible to find a little peace and quiet along the way.

If you’re looking for a half-day hike with a good mix of scenery, light adventure, and a backstory about how a small town took action to protect its land and water, this one delivers.

If you’d like to hear us discuss hiking to Kanarra Falls in more detail, check out our podcast episode #96: Hiking Utah’s Kanarra Falls.

A Permitted Hike That Protects and Preserves

Kanarra Falls isn’t a hike you can just show up for on a whim. You’ll need a permit, which costs $15 per person and must be purchased in advance online (children 7 and younger are free). Only 180 hikers are allowed on the trail each day (as of 2025), and for good reason. The creek you hike through is the town’s drinking water source, and the area was once overwhelmed by thousands of visitors.

Thanks to a thoughtful partnership between the town of Kanarraville and the Bureau of Land Management, the trail is now well-managed and beautifully maintained. There’s a paved parking lot, restrooms at the trailhead, and an attendant checking permits each morning. The process works well, protecting both the environment and the visitor experience.

The Trailhead and Getting Started

From Cedar City, it’s about a 15-minute drive to the trailhead. After checking in, the hike starts on a dirt road that climbs gradually for about 0.8 miles. Once you reach a metal gate, you leave the road and start weaving in and out of the creek.

From there, the water becomes your trail. You’ll cross the stream repeatedly as you follow the narrowing canyon. The hike is just over 3 miles round trip and gains only moderate elevation, but you’ll be walking through ankle- to calf-deep water in many sections. The cool water combined with the red rock canyon walls makes for a stunning and refreshing hike, especially in warmer months.

The Slot Canyon and Waterfall Ladder

As the canyon walls begin to close in, you enter a short but photogenic slot canyon. After a few bends, you’ll come to the first major landmark: a beautiful waterfall tucked inside the slot. Next to it is a 20-foot ladder bolted into the rock.

The ladder at the first waterfall has evolved over the years. Early versions were simple logs, with wood or metal rungs attached. They were photogenic, but not especially durable or safe. Flash floods eventually swept those away, prompting the town to replace them with something more stable.

When we hiked it, an aluminum ladder with a handrail was in place, safe and functional, but not quite as charming as an old log. The most recent upgrade is a custom metal ladder built by a local welder. It’s wider, sturdier, and actually blends in well with the canyon. A helicopter team from Southern Utah University’s aviation program helped fly in one of the newer ladders. In addition to making the climb easier and safer, the new ladder also shortens rescue times for hikers who get stranded farther up the canyon.

Beyond the First Falls

Just above the ladder is a second, smaller waterfall often called “Old Falls.” You can continue past it by scrambling up logs leaned against the canyon wall, but it’s not recommended unless you’re prepared for deeper water and a bit of a climb. Many hikers turn around at this point, having seen the best the canyon has to offer.

If you do continue to the second falls, that adds only about half a mile, bringing the round trip total to around 3.8 miles. Past that point, the town asks that hikers do not continue further—both for safety reasons and to help protect this fragile watershed.

What to Bring

Even though it’s a relatively short hike, you’ll want to plan ahead:

• Permits: Buy them in advance at kanarrafalls.com.
• Footwear: Waterproof hiking boots or old hiking shoes work great. Some people wear neoprene socks or water shoes, but we just wore older boots and changed after the hike.
• Trekking poles: Optional but helpful for balance on slippery rocks.
• Essentials: Water, snacks, and the standard ten essentials. This isn’t an all-day hike, but you’ll want to be prepared.

Water temperatures hover around 50°F in early fall, so your feet may get cold—but the trail is short enough that it’s usually not a problem.

Why Kanarra Falls Is Worth It

This trail offers a little bit of everything: lush canyon scenery, water crossings, towering sandstone walls, and the reward of a waterfall climb. And because the number of daily hikers is limited, it still feels peaceful and uncrowded if you start early.

When we hiked it, we were the first ones on the trail, which meant we had the slot canyon and ladder all to ourselves for a few minutes. It was a rare experience in a region that’s grown increasingly popular with visitors from around the world.

A Model for Managing Public Lands

What makes Kanarra Falls even more special is the story behind it. Faced with a growing number of hikers, the town of Kanarraville took thoughtful, proactive steps to preserve their water source, reduce environmental damage, and improve the hiker experience.

Their solution of a permit system, daily limits, improved infrastructure, and educational signage is working. And it’s becoming a model for how small communities can work with public land agencies to protect high-traffic areas without closing them off entirely.