Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

Coral Pink Sand Dunes is the place on a southern Utah road trip where the kids take over, and the adults usually end up rolling down the dunes too. Set in a high valley at about 6,000 feet between Mount Carmel Junction and Kanab, the state park protects 3,730 acres of rippling sand that glows coral and salmon pink, especially in the low light of morning and late afternoon. It is the only major sand dune field on the Colorado Plateau. The dunes formed from the continual erosion of the surrounding Navajo sandstone cliffs, the same rock that makes Zion's great walls, and they are estimated to be 10,000 to 15,000 years old. Wind funnels through a notch in the mountains, picks up the sand and drops it here, shaping the dunes into crests and bowls that shift with every storm. Visiting is simple. There is a day-use entry fee per vehicle, payable in person or online, and the Utah state park annual pass is accepted. Sandboards and sand sleds can be rented on site, and the slopes near the visitor area are perfect for first runs. About 90 percent of the dunes are open to off-highway vehicles, so expect the hum of ATVs and dune buggies in parts of the park, while hikers and families can walk and play on all of the dunes. A protected area shelters the Coral Pink tiger beetle, an insect found nowhere else in the world.

Best ways to enjoy it. Rent a sandboard or sled and walk up the closest big dune; the climb in soft sand is a workout, but the ride down is worth it. Go barefoot when the sand is cool, wear shoes when it is hot, and bring sunglasses, water and sunscreen: the light reflecting off the sand is intense. For photographs, go early or late, when the ripples cast shadows and the color deepens. The park also has a short boardwalk and nature trail where you can learn about the dune ecology and look for animal tracks in the sand.

Seasons and practical notes. The park is open year round during daylight hours. Spring, early summer and fall bring the mildest temperatures, while summer afternoons can be hot and winter can bring cold winds and the occasional dusting of snow on the dunes, which makes for striking photos. Concessionaires that run guided off-road tours generally operate from March through October, so winter visitors should plan to explore on foot. Two campgrounds offer hot showers and flush toilets, and advance reservations are recommended in busy months. If you bring an off-highway vehicle, follow the park's posted rules and stay out of the protected beetle area.

Fitting it into a trip. The dunes make an easy half-day stop between Zion's East Entrance and Kanab, or a morning outing from a Kanab hotel. They pair well with the Canyon Overlook Trail on the same drive, and with Kanab's western film history in town. Families with children get the most out of them, but couples and photographers will enjoy the quiet corners away from the off-road area too.