Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Coral Pink Sand Dunes: a genuine dune field of pink sand, split between an OHV area and a protected conservation zone.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is a genuine dune field — thousands of acres of fine, distinctly pink sand piled between mountains, an hour and a half or so east of St. George toward Kanab.
Why the sand is pink
The colour comes from eroded Navajo sandstone, the same rock that forms the red cliffs across this region. Iron oxide in the grains gives the dunes their tone, which shifts through the day and is at its most intense in low sun.
The dunes exist because wind funnels between two mountain ranges, accelerates through the gap, and drops its sand load on the far side — a textbook formation, and the reason the field is so concentrated.
The park is split, and it matters which part you want
An off-highway-vehicle area, where riding on the dunes is permitted and popular. This is a serious OHV destination and it is busy at weekends and holidays.
A conservation area closed to vehicles, protecting the dune ecosystem — including a rare tiger beetle found here and almost nowhere else.
Decide which experience you want before you go. Arriving for quiet and landing in the OHV zone at a busy weekend is a disappointment that is easy to avoid.
What to do
- Walk the dunes, which is free of charge beyond park entry and genuinely worth doing. Barefoot is pleasant early and impossible by midday in summer.
- Sandboard or sled. Boards are available locally.
- Ride, in the designated area, with the appropriate permits.
- Camp at the park campground.
- Stargaze. This is remote, high country with very little light pollution, and the dark skies here are excellent — see stargazing around St. George.
The heat warning specific to sand
Sand gets far hotter than air, and in summer the surface temperature on an exposed dune is dangerous for bare feet and for dogs' paws. Test it with your hand.
Walking on sand is also considerably harder work than the distance suggests — allow more time and more water than a map implies. See desert hiking safety.
Practical
- It is a proper drive — roughly an hour and a half from St. George, so plan it as a day rather than an afternoon.
- Wind is constant and sand gets everywhere. Protect cameras and phones.
- Sunglasses matter, both for glare off pale sand and for blown grit.
- Check current OHV permit requirements with the park if you intend to ride — Utah's non-resident permit arrangements have their own rules.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the sand pink?
The colour comes from eroded Navajo sandstone, the same rock that forms the red cliffs across this region, with iron oxide in the grains giving the dunes their tone. It shifts through the day and is most intense in low sun. The dune field itself exists because wind funnels between two mountain ranges, accelerates through the gap and drops its sand load on the far side.
Can I ride an OHV on the dunes?
In the designated off-highway-vehicle area, yes, and it is a serious riding destination that gets busy at weekends and holidays. A separate conservation area is closed to vehicles to protect the dune ecosystem, including a rare tiger beetle found here and almost nowhere else. Decide which experience you want before going, and check current permit requirements with the park if you intend to ride.
What should I watch out for?
Sand temperature, mainly. Sand gets far hotter than air, and in summer an exposed dune surface is genuinely dangerous for bare feet and for dogs' paws — test it with your hand first. Walking on sand is also much harder work than the distance suggests, so allow more time and water. Wind is constant and blown grit gets into cameras and phones, so protect them.