Kane Gulch

About Kane Gulch

Kane Gulch is a tributary and popular access route into Grand Gulch that starts from Kane Gulch Ranger Station. An easy to moderately difficult trail gradually descends for four miles to the junction with Grand Gulch. At this intersection, you can view a cliff dwelling called Junction Ruin. If you decide to continue, in the next mile you can see Turkey Pen Ruin and Stimper Arch. From Kane Gulch Ranger Station to Stimper Arch is 10 miles round trip. Grand Gulch is a popular area for hiking and backpacking to see Ancestral Puebloan cliff ruins and rock art in a natural setting. Grand Gulch and its tributaries feature miles of winding canyons lined with cliffs that provided sheltered overhangs to people in the past. Some ruins are amazingly inaccessible, perched high on ledges and under overhangs. Other attractions include the scenery and wildlife, as well as the solitude of desert canyons. Hiking and backpacking in Kane Gulch requires a permit or day pass. For permit information click on the following links:Cedar Mesa Backpacking PermitsCedar Mesa & Comb Ridge Day Hiking

How to Get There

The Kane Gulch trailhead is located at Kane Gulch Ranger Station along Utah Highway 261 about four miles south of Highway 95, not far from Natural Bridges National Monument

Plan Your Visit to Kane Gulch

Heading to Kane Gulch? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• Park map (PDF)
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)