Red Canyon
Red Canyon Spring flows at 72°F at 5,360 feet elevation in Kane County's red rock country near Kanab, running 18.6 degrees above the 53.4°F annual average in a high desert environment receiving just 11.1 inches of precipitation and 32.4 inches of snow annually. Located just 68.5 meters from the nearest road, the spring offers convenient access in the spectacular geological province of southern Utah's Colorado Plateau.
The spring emerges amid the distinctive vermillion and orange Navajo Sandstone formations that characterize this region, where erosion has carved canyons, fins, and alcoves into the layered sedimentary rocks. Pinyon-juniper woodlands scattered with sagebrush occupy the higher elevations, while deeper canyons support cottonwood and boxelder along ephemeral drainages. The landscape lies within the transition zone between the Grand Staircase formation sequence to the north and the Vermilion Cliffs to the south.
The spring's name derives from the surrounding canyon carved into red Navajo Sandstone, following the descriptive naming pattern common throughout the Colorado Plateau. The Kanab area saw limited homesteading from the 1860s due to scarce water and rugged terrain, though the town developed as a ranching and later film-production center, with the spectacular scenery attracting Hollywood productions from the 1920s onward.
Roadside access allows viewing without significant walking, though the spring's location in red rock country requires awareness of flash flood danger during summer monsoon season from July through September. Ponderosa Grove Campground sits 15.4 kilometers away at 6,300 feet elevation, offering reservable sites among ponderosa pines with access to nearby sand dunes popular for off-highway vehicle use. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, while winter brings freezing nights and occasional snow.
Is Red Canyon worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Overview The Ponderosa Grove campground is situated approximately eight miles to the northwest of Kanab, Utah, at 6,300 feet in elevation and is named for the small canopy of ponderosa pine trees that shade its campsites. The climate in the area ranges from extremely cold in the winter to temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months. Recreation Ponderosa Grove campground was designed and constructed in the 1970’s. As the adjacent sand dunes became a popular off-highway-v...