This Is One of the Most Underrated Parks in Utah

“Otherworldly” is a word that’s thrown around to describe a number of places around the globe—from driftwood beaches and volcanic wonders to polar landscapes and rock formations with a stunning array of colors. It can also be used to illustrate the scene you’ll find at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in southwestern Utah.

Sitting at 6,000 feet above sea level, the 3,730-acre Utah state park is known for its gorgeous pink sand dunes, which are particularly striking at sunset. If you’re familiar with the red rock country synonymous with the southwestern U.S., then you may immediately see the connection. The sand here was created from the erosion of nearby Navajo sandstone; the rock has a reddish-orange color from the iron oxide mineral hematite.

In more scientific terms, the dunes formed because of something called the Venturi effect. As winds move between the Moquith and Moccasin mountains, the velocity increases and carries the sand grains from the sandstone. Once the wind enters the open valley, the velocity decreases, and the grains are deposited. The dunes themselves are estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,00 years old (but this area wasn’t opened to the public as a state park in 1963).

You can visit Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park seven days a week, all year round, during “daylight hours.” It’s typically recommended, however, to plan your trip in the spring, early summer, or the fall. This way, you’ll avoid the most extreme temperatures. The two concessionaires also operate from March through October.

Fun fact: Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is the only place in the world where you can find the Coral Pink tiger beetle, one of the rarest insects in the U.S. You’re most likely to spot one on a warm, sunny morning or in the late afternoon between April and mid-June and again in September. To help conserve the population, do not attempt to collect any of the beetles to take home with you.

Outside of simply admiring this natural setting and taking as many pictures as possible, there are a couple of other ways to enjoy the park. You can hike all of the dunes, or you can rent sand sleds and sand boards on-site. A majority of the dunes—about 90 percent, according to Visit Utah—can be explored via ATVs. Many travelers opt to take a four-wheeler down the Sand Highway, a one-way trail into a canyon on the boundary of the dunes, and the South Boundary Trail, which winds along the eastern side of the main dune area. If you’d prefer to go with a tour guide, you can book a two-hour “cruise and surf” adventure with Roam Outdoor Adventure Co. For those who are a bit more adventurous, All Ways Adventures offers a rappelling tour.

To spend even more time in the park, visitors can choose to stay overnight in one of the two campgrounds—reservations are recommended. There is also a day-use fee of $15 per vehicle that can be paid online or at the park. Utah residents can also use the Utah State Park Pass.