What a Kanab tour is, and what it is not
The roads to White Pocket and Coyote Buttes South are deep sand and sharp rock. BLM says regular visitors get stuck and recommends a licensed guide if you lack the vehicle or the skills. That is why most tours from Kanab are 4x4 day trips. They are long days: one operator puts the drive at about 2 to 2.5 hours each way from Kanab for White Pocket.
The prices below are published operator prices for 2026, so treat them as examples rather than a market survey. A tour does not replace a permit where one is required, and no tour can promise you a Wave permit. This is an independent guide with no link to any operator. For Antelope Canyon tours from Page, see our sister guide to Antelope Canyon tours.
Kanab tour types compared
What each type gives you and what to check.
| Type | Time | Price in 2026 | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Pocket by 4x4 | About 9 hours | $229 adult, $199 child up to 14 | Tax and BLM fees extra, start 8 am |
| South Coyote Buttes by 4x4 | About 10 hours | $249 per person | Needs a South permit, 6 am start in hot months |
| The Wave guided hike | – | – | A guide does not replace the North permit |
| Dunes and sandboarding | – | $25 per sandboard rental | Self-guided, rented at the visitor center |
| Best Friends tour | About 90 minutes | Standard tours free | Book whole-sanctuary tours ahead |
| Wire Pass on your own | 1.5 to 2 hours | $6 per person day use | Flash flood risk, no drinking water |
If you have no 4x4, a guided day tour is the sensible way to reach White Pocket. If you want slot canyon scenery for little money and have a car with some clearance, Wire Pass is the simpler option. The things to do in Kanab list shows how these fit with the rest of the area.
Our picks: tours compared
A 4x4 trip to White Pocket, a sunset UTV ride and two slot canyon tours.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Peek-A-Boo and Great Chamber UTV tour
Transport and water are included. Snacks and tips are not.
Check availability →
Guided 4x4 group trip to White Pocket
A guided group drive in an off-road vehicle with an experienced guide. Food and drinks are not included.
Check availability →
Sunset UTV ride with s'mores at the dunes
The UTV ride, s'mores and water are included. Any other food and park entry are extra.
Check availability →
Peekaboo slot canyon tour by off-road vehicle
Off-road transport, a local guide and water. Other food and drinks are not included.
Check availability →Kanab tours and day trips
Guided 4x4 trips, slot canyon outings and day trips around Kanab, with live prices and availability.
The tour types in detail
Prices and times are the ones published for 2026 and can change.
White Pocket day tour
Dreamland publishes $229 for adults and $199 for children up to and including 14. The tour lasts about 9 hours and starts at 8 am. Water and snacks are included, and lunch is available for an extra charge on long tours. Sales tax and BLM fees are added on top. Photography means walking over sand and uneven sandstone, because the formations are not visible from the car.
White Pocket guide →South Coyote Buttes day tour
The same operator charges $249 per person for about 10 hours. The start is at 8 am, or 6 am in the hot months, and tax and BLM fees come on top. You need a separate South permit, and small children are not recommended. South does not include The Wave. Tracks to Cottonwood Cove and Paw Hole need a 4x4 with high clearance.
Vermilion Cliffs guide →The Wave with a guide
A Wave tour does not replace the Coyote Buttes North permit. If you win a permit yourself, a licensed guide does not count toward the quota. If the guide obtains the permit, the guide counts as part of the group. Groups are limited to 6 people.
The Wave guide →Dunes, sandboards and ATVs
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park charges $15 per vehicle in 2026 and rents sandboards and sand sleds for $25 each. For off-highway vehicles, an orange or red safety flag is required and riders under 18 must wear a helmet. Utah requires drivers aged 18 and over to complete the free online adult course. Booking a guided ATV tour is not the same as driving one on your own.
Dunes guide →Best Friends visits
Standard tours at the sanctuary are free. Private tours cost a fee without a fixed published price. Tours of the whole sanctuary last about 90 minutes and should be booked ahead. The animal-care areas are not open to unannounced walk-ins.
Best Friends guide →Zion and Bryce day trips
You can drive these yourself. Zion is about 30 minutes to the east entrance and Bryce Canyon about 90 minutes, as rough guides. Entry in 2026 is $35 per private vehicle at both parks, plus $100 per non-US visitor aged 16 and over unless an annual pass covers them. Zion shuttles inside the canyon are free.
Zion and Bryce guide →What to check before you book
The descriptions differ more than the prices do.
Tax and fees
The published adult fare is not the final total. Sales tax and BLM fees are added on top, so ask the operator for the full amount before you pay.
Tips on third-party bookings
The operator names a 15% base tip for bookings made through third-party sites. This is not described as a requirement for every direct booking. Ask what applies to your booking.
The permit question
For South, ask whether the permit is part of the price and who obtains it. On recreation.gov, South permits come from a mobile daily lottery two days ahead, from 6 am to 6 pm, and from advance reservations.
Road status on your date
A route that is usually possible is not a current approval. In the BLM road report of 16 October 2026, House Rock Valley Road was rated 2WD high clearance, Cottonwood Road was closed and the Paria Movie Set Road was impassable. Ask the operator which road they will use.
Heat and weather
From May to September the heat in Coyote Buttes can be life-threatening, with no drinking water and no shade. Ask what happens if rain or flooding cancels the trip.
Children
Children up to 14 get a lower fare on the White Pocket tour. On South, small children are not recommended. Check the age rules of the exact tour before you book a family trip.
Plan the rest of your trip
Tours work best when they fit the season and your base.
Kanab tours: frequently asked questions
How much does a White Pocket tour cost?
One operator publishes $229 for adults and $199 for children up to and including 14 in 2026, for about 9 hours. Sales tax and BLM fees are extra, and bookings through third-party sites may carry a 15% base tip.
Does a tour include a Wave permit?
No. A tour does not replace the Coyote Buttes North permit, which comes only from the lotteries on recreation.gov. A licensed guide you hire does not count toward the daily quota if you win the permit yourself.
Can I reach White Pocket without a tour?
Only with a 4x4 that has high clearance and the driver's experience in deep sand. BLM says vehicles get stuck regularly, and an ordinary SUV is not automatically suitable. If you lack the vehicle or the skills, BLM recommends licensed guides.
Are there free tours in Kanab?
Standard tours at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary are free. Tours of the whole sanctuary last about 90 minutes and should be booked ahead. A private tour costs a fee.
Is lunch included on the long 4x4 tours?
On the White Pocket tour, water and snacks are included. Lunch on long tours is available for an extra charge. Confirm what your booking includes.