Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park Explained

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Iucn Category:V
Map:USA Utah#USA
Relief:1
Location:Kane, Utah, United States
Coordinates:37.0378°N -112.7203°W
Area Acre:3730
Area Ref:[1]
Elevation:6000feet[2]
Established:1963
Visitation Num:229,527
Visitation Year:2022
Visitation Ref:[3]
Governing Body:Utah State Parks

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is a state park in southwestern Utah, United States, located between Mount Carmel Junction and Kanab, south and west of U.S. Highway 89 in Kane County. The park features uniquely pink-hued sand dunes located beside red sandstone cliffs.

The dunes are formed from the erosion of pink-colored Navajo Sandstone surrounding the park. High winds passing through the notch between the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains pick up loose sand particles and then drop them onto the dunes as a result of the Venturi effect. The dunes are estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000 years old.

The park allows camping, hiking, off-road vehicle driving, and photography. There is a conservation area of 265acres, and the total grounds include 3370acres. It was established as a Utah state park in 1963.

Sandboarding is also a popular activity, sandboards and sand sleds can be rented directly at the park.[4]

The Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle (Cicindela albissima) is endemic to the dunes, being found nowhere else in the world.[5] [6] The park also contains most of the remaining individuals of the rare plant known as Welsh's milkweed (Asclepias welshii), a federally listed threatened species.[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coral Pink Sand Dunes General Management Plan . Utah State Parks . February 2005 . 2011-02-04.
  2. Web site: Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park: About the Park . Utah State Parks . 2011-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110316161437/http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/parks/coral-pink/about . 2011-03-16 . dead .
  3. Web site: July 6, 2023 . Park Visitation Data . Utah State Parks.
  4. Web site: "Sandboarding at Coral Pink Sand Dunes". March 21, 2022.
  5. Web site: Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle (Cicindela albissima) . U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service . April 21, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111019183243/http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=I0EW . October 19, 2011 . dead .
  6. Web site: Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle . Utah Division of Wildlife Resources . April 21, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121231073851/http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/rsgis2/search/Display.asp?FlNm=cicilial . December 31, 2012 . dead .
  7. Web site: Asclepias welshii . Center for Plant Conservation . 2010-09-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101215115952/http://centerforplantconservation.org/Collection/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=312 . 2010-12-15 .