Sunset Dune Riding (and Sandboarding!) in Southern Utah with Coral Pink ATV Tours
Why Utah keeps stealing our hearts, what the sunset tour at Coral Pink Sand Dunes is actually like, and the little detail we wish we'd known before we went.
Heads up: this trip with Coral Pink ATV Tours was a paid partnership. That said, this is an experience we'd book and pay for again with our own money, we only partner with companies we'd actually recommend to our own family.
If you've followed us for any length of time, you know Utah is hands-down one of our family's favorite states, right up there with Iceland. And honestly, the reason is pretty simple: Utah feels like two completely different places stitched into one state. Drive north and you've got alpine peaks, aspen groves, deep snow, world-class skiing and even dog sledding (yes, really, we wrote a whole post on that one). Drive south and suddenly you're surrounded by red rock, slot canyons, sandstone arches, and some of the most surreal desert landscapes in the U.S., Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, the Grand Staircase, and a little gem called Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
Utah is packed with adventure pretty much top to bottom, and the more time we spend there, the more our list grows instead of shrinks.
Why Coral Pink Sand Dunes is worth the drive
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park sits in the southwest corner of Utah, not far from Kanab and within easy day-trip distance of Zion. The dunes are exactly what they sound like, soft, pink-orange sand piled into rolling hills against red rock cliffs. It looks like nowhere else we've been.
We rode with Coral Pink ATV Tours, a small, family-owned local business that runs guided tours right out of the recreation area. Supporting small local operators is a big deal to us, you can feel the difference in how much they care, both about the land and about giving you a really good day out there. They run several different tours: a 60-minute Scenic Ride, a 90-minute Sand Dune Paradise tour, a 2-hour Ultimate Adventure, and the Sunset Tour, which is what we booked.
What the Sunset Tour is actually like
The Sunset Tour runs about 2.5 hours, available Monday through Saturday from May through mid-October, and it's reservation only, no private upgrade option, you ride with the group. They cap each tour at around 6-8 machines, which sounds like a lot on paper, but in practice it didn't feel overwhelming at all. There was plenty of space between vehicles, and the guides keep things moving without it ever feeling rushed.
You start with a ride through back-country trails out to your first stop, a short 15-20 minute round-trip hike to an overlook of South Fork Indian Canyon. The view is unreal, especially as the light starts dropping. From there you head into the actual dunes for the fun part: ripping around on soft pink sand, then pulling up at a final stop where the guides hand out sandboards and sleds. They provide all of it, you don't bring a thing.
Sandboarding was, hands-down, the highlight for our whole family. None of us had ever tried it before, and I genuinely was not expecting to love it as much as I did. The kids could not stop. Sliding down a giant pink dune as the sun is setting behind the canyon? Yeah. That's a core memory unlocked.
Then you ride back out as the sky goes pink and purple and orange. Honest take: Jake and I both kept saying we wished it was longer. 2.5 hours flew by.
What to bring (the stuff we wish we'd known)
Coral Pink provides helmets, snacks, water, and the sandboards/sleds. But here's what nobody tells you, and what actually makes or breaks the experience:
- Something to cover your face. Sunglasses or goggles, plus a buff, gaiter, or bandana for your nose and mouth. The dunes throw up fine sand, and when you're riding behind other machines it gets everywhere. We brought our own and were so glad we did.
- A booster seat for smaller kids. This is the one I really want other parents to hear. If your kid is on the shorter side, bring a booster so they can actually see out of the UTV. We almost forgot ours and it would have made the ride way less magical for the kids if they couldn't see the dunes rolling out in front of them.
- Closed-toe shoes you don't mind getting sandy. Sneakers are fine. Sandals are not.
- A light layer for after sunset. The desert cools off fast once the sun drops. Even in summer, you'll want a long sleeve for the ride back.
Family-friendly without being boring
One thing we really appreciated: you can dial the intensity up or down. If you've got younger kids or someone in the group who isn't a thrill-seeker, the tour is genuinely scenic and chill. If you want to go full send on the dunes, the guides will let you. It worked for us as a family with two kids of different ages, and it would absolutely work for couples, friend groups, or multi-generational trips too.
Would we go back?
Without question. We'd happily do the Sunset Tour again, and we're already eyeing the 2-hour Ultimate Adventure for next time so we can get even more dune time in.
Book directly with them at coralpinkatvtours.com. Tell them The Venture Seekers sent you.
More Utah on the way
We've got a lot more Utah content coming, Zion, the northern mountains, more hidden corners that don't make the typical lists. If you want the polar opposite of the pink desert, go read about dog sledding in northern Utah, same state, completely different world. And come follow along on Instagram @the.ventureseekers so you don't miss the next one. See you out there.
-Brittany, The Venture Seekers
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