Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Encyclopedia
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is a state park
of Utah
, USA, located between Mount Carmel Junction
and Kanab
, south and west of U.S. Highway 89 in southwestern Utah. The park features coral-hued sand dunes located beside red sandstone
cliffs.
When visiting Coral Pink, it is recommended to stay for nightfall, when a barefoot walk on the soft dunes, especially under a bright full moon, can be a relaxing, mind-opening experience.
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 because 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 265 acres (1.1 km²), and the total grounds include 3370 acres (13.6 km²). It was established as a Utah state park in 1963.
This state park contains most of the remaining individuals of a rare plant, Welsh's milkweed
(Asclepias welshii), a federally listed threatened species.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, USA, located between Mount Carmel Junction
Mount Carmel Junction, Utah
Mount Carmel Junction and Mount Carmel are unincorporated areas located east of Zion National Park and north of Kanab in Kane County, Utah, United States. They lie in close proximity to the beautiful Coral Pink Sand Dunes state park....
and Kanab
Kanab, Utah
Kanab is a city in and the county seat of Kane County, Utah, United States. The area was first settled in 1864 and the town was founded in 1870 when ten Mormon families moved into the area. The population was 3,564 at the 2000 census...
, south and west of U.S. Highway 89 in southwestern Utah. The park features coral-hued sand dunes located beside red sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
cliffs.
When visiting Coral Pink, it is recommended to stay for nightfall, when a barefoot walk on the soft dunes, especially under a bright full moon, can be a relaxing, mind-opening experience.
The Dunes are formed from the erosion of pink-colored Navajo Sandstone
Navajo Sandstone
Navajo Sandstone is a geologic formation in the Glen Canyon Group that is spread across the U.S. states of northern Arizona, northwest Colorado, and Utah; as part of the Colorado Plateau province of the United States...
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 because of the Venturi effect
Venturi effect
The Venturi effect is the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a constricted section of pipe. The Venturi effect is named after Giovanni Battista Venturi , an Italian physicist.-Background:...
. The dunes are estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000 years old.
The park allows camping, hiking, off-road vehicle
Off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads, a flexible suspension, or even caterpillar tracks...
driving, and photography. There is a conservation area of 265 acres (1.1 km²), and the total grounds include 3370 acres (13.6 km²). It was established as a Utah state park in 1963.
This state park contains most of the remaining individuals of a rare plant, Welsh's milkweed
Asclepias welshii
Asclepias welshii is a rare species of milkweed known by the common name Welsh's milkweed. It is native to southern Utah and northern Arizona, where there are four known occurrences remaining. Most of the plants occur in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, where the habitat has been degraded in many...
(Asclepias welshii), a federally listed threatened species.