Whenever we feel like rediscovering or showing people some of the treasures to be found in this scenic Southern Utah wonderland, we plan a trip to Flag Point through Kanab. This is one of the favorite destinations we visit as part of our southern Utah trail rides and is a hit with both new and experienced off-roaders.
To have the best time, it’s advisable to tackle this trip and trail as part of a group. That way, you can laugh and exchange anecdotes, point out something interesting and generally have fun. Traveling in a group also ensures that you have someone to help out in case you run into some trouble like a flat tire or getting stuck in a ditch.
Flag Point
To get to Flag Point, you go through Kanab then the Johnson Canyon Road where you should stop and air down. Most of the trail from this point will be sandy so you need to air down for traction. The vegetation along the way consists mostly of pinion pine and juniper trees with panoramic views on all sides.
The trail starts off wide and smooth then gradually narrows down as you near Flag Point. Once you get there, you’ll be blown away, not by the magnificent views, but by the abundance of petroglyphs and pictographs in the area. It seems that there’s ancient rock art on every rock surface you look at, thanks to the Native Americans who originally lived here. There are also some pit houses where you can see shards of pottery as well as what is considered an ancient granary. Remember that it’s illegal to carry any pottery from these sites and also refrain from touching any of the rock art.
If you wish to get to the dinosaur tracks, and you really should see them, you’ll have to contend with a short steep hike. This is well worth it to see the tracks up close and imagine the size of the creature that made them. You can see that these tracks mesmerized the Native Americans who called this area home as they are the subject of numerous pictographs.
After you’re done with Flag Point, you’ll head down to Seaman Canyon as you head back. This is a trickier stretch of the trail involving some technical jeeping and careful driving among the red rock sandstone. The trail is in a remote area and to ensure you don’t get lost, download a map of the area from our store.
Caring for Your Vehicle
Your excursion to Flag Point, via Kanab won’t be possible if your rig isn’t in good condition to handle the trail. To get it ready for a trip, or to get it back to working order after one, bring it to the Dixie 4 Wheel Drive auto store in St. George. We’ll ask you to choose one of our Vehicle Build Packages then we’ll get to work on your ride. Visit us today.
