By Jon Crowley
Warrior Walkway and Shunesburg Mail Drop combine sandstone scenery, views toward Zion National Park and pioneer history on a UTV outing near Kanab, Utah. We staged at Elephant Cove, one of our favorite starting points for exploring the country southwest of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
While the nearby Barracks Trail is a popular destination, these two stops give riders more reasons to explore the surrounding trail network. Plan for backcountry driving and a hike: the final approach to the Mail Drop is on foot.
Elephant Cove Staging Area
Elephant Cove is approximately 4.5 miles southwest of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. The staging area offers a large parking lot, a vault toilet, an information kiosk and picnic tables. Camping is permitted in the parking lot, but there is no potable water or cell service, according to the BLM Elephant Cove visitor page.
From Kanab, the BLM’s directions follow Highway 89 north to Hancock Road, then Yellowjacket Road/CR 43 to the staging area. Download maps before leaving town and review the kiosk for local travel information.
Elephant Cove GPS: 37.0245299, -112.8031469
Warrior Walkway
Warrior Walkway, also called Warrior’s Walk, is a scenic stop with views north toward Zion National Park. Local lore connects the walkway with a rite of passage for young Native American warriors. That account is not established by the historical sources reviewed for this guide, so it should be treated as a legend.
Warrior Walkway GPS: 37.09420, -112.89832
Shunesburg Mail Drop: A Ride and a Hike
From the Mail Drop trailhead, allow for approximately half a mile of hiking each way through deep sand—about one mile round trip. Carry water and wear shoes suitable for walking in sand and on sandstone.
The site takes its name from the mail route serving the former settlement of Shunesburg. According to the Washington County Historical Society, mail carriers originally descended the dangerous Wiggle Trail. A cable system was later built to lower mail over the cliff to settlers below.
The overlook is near Zion’s southeastern boundary in the Canaan Mountain area. Keep UTVs on routes currently open to motorized travel and complete the final approach on foot. Motorized travel is prohibited within designated wilderness; check current maps and boundary signs rather than relying on an old GPS track. The BLM Canaan Mountain Wilderness page provides additional area information.
- Mail Drop hiking trailhead GPS: 37.13582, -112.91493
- Mail Drop overlook GPS: 37.13487, -112.92314
These coordinates identify destinations from our original trip; they do not define a legal driving route. Stay back from cliff edges, leave historic features undisturbed and pack out everything you bring.
Planning Your UTV Ride
Route choice and conditions determine the day’s difficulty. Bring offline navigation, enough fuel for your return, drinking water, tire-repair supplies and recovery equipment. Check weather and current access before riding, and use designated routes without cutting across vegetation or creating new tracks.
More UTV Destinations Near Kanab
Use our Kanab UTV trails guide to plan a longer visit, or explore these nearby destinations:
