The Caves
The two main openings of the sand caves are clearly visible from Hwy 89 - on the northeast side, 80 feet above the canyon floor, which is 700 feet across at this point, with a usually dry streambed, and a flat floor covered by bushes. Originally, the caves were accessed from a small parking place nearly opposite, a site subsequently deemed too dangerous due to the fast-moving traffic and ever-increasing visitor numbers, so now people are meant to use a new, larger lot a third of a mile southeast, on the same side of the road as the caves. The level trail runs from here through the bushes across sandy ground to the base of the rock slope just beyond the caves; the last part of the route is diagonally up here, to a flat, constructed ledge at the cavern entrance. The caves are almost at the top of the Kayenta Formation; above is a less steep slope of Navajo sandstone then above that is an extensive plateau covered by wind-blown sand.