5 Unforgettable Kid-Friendly Adventures in Southern Utah

Whether you’re road-tripping with toddlers, exploring with teens, or planning a multigenerational getaway, Southern Utah’s iconic desert landscapes promise family-friendly adventure for all ages. You might be drawn to the glowing red walls of Peekaboo Slot Canyon, the white “brain rock” landscape of White Pocket in the Vermilion Cliffs, or even the ancient multi-dinosaur tracks just outside Kanab. No matter what your flavor of adventure is, Dreamland offers many options for truly epic adventures. 

We’ve handpicked our top five kid-friendly tours that are safe, exciting, and perfect for curious kids (and their grown-ups, too). 

And check out our FAQs at the bottom of this post, which we hope will answer every other question you might think of.

What Our Guests Say:

 

“Our children are 8 years old and 5.5 years old. We booked the Peekaboo Slot Canyon & Dinosaur Track combo tour, and it was the perfect day trip from Zion/Springdale.

Our guide, Brent, made the experience one to remember. He was fun, informative, and excellent with our kids. And much to this mom’s delight, he had ALL the tips and tricks for amazing slot canyon photos and offered to snap our family at all of the prime spots. The dino tracks were not only fascinating, but a fun scavenger hunt, too.

Our whole family was delighted the entire tour. Definitely book this one for one-of-a-kind vacation memories!”

 

— Shara V. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
TripAdvisor 

 

1. Peekaboo Slot Canyon: The Original Hide-and-Seek Kid Destination

• Best For: Ages 4+ (but younger kids are welcome, too!)
• Tour Length: 3 Hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Drive Time to Destination: 45 minutes
• Walking/Hiking Distance: We drive right to the trailhead; walking to the end of the canyon is ½ mile in, ½ mile out
• Guide’s Pick: Great intro to slot canyons (without the massive crowds, multi-story stairs, or cattle herd stress of other area slots)

Why it works for kids:
Peekaboo, just north of Kanab, UT, is a crowd-pleaser for a reason. It’s short, shaded, stunning, and feels like stepping into a storybook. Kids love the winding, wave-like walls and the fact that it’s easy to explore without climbing or navigating tricky terrain.

Pro Parent Tip:
We drive right to the trailhead, so there’s no hiking to get there. This tour is sand, but it’s not completely flat. There may be boulders and rocks in the path. There is one, easy 3-step ladder about halfway in. Because the rock walls are hard and uneven, you may want to carry younger ones so they don’t bump their heads. This is a great tour for multi-generations because just about everyone can do it.

Fun Fact: Why are so many slot canyons named “Peekaboo”? When early ranchers and their families settled the area, children found the narrow slot canyon passageways to be both cool in the summer heat and ideal for games of hide-and-seek. The playful name “Peekaboo” stuck.

What Our Guests Had to Say About It: 

 

“Our family of six went on a tour of Peekaboo slot canyon and we loved it!!! Our guide was so knowledgeable and friendly, he showed us tons of archeological features, and we learned quite a bit! He also helped us take the best photos that really captured the beauty and uniqueness of the canyon. The sights were just unreal! We had so much fun! Would absolutely recommend this to anyone and everyone!” 

 

– Kristen F. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
TripAdvisor review

2. Slot Canyon & Dino Tracks Tour: Adventure Meets Jurassic Park

• Best For: Ages 5+
• Tour Length: 4.5 hours
• Difficulty: Easy (some uneven surfaces)
• Drive Time to Destination: 45 minutes to Peekaboo, 20 minutes to Dinosaur Tracks
• Walking/Hiking Distance:
  • Peekaboo — we drive right to the trailhead; the walk to the end of the canyon is ½ mile in and ½ mile out.
  • Dino Tracks — we drive right to the site; how much you walk around is up to you. The rock face where the tracks are found is quite large, so kids can roam to their hearts’ content.
• Guide’s Pick: A thrill for dino fans and active kids (there are thousands of tracks out there – see if you can find them!)

Why it works for kids:

This one’s a dynamic duo: Peekaboo Slot Canyon, a hands-on dinosaur track site (yes – they’re real!) that’s fascinating for curious minds, and if there’s time, we’ll hit Coral Pink Sand Dunes where kids can run, jump, and tumble in the sand mountains to their hearts’ content.

What Our Guests Had to Say About It: 

 

“Our family had the most amazing time on the Slot Canyon and Dinosaur Trek with Dreamland Safari Tours! We were a group of two families (4 adults and 3 kids), and it was an unforgettable adventure. Kieran, our guide, was absolutely fantastic! He was incredibly knowledgeable about the area, sharing fascinating facts along the way. His enthusiasm for the history and geology of the canyon made the tour even more engaging for both the adults and the kids.

The slot canyon itself was absolutely stunning, and exploring it was like stepping into another world. But the real highlight for everyone was seeing the dinosaur tracks! It was so cool to walk in the same spots where dinosaurs once roamed, and Kieran’s explanations made it all come to life. The kids were especially excited, and Kieran was great at keeping them engaged while still making sure the adults got the full experience.

If you’re looking for a fun, informative, and unique adventure, we can’t recommend this tour enough! Huge thanks to Kieran for making our experience so memorable.” 

 

— Curiosity42825808497 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

TripAdvisor review

What kinds of dinosaur tracks will you see there?

You will see well-preserved fossilized dinosaur tracks from the Jurassic period, dating back approximately 180–190 million years. Look for these prehistoric beast tracks: Grallator, Kayentapus, Otozoum, Batrachopus, Brasilichnium, among others!

3. White Pocket: Like Visiting Mars, But Easier to Get to

• Best For: Ages 10+ (kids who don’t mind long, scenic drives & love exploring far-out landscapes)
• Tour Length: 9 hours (requires 4WD access—leave it to us!)
• Difficulty: Easy (some uneven surfaces)
• Drive Time to Destination: 2.5 hours
• Walking/Hiking Distance: The formation is about a mile in circumference. We wander it to see different aspects. Total hiking can be a few miles.
• Guide’s Pick: For kids who love geology, outer space, or unique landscapes

Why it works for kids:
If your child is fascinated by outer space or cool rocks, White Pocket will blow their minds. The swirling sandstone, brain-like textures, and gravity-defying shapes are fuel for the imagination. Geologists describe White Pocket as resembling the surface of Mars!

Real Talk for Parents:
The 2.5-hour, mostly off-road ride means this one’s best for kids who don’t get carsick and can handle being in the vehicle for longer stretches.

What Our Guests Had to Say About It: 

 

“Did the White Pocket tour with my family of mom and dad, 11 yo daughter and our Sheepadoodle, with Phoenix as our guide. A strong winter storm just passed and it was water in all the pockets which made for gorgeous reflections. Phoenix was very personable, knowledgeable and made even the long drive in rough roads fun. We would never have been able to navigate the roads with puddles without a guide even if we rented a jeep. We were lucky to have the staff present at stop at the condor release site and actually saw them on the distant cliff with their scopes. Super fun and easy day into amazing landscapes and also learned a lot about the geography of the area. Totally worthwhile!” 

 

– Mengjing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

TripAdvisor review

4. Ultimate Kanab Tour: Sampler Platter for Curious Kids

• Best For: Ages 9+
• Tour Length: 8 hours
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Drive Time to Destination: This is a series of shorter drives; each one is approximately 20–45 minutes per location.
• Guide’s Pick: A “greatest hits” tour with wide appeal

Why it works for kids:
Can’t decide? This tour covers it all—slot canyons, sand dunes, petroglyphs, epic views. It’s perfect for families with slightly older kids who want variety and can handle a full-day outing.

Why it’s smart:
You see multiple landscapes without committing to one big hike. Kids stay engaged with ever-changing scenery, and the stories behind the petroglyphs bring history to life.

What Our Guests Had to Say About It: 

 

“We booked a full day (Ultimate) Kanab tour. We were lucky to have Andrea as our guide. She was fun and friendly while also being unquestionably competent and safe. Because we were the only ones on the tour, she adapted the tour to fit our family’s preferences. Without Andrea we never could have visited the places we saw. I highly recommend a guided tour- it was one of the best days of our family vacation.” 

 

— Carolyn T ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

TripAdvisor review

5. White Pocket Overnight: A Family Adventure to Remember

• Best For: Ages 8+ (or any kid who loves camping and adventure)
• Tour Length: Overnight (1-night camping trip) – 24 hours
• Difficulty: Easy (some uneven surfaces)
• Drive Time to Destination: 2.5 hours
• Guide’s Pick: Best bucket-list bonding experience for families

Why it works for kids:
It’s the ultimate “remember when we camped under the stars?” story. Between exploring White Pocket at golden hour, spotting lizards and tracks, and eating delicious camp-cooked meals, this tour delivers both wonder and connection. Bonus: the Milky Way. No light pollution = jaw-dropping stargazing and complete silence.

Customize It:
Available as a group (up to 10 people) or private trip. We can accommodate private trips for many dates that are not on our calendar. These are perfect for intimate, once-in-a-lifetime family experiences.

What Our Guests Had to Say About It: 

 

“We took an overnight tour of White Pocket, Arizona with Dreamland tours over the Labor Day weekend. Everyone at Dreamland Safari Tours was friendly, helpful, and experienced. Our guides were both trained wilderness first responders and had been to White Pocket over 100 times. The drive from Kanab to White Pocket takes a long time because much of it is over sandy roads that require very knowledgeable drivers. Our drivers were not only knowledgeable about driving but also about the geology and anthropology of the area. Once we arrived they took the group to White Pocket (a short ten-minute hike) and set up the camp while we explored the area. We came back before sundown for our delicious “home-cooked” meal of chicken, steak, rice and vegetables. The most amazing part of the trip was from blue hour until we finally couldn’t stay awake any longer. I went to White Pocket for the photography and I was so happy with the opportunities and the result. Our guide helped me find the best spot for shooting the Milky Way and returned later to make sure I made it back to camp safely.”

 

– Roy P ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
TripAdvisor review

How to Choose the Right Tour for Your Family 

Southern Utah is full of magic, and the right tour can make your family’s trip unforgettable. Consider your kids’ attention span, interests (such as dinosaurs, space, or exploring), and tolerance for long drives.

All Dreamland tours are led by expert guides who love sharing the outdoors with young adventurers. A number of our guides have backgrounds in wilderness therapy with young people, so they have lots of tricks up their sleeves! 

Whether you go private or join a group, you’ll walk away with new memories, amazing photos, and probably some sand in your shoes.

Still unsure? Give us a call or email—we’re happy to help match you with the best kid-friendly adventure for your crew. (801) 923-6427. We’re in the office from 8 am-5:30 pm every day!