20 Things to do in Kanab, Utah, Beyond the Tourist Trail
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 21 Aug 2024
Are you wondering where you should stay overnight on your southern Utah road trip? If so, check out the amazing little town of Kanab! We’ve written everything to do within a two-hour drive of the town, including national parks, hikes, scenic drives, other lesser-known places, plus a few tried-and-tested food and hotel recommendations.
Unassuming Kanab, Utah, is a tiny wild west town in big canyon country.
While tourists flock to Page, Arizona, just down the road and Zion National Park just up the road, Kanab hangs around under the radar, peacefully welcoming the few travellers that choose to hover for longer than an afternoon.
The first time I visited, I chose it as an overnight stop between other, loftier locations nearby. I checked into my tiny wooden cabin and headed out, watching the late-afternoon light hit the dusky-pink cliffs and wandering beside buildings that would not be out of place in all the archetypal western films that were made here in decades past. The town feels so remote that it’s difficult to believe that famous film makers flocked here, branding it ‘Little Hollywood’!
Since that day, I’ve returned maybe 15 times (or more?) to explore, hang out and eat my favourite foods.
So, why should you choose Kanab?
Well, I’m biased because it’s my favourite little characterful stop of all the tiny towns in southern Utah! It’s centrally situated within driving distance of three national parks including the Grand Canyon, the longest slot in the world – Buckskin Gulch, easy off-road routes like Cottonwood, and lesser-visited state parks like Kodachrome. It’s a magical little place, and is even home to my favourite restaurant in Utah, Peekaboo Kitchen!
The best part? It’s priced far more reasonably than Page, Moab, and towns nearer Zion. This means you can get some serious value for money (something that is sorely lacking across southern Utah – my bank balance cries whenever we visit the region!).
Kanab is the ideal base camp for a week or so in the southern Utah, especially for anyone who doesn’t enjoy moving hotel all the time to explore the highlights.
So, read on for some cool things to do around Kanab that mostly avoid the chunky crowds overwhelming much of the rest of southern Utah!
IN THIS GUIDE //
Off the Tourist Trail in Kanab
30 MINUTES AWAY OR LESS
30 MINUTES TO TWO HOURS AWAY
KANAB MAP
PLACES TO EAT IN KANAB
PLACES TO STAY IN KANAB
WHERE TO NEXT?
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Nearby Kanab – Within 30 Minutes
This list is split into two; first is everything you can reach with around a 30-minute drive, the second is further afield, between 30 minutes and two hours away.
We mentioned any hints, tips and recommendations where appropriate. Any national park fees listed are covered by an America the Beautiful park pass – we’d recommend any visitor to the American southwest purchase one.
1. Kanab Visitor Centre
This should be your first stop and is located on Highway 89 heading east from town. It is super useful for resources, planning and up-to-date road information, plus the staff are lovely and can help you plan your days better than anyone.
2. Belly of the Dragon
19 minutes north-west of Kanab
This is a really strange little hike through an abandoned man-made cave/tunnel thingy. It looks kind of like the inside of an immense, rippled butt tube. This one is quick but worthwhile stop if you’re on your way to Zion.
Parking is just on the dirt road outside.
Fees: none.
3. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
25 minutes west of Kanab
This Utah state park is basically a bright orange desert full of dunes, made from weathered orange cliffs, perfect for sand boarding and dune buggies (it gets insanely windy though – take a buff). You could easily spend half a day or more here if you love dunes-y activities!
Fees: $15 state park fee.
4. Kanab Sand Caves (Moqui Caverns) and Moqui Cave
7 minutes north of Kanab
The Kanab Sand Caves, also called the Moqui Caverns, are another obscure set of manmade caverns, cut high up into the soft sandstone cliffs that you can see from the road. They’ve become a bit of an Instagram attraction recently, so they get a little bit busy in the afternoons, but if you go early they’ll be pretty quiet. There’s a 1.2 mile round-trip hike from the car park.
Just next door is the kitschy Moqui Cave, which is a pay-to-enter attraction with loads of quirky bits and pieces. Don’t get the two confised!
Fees: the photogenic Kanab Sand Caves is free; Moqui Cave has an entrance fee of $7.
5. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
10 minutes north of Kanab
One of the largest in the United States, Best Friends is a popular sanctuary for rescued animals (reservations essential for daily tours). They promote adoption, no-kill rescue and spay-and-neuter.
Check out their motel in Kanab, too, it’s one of the loveliest options in town and our favourite place to stay. The vegan breakfasts and cute, pet-friendly amenities make this a top choice for animal lovers and, to be honest, anyone who just wants a super comfortable room.
Fees: reservations required – check Best Friends for prices
6. Peek a Boo Slot Canyon (Red Canyon Slot)
11 minutes north of Kanab
This is a very cool, swirly slot canyon hike, but four-wheel drive vehicle is essential for trailhead access due to masses of sand (or you can hike a long way from the main road but it would be absolutely awful through that loose sand terrain!).
Do not confuse this hike with Peekaboo slot on Hole-in-the-Rock Road, further north near Escalante on Byway 12.
Fees: none.
7. Drive Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Backway to Kodachrome Basin
Begins 30 minutes east of Kanab
This is an entertaining backcountry driving route that cuts right through the heart of the countryside and pops you out near Bryce Canyon National Park!
The drive takes you from (nearly) next to the cool Toadstool Hoodoos trailhead all the way to the entrance of Kodachrome Basin State Park. Along the way, there is the particularly spectacular Grosvenor Arch, some slot canyon hikes and remote camping opportunities.
We highly recommend this drive if you want a laid-back day with no people! The road is impassable when wet, but suitable for two-wheel drive cars.
Fees: free.
8. Johnson Canyon Road
10 minutes east of Kanab
This quiet, part paved, part dirt route wanders north of Kanab to the Skutumpah Road where the pavement ends (do not drive when wet, plus it gets a bit rough – wouldn’t do this one without high-clearance).
There are old film sets, pretty cliffs, dinosaur prints and a few off-the beaten-track trails, like Lick Wash (a very cool, minimally visited canyon) and, much further down, Willis Creek (a fantastic slot canyon).
Fees: free.
9. Pipe Spring National Monument
24 minutes south of Kanab
This is a native American and Mormon pioneer historic site. This specific area of Utah is particularly fundamentalist and Mormon culture is strong – it’s an curious region to learn about if you don’t know much about it.
Grab an exceptional burrito at Barazza’s Mexican Food while you’re there (it was one of the best on my recent trip – and I ate a concerning large number of burritos).
Fees: $10 per person without an America the Beautiful pass.
10. Red Pueblo Museum and Heritage Centre
10 minutes south of Kanab
Highly recommended little Native American museum with lovely staff – it’s worth a short stop on the way to Pipe Spring.
Fees: donations are appreciated.
Further Away from Kanab
11. Zion National Park
35 minutes north-west of Kanab
This is one of the most beautiful canyons on Earth (which means crowds and permit complications).
I have mixed feelings about Zion – it’s crowded, full of traffic, there are timed-entry reservations, and you have to shuttle bus around for most of the year. However, it’s staggeringly beautiful and home to world-famous hikes such as Angel’s Landing and the Narrows.
Consider visiting Kolob Canyon which is a separate section of the park. We did a backpacking trip down the La Verkin River in Kolob Canyon which was epic and we hardly saw anyone!
Also, just above Kolob is Kanarra Falls, a beautiful slot canyon river hike like The Narrows, but with almost no people. If you’re interested in acquiring permits, read more on our post about Kanarra Falls.
Fees: $35 per vehicle national park fee.
12. Bryce Canyon National Park
1.5 hours north of Kanab
Get more rock spires into your life with a visit to the most densely packed hoodoo wonderland on the planet!
This park is compact, easy to access for just a few hours, and if you don’t want to hike, there are loads of diverse viewpoints. However, the hiking is incredible in Bryce and, for the most part, it’s not very challenging. The most popular route is the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop Trail which totally delivers on scenery for minimal effort!
Fees: $35 per vehicle national park fee.
13. North Rim Grand Canyon
1.5 hours south of Kanab
An easy drive takes you to one of the most magnificent sights on the planet (with only a slither of the crowds of the South Rim). If you are planning a southern Utah itinerary but just can’t fit in visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim, visit the north instead – many people prefer it!
We fully recommend camping here, it’s lovely. You’ll almost certain to spot a large herd of bison on your way in, too!
July 2025 update: the North Rim has suffered from extreme wildfire damage, and tragically the lodge and campground have burnt down, so avoid this area for the foreseeable future.
Fees: $35 per vehicle national park fee.
14. Toadstool Hoodoos
40 minutes east of Kanab
This popular, mushroom-heavy, family-friendly hike leads through some beautiful Utah scenery to some alien-like mushroom hoodoo spires.
It’s a nice hike when travelling on the way to, or from, Page. The views are particularly magnificent at the far end over the Rimrocks. It’s one of my favourite crowd-free places in southern Utah. For more information, check out our toadstool hiking guide.
Fees: none.
15. The Wave
1 hour east from Kanab
The most elusive and difficult-to-do hike of them all – apply for an almost impossible-to-get permit online. High-clearance vehicle recommended to reach the trailhead (although a sedan is fine – we saw loads in the car park). The road is impassable when wet.
I’ve personally applied for a permit to hike the Wave around 100 times (do not want to think about what that has cost!) and never managed to successfully secure a permit. It’s super competitive.
fees: $9 per permit application.
16. Great Chamber (or Cutler Point/Cove)
1 hour north of Kanab
Another four-wheel-drive-only trip through lots of sand to a very photogenic, wind carved, sand-filled cave on the side of a cliff. We’ve not been here as the route is just *way* too much sand for any rental vehicle we’ve had.
Also, do not follow the route on Google Maps – take the route out near Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (it would be wise to confirm the state of the road and route at the visitor center).
The Great Chamber is an Instagram favourite, so if you fancy visiting but don’t have a suitable car, check out a tour instead.
Fees: none.
17. Wirepass and Buckskin Gulch
1 hour east of Kanab
The holy grail of hikes in the region and possibly my favourite in the entire of the American southwest!
Buckskin Gulch, said to be the longest slot canyon in the world, provides a minimally challenging and epically scenic and photogenic hike – surprisingly overlooked by many tourists passing by.
High-clearance vehicle recommended to reach the trailhead (although you could totally take a sedan down there, it’s just less comfortable – we’ve seen loads there). The road is impassable when wet.
For more awesome slot canyon hikes, check out our favourite ones in Utah.
Fees: $6 per person and dog.
18. White Pocket
2 hours east of Kanab
A fabulous alternative to the Wave hike (when you are inevitably unsuccessful in getting a permit).
This set of colourful rock formations, hidden away in the Paria Wilderness, are pretty tricky to reach so definitely take a four-wheel drive high clearance vehicle or organise a tour.
This recent Instagram favourite looks pretty incredible, but I’ve never been because there’s no way I’m taking an AWD rental down through that sand!
Fees: free.
19. Explore Page
70 minutes east of Kanab
Page has a plethora of cool and different things to do – it’s distinct from Kanab because it has watersport options due to its proximity to Lake Powell and the Colorado River. Highlights include:
⬩ Horseshoe Bend Overlook | 8 minutes south-west. The famous view – parking is now $10 and there is a 0.75-mile exposed hike through sand. You can even kayak around it if you want to avoid the crowds!
⬩ Antelope Canyon | around 10 minutes outside of Page. The famous slot canyons around Page are on most people’s to-do list. Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon are very busy and all visits need to be part of a Navajo Nation tour. For more inspiration, check out our list of Utah’s best slot canyons.
⬩ Paddle, boat or kayak Lake Powell. Consider visiting the back entrance of Antelope Canyon or camping on Antelope Island. We recommend Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks for rentals.
There’s so much to do around Page that we’ve written a entire detailed post on the myriad of options.
20. Lees Ferry
1.5 hours west of Kanab
See the beginning of the epic Grand Canyon National Park!
Consider exploring the slots of Cathedral Wash, kayaking Horseshoe Bend, hiking the epic Spencer Trail, spotting endangered condors or learning about the Historic Navajo Bridge. This area is seriously underrated, in my opinion, and one of my favourite places.
Fees: $30 per vehicle national park fee.
Kanab – Map
Below is a savable Google Map of everything in this post.
Yellow are places within 30 minutes; orange are further away. To view these sections individually, select the icon in the top left corner of the map.
To save the map, click the star next to the title.
BEST PLACES TO EAT IN KANAB
Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen | my all-time favourite! This vegetarian restaurant is one of the absolute best (even if you love meat). The pizzas are perfection with thoughtful toppings, the salads are impeccable, the behemoth portions of garlic parm bombs are hilarious and I even order desert (which is a rarity for me). Order the Hot Mess pizza – it’s special.
Wild Thyme Café | absolutely love this cute restaurant. There’s a fantastic cocktail (and mocktail!) menu, plus loads of vegetarian options – I’ve tried all the salads at this point and would definitely recommend them. Also, the hatch green chile penne was top-notch.
Best Friends Mercantile shop | we were in a rush one morning and needed a quick packed lunch, so we nipped into the vegan shop at Best Friends Mercantile and bought a tofu burrito and a dill-pasta salad, which were incredibly affordable and far, far tastier than I was expecting for the price.
Sego Restaurant | easily the classiest place in Kanab, Sego delivers an assortment of high-end, beautifully presented options, which comes at a price ($$$). However, if you are a foodie connoisseur, this restaurant should definitely be on your list! It’s got a kind of tapas-style, east Asian food vibe, which I really enjoy, plus loads of small veggie plates. I especially recall the superb elote fritters and beet salad – they were memorable!
Big Al’s Burgers | nothing really outstanding, but the burgers here are very affordably priced if you’re on a budget, plus there are a few veggie options.
Rocking V Café | varied menu, cute vibes and fantastic, well labelled veggie options (not just a single bean burger). The polenta dish was top notch.
Taro Coffee Bar | the best coffee in Kanab. This tiny unassuming little place has some of the best prices and quality in town – don’t miss it. There are lots of flavours and non-dairy options – we stopped here every day they were open.
Glazier’s Market | this is a very well-priced and stocked supermarket, especially considering the remoteness of the area.
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RELATED | MONUMENT VALLEY VS VALLEY OF THE GODS
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN KANAB
Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile | our favourite in Kanab. The rooms are so comfortable, the staff are dog-lovers (which says a lot about their characters), and the motel even has a pet spa! It’s set on beautiful, flower-filled grounds and I’ve rarely enjoyed a motel as much as this one. Even without pets (we don’t have any), this place is worth it. Also, such quiet air-conditioning – something rare in the American southwest.
Red Canyon Cabins | a more budget option that is probably my second choice in Kanab. When the price is right, this collection of cute red cabins is an absolute steal – one of the best value stays we’ve had on our recent three-month road trip. We’ve actually stayed here on every southwest trip in the past decade – it’s reliable, comfortable and excellent value.
Aikens Lodge | this motel is quirky, with kitschy film memorabilia on the walls and a no-frills, retro motel feel. We wouldn’t recommend it above Red Canyon Cabins, but if you’re on a budget and the price fits, this place isn’t bad. The aircon is crazy loud though so I had to sleep with it off! Also, the included breakfast is at the Best Western just down the street.
Quail Park Lodge | another slightly retro style motel, but this one is a little nicer than Aikens Lodge. It’s been recently (and thoughtfully) renovated, so the rooms are modern and up to date with decent TVs and nice bathrooms (don’t let the ‘retro’ description put you off!). We stayed at Best Friends, just across the road, and our friends stayed here – it’s a pretty close tie between the two!
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CAR HIRE FOR YOUR SOUTHWEST ITINERARY
We always rent our vehicles all over the world, including our recent trip in the United States, with Discover Cars. They’re often the most affordable, plus they paid out immediately on an insurance claim we made when our car took some heavy damage in Sicily. We fully recommend them.
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TAKE A LOOK BELOW OR CHECK CAR RENTAL
Where to Next?
Kanab is one of my favourite small towns in the American southwest. It’s retained a whole lot of charm and character, whilst also having a bunch of well-priced, useful tourist amenities. It feels like the perfect mix for a Utah adventure (I hope the residents feel this way too).
It is my happy place in Utah, with such amazing access to so many of the most beautiful highlights of the southwest. We often make it our base camp for a few days.
I hope this quick guide to Kanab helps you plan your own getaway. Have an amazing time!
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