Kanab & Kane County, Utah is a great basecamp for accessing the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon & Lake Powell. But also has so much on its own door step, with Coral Pink Sand Dunes, White Pockets, Buckskin Gulch, Peekaboo Canyon & the Wave, just to mention a few.
The town of Kanab is classic American West, surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs and vistas of sagebrush. This scenery has lured filmmakers to Kanab for nearly 80 years. Abandoned film sets near town have become tourist attractions, the buildings all over town have plenty of movie posters and autographed photos to support Kanab’s self-proclaimed title ‘Little Hollywood’.
A major attraction to Kanab is to visit the The Wave which is located in the desert at the border between Arizona and Utah. It is known as one of the world most unusual and beautiful sandstone formations. The Wave is protected and you can only visit by permit (20 permits per day) which can be accessed either online (10 per day) months in advance or in-person (10 per day) at the visitors centre lottery. Details on how to visit the Wave and win a permit click here. https://www.thewave.info.
If you do not win a permit there is plenty more to see in & around Kanab. You can go with a local outfitter by Hummer or 4WD to White Pocket, here you will see amazing terrain similar to that of the Wave. Rugged and gnarly, White Pocket is a photographer’s paradise. Or you can hike one of the trails through Buckskin Gulch, it is one of the longest and deepest slot canyons in the southwest, a day hike via Wire Pass Trail is a moderately easy and a must do while in the area. For animal lovers who might be missing their pets from home, Kanab is home to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, located just 8km from the city, it is the nation’s largest sanctuary for homeless animals. On any given day the sanctuary is home to about 1,700 rescue animals. You can experience a soul-nurturing rest day, with a free tour at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (BFAS). If you have time to volunteer, take one of the dogs for a walk among the red rocks or settle in to snuggle with a bunny.
The art of being a great basecamp is the abundance of local and diverse dining and lodging options. Kanab offers traditional fast-good options along-side an array of boutique local dining experiences including an artisanal bakery, New American cuisine with microbrews, Southwestern and Cajun fusion at Wild Thyme Café, for a real treat, visit Chef Shon at Sego Restaurant, well known for his thoughtful approach to food, blending contemporary cuisine with local produce, Chef Shon was previously executive chef at Amangiri, a boutique luxury resort tucked into the canyons not far from Kanab.
Check out our must do adventures in Kanab:
https://www.visitutah.com/articles/15-must-do-adventures-in-kanab
https://visitsouthernutah.com