Visiting Kanab, Utah? In this guide we’re sharing the best things to do in Kanab, Utah including hikes, places to visit, food to eat, where to stay, and more!

“Abra Kanabra!” “The Best Earth on Show!” “Magically Unspoiled!” As you explore Kanab, you’ll likely see one or all of these phrases to describe the small, adventurous city in Southern Utah.

We spent a little over a week calling Kanab our “home” while in Southern Utah and loved every minute of it! With slot canyons, sand dunes, caves, hoodoos, and close proximity to national parks, the area is home to (and near) so much incredible scenery and outdoor activities, that you truly could never get bored. 

If you’re looking for the perfect adventure basecamp, look no further! And in this guide we’re sharing everything you need to know before you go, including where to stay, when to visit, and the best things to do in Kanab. We hope to make planning your Kanab adventure a little easier, but you’ll still have one hard task…figuring out what to do first!

Looking for more things to do in southern Utah? Check out our Utah guides and vlogs!

• VLOG: Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch
• VLOG: Coral Pink Sand Dunes + Sand Caves
• VLOGS: All of our Utah vlogs
• Visiting the Toadstool Hoodoos
• 3 Days at Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks
• How to hike Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch
• All of our Utah Guides

Before embarking on your adventure, please review the Leave No Trace principles to ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come!

These seven principles include planning ahead and preparing, hiking and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in!), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. 

About Kanab, Utah

About 7 miles north of the Arizona border lies the quaint, small city of Kanab, which has a pretty interesting history in itself. The area was first settled in 1864 when a fort was built for defense against Native Americans and as a base for exploration. While the fort was abandoned in 1866, in 1870, ten Mormon families moved into the area and established the town.

Kanab is named after a Paiute word meaning “place of the willows” and has been more recently nicknamed “Little Hollywood” because of its history in the filmmaking industry. Beginning in 1924, there have been over 100 Hollywood productions in Kanab and the surrounding area, including some films and TV shows you may have heard of like The Lone Ranger, Stagecoach, Gunsmoke, El Dorado, and Planet of the Apes.  

Besides its Hollywood history, Kanab’s location makes it an exciting place to visit when exploring Southern Utah. It’s centrally located in the middle of the “Grand Circle” between Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and SO much more. And while for many years it was one of the most isolated cities in the nation, being cut off from other areas by the Colorado River and rough terrain, it’s now an outdoor hot spot, with an endless amount of activities nearby. 

When to visit Kanab, Utah

With a more desert-like climate, spring and fall are the best times to visit Kanab and enjoy its outdoor fun! However, Kanab is great any time of the year, with a few things to consider for each season.

Spring

The spring brings great hiking weather, with highs in the 50-60s and lows in the 20s-30s. We visited in mid to late March and had plenty of sunshine, perfect afternoon temperatures (we consider perfect to be in the 60s!), and even a couple surprise snow showers to keep things interesting. 

There are a couple things to keep in mind when visiting in the spring. First, some businesses in the area have seasonal hours (like Rocking V Cafe!) and open in mid March or so for the season. So if you visit earlier on in March, you may have some closures.

Another thing to keep in mind in the spring is spring break. The Kanab and surrounding areas get very busy for spring break, which occurs mid-March until mid-April, depending on where people are visiting from. We were in the area during spring break and things were pretty busy in some spots, but if you start your adventures early, like we always recommend, you should have some solitude! 

Fall

The fall has similar weather as the spring, but with the added bonus of the fall foliage in the mountains. The one drawback of the fall is that the days are getting shorter as you get into November, so you don’t have as much daylight to explore the area.

Summer

In June, July, and August, the average highs get into the 90s and can even reach the 100s. There isn’t a ton of shade in the Kanab area, so with the sun heating up the ground and lack of tree coverage, you may get pretty hot on your adventures. Rainfall is pretty low in the summer, but there can be some intense thunderstorms, which can make exploring a bit tougher.

A lot of the best hikes in the area require you to go down some rougher roads, which can be impassable in the rain and the rain can also cause flash floods in the slot canyons. Make sure to check the weather no matter when you visit Kanab! 

Winter

As for winter, the winters in the Kanab area are not as brutal as other areas of Utah. High temperatures rarely fall below freezing and snow that does accumulate melts quickly in the sun. The crowds will be a lot lower during this time, so if you’re okay with a few businesses being closed, this can be a great time to get out and experience Kanab without as many others around. 

No matter when you visit, you’ll be able to do almost everything on this guide. One of the best things about Southern Utah is that it has deserts and mountains, so if you don’t like the weather where you are one day, you can likely find something slightly better somewhere else. 

If you’re hot, you can head to higher ground and cooler temperatures in the Dixie National Forest and Cedar Breaks and if you’re cold, you can make your way to Zion National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante, or even Lake Powell and Page, Arizona.

Getting to + around Kanab, Utah

While Kanab is close to a bunch of activities, getting to Kanab will require a little bit of effort. Since Kanab is not located close by to any major cities, you will need your own car or to rent a car to get to Kanab. But don’t worry, the drive will be scenic!

Flying to Kanab

If you plan to fly to visit Kanab, the best airports would be either Las Vegas (LAS), Salt Lake City (SLC), or Phoenix (PHX). All major airlines fly into these airports, so getting a flight should be pretty easy and affordable. Depending on which you fly into, here’s how long you can expect to drive:

Las Vegas, NV: 3 hours 8 minutes, 199 miles
Salt Lake City, UT: 4 hours 42 minutes, 312 miles
Phoenix, AZ: 5 hours 25 minutes, 350 miles

Driving to Kanab

If you’re visiting by car from other areas of Utah or Arizona, here’s how long you can expect your drive to be:

Zion National Park: 1 hour 3 minutes, 42 miles
Page, Arizona: 1 hour 11 minutes, 74 miles
St. George, Utah: 1.5 hours, 80 miles
Bryce Canyon National Park: 1.5 hours, 77 miles
Grand Canyon North Rim: 1 hour 40 minutes, 81 miles
Grand Canyon South Rim: 3 hours 30 minutes, 208 miles
Escalante, Utah: 2 hours 10 minutes, 120 miles
Capitol Reef National Park: 3 hours 10 minutes, 178 miles
Moab, UT (Canyonlands and Arches National Parks): 5 hours, 318 miles

Once in Kanab, you will need a car to get around, or hire a tour, as there is no public transportation. But the town of Kanab is very walkable, so if you stay in town, you’ll be able to walk to get coffee, food, and groceries!

Tips for driving around the Kanab area

There are a few things to be aware of when driving in the Kanab area and Southern Utah. Many of the activities we highlight in this guide will require driving down gravel/dirt roads that may or may not be in great condition for rental or low clearance passenger cars.

Higher clearance will be beneficial

While you can drive to most of these spots with lower clearance, having higher clearance (and even better, 4×4) will give you peace of mind and also not limit what all you can do. Our Sprinter van did fine on the roads, although we had to go so slow since it’s also our home, but not having 4×4 did limit what all we could visit.

Beware of taking your 2WD rental car off road

Some rental car contracts forbid driving off of the pavement and may be cancelled if you do, so make sure to check the policy for your car. 

Check road conditions

The back country roads can be rough, unmaintained, and impassable after a rain. You can check the road conditions with the BLM office or tourist offices for many of the attractions. While not always updated online, we had decent luck calling them to find out if the roads were okay.

Be careful of wildlife on the roads

Wildlife could cross into or be on the road at any time, but especially around dawn and dusk. We unfortunately saw so many deer that had been hit. 🙁 

Try to stick to the main roads

When travelling between places, stick to the main roads and don’t try to use back roads as a shortcut (if you have a regular car), since you may not know the condition of the road and could get stuck.

Cell service can be spotty

Many areas of Southern Utah will have limited to no cell service, so we highly recommend downloading offline Google Maps before your trip so you can navigate without service. 

Where to Stay in Kanab, Utah

While getting to Kanab may take some time and effort, once you’re there you have everything you need, including many lodging options! Here are a handful of suggestions to help you start your search for your home away from home.

Airbnbs

Apple Hollow Tiny Homes: Located in Glendale, UT (a 29 minute drive north of Kanab), there are 5 modern, rustic tiny homes with a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and washer/dryer. 

Modern Mountain House at Apple Hollow: This 2 bed 2 bathroom house is located at the same property as the tiny homes above, but it fits up to 9 guests. Oh and there is also a hot tub with this one!

Kanab Casita: This super cute 1 bed, 1 bathroom casita is located in Kanab, about 3 blocks from downtown.

Juniper Forest Inn: Holy moly these views! This 2 bed, 2 bathroom house is on the “edge of civilization” in Kanab. It has all the amenities you need including a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and an amazing balcony.

The Bus Stop Inn #1 and #2: These are 1 bed, 1 bathroom private rooms in a house, but the unique thing about this place is there are 2 VW vans out back that you can hang out in…pretty cool!

Altitude Adjustment: A very cozy, modern, and comfortable looking 2 bed, 2 bathroom cabin that accommodates up to 6 guests with amazing views of the red rocks surrounding you! 

Timber + Tin: While not actually on Airbnb, these rentals are in the heart of Kanab, have a shared pool, and are super nice inside!

Hotels

There are quite a few standard hotel options in town if you want something basic and reliable:

Hampton Inn
La Quinta Inn
Canyons Lodge
Holiday Inn Express

For a cooler hotel experience, check out the Best Friends Roadhouse & Mercantile! This spot is owned and operated by the Best Friends Animal Society and they offer several different size rooms for you and your furry friends that you bring along! Some rooms even have a bed for your pet!

You will have every amenity you need when you stay here including a dog wash area, as well as even pet-sitting services, which could come in handy if you’re visiting the National Parks nearby.

Camping and Glamping

Want to rough it a bit? There are a handful of camping and glamping spots nearby. But here are some we suggest:

Old Highway 89 Dispersed Campground: This FREE campground was our home for several nights. We loved it so much! It was quiet and only a 15 minute drive north of Kanab. It is BLM land so it is free to stay up to 14 consecutive days, although there are zero amenities. We did have cell service, the views are amazing, and we never had an issue finding a spot, even during spring break (we mostly stayed at the top of the hill, off to the left in the main open area).  If you have a van, camper, RV, or are even just tent camping, we can’t recommend this one enough.

Ponderosa Grove Campground: This is another BLM campground. Although this one is not free, it is only $5 per night. On the plus side, there are two vault toilets, as well as fire rings and grills, but there are no water or electric hookups. 

Basecamp 37°: Stay in safari style tents with all the amenities you could need in the Utah desert. Hot grills, hot showers, and a nice luxury bed to sleep in after a full day of adventuring…sounds pretty dang nice!

Things to bring when visiting Kanab, Utah

To ensure you have a safe and enjoyable time in Kanab, here are some items we’d suggest bringing with you!

Water

No matter what you’re doing and what time of year, be sure to bring and drink plenty of water. Even in the winter you can become dehydrated quickly in the desert and mountains. The air is super dry and our throats and noses were not fans at first!

We love our Camelbak bladder for hikes because it stores a ton of water and it’s easy to drink from while moving.

Proper footwear

When hiking through slot canyons, possibly through water, over and around boulders, and on slick rocks, you’re going to want a sturdy shoe for lots of terrain types. We almost always wear our Lowa Renegades (Kathryn) and Altra Superiors (Adam), but also love our Chacos, which are great hiking sandals, for the warmer months and for sandy and smooth rock terrain.

Layers 

The temperature can swing widely throughout the day, with the mornings being cool or cold, so make sure to pack layers!

Sun Protection

It is very sunny in Southern Utah and we may or may not have gotten a little sunburnt at first. Sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen are a must! We have been using Bare Republic, which is a “better for you” sunscreen, although it may give you a nice white, vampire-esque sheen. 

Download AllTrails Maps

We highly recommend downloading AllTrails maps for any hike you are going on, so you can navigate without cell service. You will need an AllTrails+ membership which is $35.99 per year, but is WELL worth the investment in our opinion!

Want to get 30% off an AllTrails+ membership? Click this link or use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)!

We use AllTrails+ on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.

Things to do in Kanab, Utah

There are so many things to do in Kanab, including popular spots and off the beaten path gems. In this guide, we’re focusing on things that are actually in Kanab or a super easy day trip away. For more ideas, we are including some additional spots in our “if you have extra time” section at the end!

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

One of our favorite things we did in Kanab was visit Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. The park is named after the coral pink sand (although it looked orange to us), which is from pink colored Navajo sandstone. 

These dunes formed by the Venturi Effect, when wind whips through a gap between the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains so fast, that it erodes the sandstone and carries the grains onto the sand dunes. While not the largest dunes we have ever seen, the contrast of dunes with the surrounding mountains is incredible!

The park costs $10 per car to enter and while there, you can climb around the dunes, ride an ATV (or do an ATV tour), or rent a sand sled or sand board for $25. We rented a sand sled and it was a BLAST! We had so much fun flying down the dunes and laughed nonstop the entire time. We highly recommend it!

There are also a couple campgrounds here that range in price from $25-$40 per night. The park is about 30 minutes from town, but we didn’t have any cell service out there, so be prepared to be a bit more off grid.

Watch our experience at Coral Pink Sand Dunes!

Explore The Wave (if you’re lucky!)

The iconic and super popular Wave (Coyote Buttes North) is located in the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness just across the border into Arizona. It has some of the most unique and gorgeous sandstone formations in the world! 

And the main attraction here is The Wave trail, which is 6.7 miles with 1,233 feet of elevation gain. However, getting a permit to visit The Wave is very hard and a bucket list item for many.

There are two ways to obtain one of the 64 permits given out each day, an online lottery and a walk-in lottery. The online lottery gives out permits to 48 people or 12 groups (whichever comes first) each day, four months in advance. You have the entire month to enter (ex: to hike in August, you have April 1-30 to enter the lottery).

The walk-in lottery permits are awarded to 16 people or 4 groups, whichever comes first, the day before you’d do the hike. The lottery begins at 8:30 AM and similar to the online lottery, it’s purely by luck. You could be the first to arrive, but may not get a permit, depending on how many people show up. For more info on The Wave and getting a permit, visit the official BLM website.

Hike Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch 

Can’t get a permit for The Wave? A great backup option, although not really the same experience, is Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch! This hike starts at the same trailhead and takes you through multiple slot canyons, including part of Buckskin Gulch, the longest and deepest slot canyon in the southwest.

Hiking through this slot canyon was absolutely incredible! The walls are SO tall and you feel extremely tiny wandering through them. This hike is mostly family friendly (minus a ladder portion that could be difficult for some) and you can go as far into the slot canyon as you’d like, or turn around after a little bit. It’s a choose your own adventure type hike!

Safety note: Beware of entering slot canyons if there is even the slightest chance of rain in the immediate area. The slot canyons are prone to flash flooding, which will provide a high chance of serious injury or death.

We shared our experience hiking Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch in this video, as well as in a detailed hiking guide, which will give you all the info and tips you need to enjoy this natural wonder.

Visit the Toadstool Hoodoos

Located right off of Highway 89 is a great, quick hike to some pretty cool rock formations called the Toadstool Hoodoos. This hike is 1.8 miles round trip, pretty flat, and great for all ages and ability levels!

The Toadstool Hoodoos form when Dakota Sandstone boulders perch atop pedestals of softer Entrada Sandstone. As the Entrada layer erodes away, the harder Dakota forms a cap, and leaves a rock column sheltered from water and wind, which looks like a mushroom.

Check out our guide to visiting the Toadstool Hoodoos to learn everything you need to know before you visit these unique, mushroom shaped rock formations.

Take a scenic drive

While driving around Kanab is beautiful in itself, the Kanab area is home to a couple gorgeous, scenic drives! 

Cottonwood Canyon Road

Cottonwood Canyon Road is a 46 mile one way scenic drive through the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. This road runs from US 89, close to Big Water, to the town of Cannonville, UT just north of Kodachrome Basin State Park. You’ll want to plan for at least 2 hours one way to travel this road depending on how many stops you make for photos and hikes. If you plan to visit the Bryce Canyon or Escalante areas, this would be a great route to take one way to reach those destinations!

The road is a dirt/gravel road, but is normally well maintained and is suitable for 2WD cars. You can access this road year round, but if there has been a recent rain storm or the road is wet, it can be impassible even with 4×4 so be sure to check the weather and road conditions before you go. There are visitor centers in Big Water and Cannonville to get the most up to date information. 

A few beautiful stops along the way are the Grosvenor Arch, which is actually a double sandstone arch, just steps from the road. For a shorter day hike, check out the Cottonwood Wash Narrows, which is a 3.7 mile hike with 298 feet of elevation gain, through tight canyon walls.

Johnson Canyon Road

Johnson Canyon Road is located only 9.5 miles east of Kanab and gives you great views of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Many pioneer families homesteaded in Johnson Canyon, and you can still see old farms and equipment. Another fun fact about this area is that the classic TV series Gunsmoke was filmed here and you can see the old movie set from the road, around 5.4 miles on the right.

After the 8 mile mark, you’ll begin climbing into the White Cliffs and after 18 miles, the paved road turns into Skutumpah Road. You can keep going on this gravel road which is accessible for regular passenger vehicles, unless it is wet.

Many of the sights on this drive are on private property, but you can see much of it from the road and it looks to be a beautiful drive! 

Moqui Cave

The Moqui Cave is a natural history and anthropological museum that depicts life in Southern Utah over the centuries. Moqui is an ancient term that is now used as a word to refer to the Hopi tribe of Native Americans and here you will find tons of Native American artifacts including arrowheads, pots, and tools. There is also a large collection of fluorescent minerals, dinosaur tracks, and fossils found in the area.

The cave was bought by the Chamberlain family in 1951 and fun fact, it was actually Southern Utah’s first dance hall and bar!  

The museum is open from 10 AM-6 PM Monday-Saturday. If you’re looking for an indoor activity on the hottest of days, the cave might be a welcome activity, as the temperature inside never rises above 65 degrees!

Sand Caves

Just down the road from the Moqui Cave, right along Highway 89, are free sand caves! These caves are man made and were carved out when they were harvesting sand for glass production in the 1970s. To access these caves, you’ll need to park alongside the highway and walk across the highway to find the “trail.” 

It’s a bit of a slick and tricky hike up a sandstone wall to get to the caves, but is totally doable for many ability levels, as long as you take it slow. Once inside. There are a handful of different large openings where you can see the surrounding area, as well as tons of sand on the ground. Our favorite part though was that if you touched the walls, sand came off!

White Pocket

Arguably just as magnificent as The Wave, but not nearly as popular, are the orange, yellow, and white layers of slickrock known as White Pocket. While you don’t need a permit to visit White Pocket, you do need a high clearance 4×4 vehicle to get out to it, as well as experience driving in sand.

If you do not have the right vehicle to get to White pocket, you can rent a Jeep from Kanab Tour Company or there are several tour companies that will take you out there:

• Dreamland Safari Tours (Kanab, UT)
• Kanab Tour Company (Kanab, UT)
• Paria Outpost & Outfitters (Big Water, UT)
• Grand Circle Tours (Page, AZ)

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is the largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals in the United States and are home to over 1,600 animals including cats, dogs, pigs, horses, bunnies, and birds. 

They allow the public to visit their property, where you can wander around on your own (the views are amazing!), go on tours, volunteer, and even eat at their vegan restaurant on site! 

Red Canyon (Peek-a-boo Canyon)

Not to be confused with Peek-a-boo and Spooky Gulches in the Grand Staircase Escalante, this Peek-a-boo canyon is located in Kanab, off Highway 89.

The best way to get to this slot canyon is to drive to the trailhead, but you must have 4×4 to make it there! We have read many reports of non 4×4 vehicles getting stuck in the sand.

However, if you do not have 4×4, you can park here and hike in, which will be a few miles along a long, sandy road, for a total of 8.7 miles with 666 feet of elevation. We hear this is a brutal trek, as you’re walking through deep sand, which is a hot and tough workout, so we’d only suggest this as a last resort option. You’ll also have to share this road with many off road vehicles passing by, so keep that in mind. 

While the slot canyon isn’t huge, we hear that it is beautiful and is another option similar to Wire Pass, but a bit closer to town.

Go on a tour

There are several tour operators in the area that will guide you out to some of the popular attractions, which is a great option if you do not have the right vehicle to handle crazy roads, driving in sand, or want a local to share their knowledge with you. Here are a handful of options to look into, each with different tours to choose from.

Kanab Tour Company specializes in ATV tours and also offers canyoneering tours.

Dreamland Safari Tours offer single and multi day tours to White Pocket, Buckskin Gulch, Peekaboo Canyon and more. 

Forever Adventure Tours also offers several options to many of the popular spots in the area, many with an H2 Hummer as your steed!

Detours American West can guide you out to Buckskin Gulch, White Pocket, Teepees, Peekaboo Canyon, and Coyote Buttes.

Rent a side by side

Ever wanted to go on all these 4×4 tracks, but don’t have a 4×4 vehicle? Rent a side by side! There are a lot of places you can take a side by side and you can rent from a couple different places. 

Kanab Tour Company offers a variety of different rental options, as well as has tours, like we mentioned above.

LOOP SXS RENTALS offers a variety of ATV, side by side, and UTV rentals, which come with a tablet with GPS navigation, as well as color coded routes with detailed directions to follow. They will provide you with everything you need for the day including helmet, goggles, ice chest, Garmin inReach satellite communicator, first aid kit, and more.
Note: They are only open in Kanab late February until the end of May, as well as mid September to late October. 

Eat at a local restaurant and coffee shop

One of our favorite things to do when visiting a new area is to eat at one of the local restaurants and coffee shops. While there isn’t necessarily an iconic dish to try in Kanab, there are a handful of great spots to check out.

Restaurants

Rocking V Cafe: We loved this spot! They focus on slow food, have a diverse menu, and are located in a very cool old building, with an art gallery upstairs and the occasional live music. We had the Kanabadabadoo burger and the deep dish veggie enchiladas and they were both out of this world!

Wild Thyme Cafe: Wild Thyme is another local gem serving up delicious chicken, beef, and seafood dishes.

Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen: This vegetarian spot has great pizzas!

Escobar’s Mexican Restaurant: This Mexican spot was always busy when we drove by it!

Coffee & drinks

Sunny Creek Cafe: This is a cute little drive up or walk up coffee stand, with sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and cinnamon rolls too!

Willow Canyon Outdoor: This is an outdoor store + bookstore + coffee shop all rolled into one, which is the best combo ever!

Kanab Creek Bakery: This coffee shop and bakery has delicious pastries, as well as sandwiches, salad, and coffee drinks!

Asava Juice & Smoothies: Need a refreshing treat after a warm hike? Asava serves up juice, smoothies, and bowls.

Visit the nearby National Parks

Kanab is close to two of Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks, Zion and Bryce Canyon. Zion is the closer of the two, at just a 35 minute drive to the Eastern entrance (about 1 hour to the Springdale area and visitor center), while Bryce Canyon is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away.

You can also take a day trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, which is 1 hour and 45 minutes away. Warning: since Arizona does not partake in Daylight Savings Time, this park is sometimes in a different time zone.

Read all of our Zion and Bryce Canyon tips in our 3 Days at Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks guide!

If you have extra time…

Looking for even more things to do in Kanab, Utah? Here are some additional activities to check out, with most being under a 2 hour (one way) drive.

• Visit Cedar Breaks National Monument, which is about 1.5 hours away from Kanab and is a natural amphitheater, which has amazing orange hoodoos like Bryce Canyon.
   
• Hike the Navajo Lake Loop, which has lake and mountain views, plus lava fields! We really wanted to hike this trail, but it was still snowy during our visit.
   
• Check out the Maynard Dixon Living History Museum  and visit the home of an American artist, who focused on the American West.
   
• Visit the Little Hollywood Museum, which is donation based and boasts a hands-on experience of a collection of movie sets and artifacts of many Hollywood westerns filmed in Kanab. We have read some mixed reviews on this spot (some say it’s a bit rundown now), which is why it isn’t in the main portion of this guide. But it’s free and if you have extra time, it could be a cool spot to check out.
   
• Go on more adventures in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
   
• If you’re visiting in February, check out Balloons and Tunes where they fly hot air balloons all weekend, with a lantern launch on Saturday night. There is a vendor fair, live bands playing on Main Street, and Red Rock Dancers.
   
• Backpack in Paria Canyon! The Paria Canyon is very popular for overnight backpacking and will give you the chance to continue exploring much of the other slot canyons for days. Overnight permits are required and are very competitive.
   
• Hang out at Lake Powell, which is located in both Utah and Arizona. We recommend checking out Lone Rock Beach for kayaking, swimming, and beach camping!
   
• Visit Page, Arizona, which is home to some iconic sights. To make the most out of your time in Page, check out our 1 Day in Page, AZ guide. 
   
• Visit Antelope Canyon or Canyon X in Arizona for a fun slot canyon experience. Make sure to book in advance!
   
• Admire the views from Horseshoe Bend.

Ready to explore Kanab, Utah?

Pin this guide with the best things to do in Kanab, Utah to help plan your trip!