Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Tour

Best Friends began in the 1980s when a group of friends set out to prove that homeless animals did not have to be put down, buying land in this remote canyon and building what became a model for humane care. Over the decades it grew into a sprawling sanctuary and the base of a nationwide organization working to end the killing of adoptable pets in shelters.

Today the sanctuary is home to animals of many kinds, cared for in areas suited to each, from Dogtown and Cat World to Horse Haven, Parrot Garden, and Marshall's Piggy Paradise. Many animals are here temporarily on their way to adoption, while others, too old or too injured for a home, live out their lives in the canyon's care.

Visitors are welcomed with tours that wind through the sanctuary and its different animal areas, introducing the residents and the philosophy behind their care. Guests can arrange to meet and spend time with the animals, and for many people a highlight is simply sitting with the cats or walking a dog through the canyon.

The experience goes deeper for those who want it. People can sign up to volunteer for a shift, helping with walks, socializing, and care, and the sanctuary even lets guests take a dog or cat back to their Kanab lodging for a sleepover, giving the animal a break from the kennel and the visitor an unforgettable companion for the night.

The sanctuary's setting, Angel Canyon, is a place of deep beauty and long history. Red cliffs rise above cottonwood groves and a clear creek, and the canyon holds Ancestral Puebloan sites and rock art from the peoples who lived across this region long ago, part of the broad ancestral heritage of the Colorado Plateau tribes.

In the twentieth century the canyon's dramatic scenery drew Hollywood, and it appeared as a backdrop in Westerns and other films, a bit of movie history in the Kanab area's long run as a filming location. That cinematic past adds a layer of story to a canyon now known above all as a refuge for animals.

Kanab, the town at the mouth of the canyon, sits at a crossroads of the Southwest's greatest landscapes. Long nicknamed Little Hollywood for the many Westerns filmed nearby, it is a friendly base ringed by slickrock and sage, with an easygoing main street and a strong pet-friendly spirit thanks to the sanctuary next door.

From Kanab, some of the country's most spectacular parks are within easy reach: Zion to the west, Bryce Canyon to the north, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to the south, along with the slot canyons and vast public lands of the surrounding Grand Staircase. Many travelers pair a day at the sanctuary with a road trip through this dense concentration of red-rock wonders.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, tucked into the red-rock canyons near Kanab in southern Utah, is the nation's largest no-kill animal sanctuary. On any given day it is the healing home for up to around 1,600 animals, including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, horses, pigs, and rehabilitating wildlife. A peaceful, deeply moving place set in a stunning canyon, it welcomes visitors to tour, learn about its lifesaving mission, and even help care for the animals. It is a heartwarming stop for animal lovers.

You visit by joining a guided tour, which takes you through the various animal areas such as Dogtown, Cat World, Horse Haven, and Parrot Garden, or by signing up for a hands-on volunteer session to help care for the animals. Importantly, walk-ins are not permitted at the animal care centers, so you must book your tour or volunteer time in advance. Slots can fill quickly, so reserve as far ahead as you can to secure your visit.

Reservations are essential, since you cannot simply drop in at the animal areas, and popular time slots fill up, so book early. The sanctuary is generally open daily except Christmas, with daytime hours, and in the warmer months tours may also depart from the Best Friends Roadhouse in downtown Kanab. There is no charge to tour or volunteer, though donations support the animals. Come prepared for the southern Utah climate with water and sun protection.

Yes, it can be a wonderful, meaningful experience for families, letting children see compassionate animal care up close and learn about kindness to animals, whether on a tour or during a family-friendly volunteer session. The peaceful, positive atmosphere leaves many visitors moved. Because it is a working sanctuary focused on the animals' well-being, follow all guidelines and keep young children calm and supervised around the animals for everyone's comfort and safety.

The sanctuary sits near Kanab, a friendly base in southern Utah's spectacular red-rock country, within reach of Zion National Park, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, and the vast Grand Staircase-Escalante. Kanab itself offers dining and lodging and calls itself Little Hollywood for its film history. That makes a visit to Best Friends easy to combine with the region's famous parks and scenery for a rich southern Utah trip.