Kanab
100 E 100 N, Kanab, UT
Kanab, UT
A friendly red-rock town where the movies once rolled, set within an easy drive of half the great parks in the Southwest.
Kanab is a small, welcoming red-rock town in the far south of Utah, so surrounded by wonders that it has become one of the great base camps of the Southwest. Within an easy drive lie Zion, Bryce Canyon, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and a whole country of slot canyons, sand dunes, and slickrock. The town itself sits in a bowl of red cliffs, with a laid-back main street, good places to eat, and outfitters ready to point you toward the next adventure.
Kanab has a colorful past to match its scenery. For decades Hollywood came here to film Westerns among the red rocks, earning the town its nickname of Little Hollywood, and today it is also home to one of the largest animal sanctuaries in the country. It is the rare gateway town that is a destination in its own right, a friendly, storied place to rest between the great parks.
What Guests Love
- Its perfect location within reach of Zion, Bryce, the Grand Canyon, and slot canyons
- The old Hollywood Western history that gives the town its Little Hollywood nickname
- Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, one of the largest of its kind in the country
- A relaxed, walkable main street with good food and red cliffs on every horizon
Worth Knowing
- It makes a great base, so plan day trips out to the surrounding parks and canyons
- Some famous nearby hikes, like The Wave, require a hard-to-win permit lottery, so plan far ahead
- This is warm desert; summer is hot, so carry water and start hikes early
- It fills up in the peak seasons, so book a stay ahead in spring and fall
Details
Kanab, UT
Learn about Kanab
Little Hollywood
From the 1920s onward, filmmakers discovered that the red cliffs, sagebrush flats, and dramatic canyons around Kanab looked exactly like the mythic Old West, and Hollywood came in force. For decades the town hosted the making of countless Western films and later television shows, and its people worked as extras, wranglers, and crew, giving Kanab its enduring nickname of Little Hollywood.
That legacy is still visible. Old movie-set buildings and props survive around town, restaurants and shops trade on the connection, and locals can tell you which famous stars once stayed and filmed here. Walking Kanab's main street, it is easy to feel the ghost of the era when the cameras rolled and the red rock stood in for a whole imagined West.
A crossroads of the great parks
Kanab's greatest gift is its position. Zion National Park's soaring canyons lie a short drive northwest, Bryce Canyon's hoodoo amphitheaters are to the north, and the quiet, forested North Rim of the Grand Canyon is to the south. All around spreads the vast Grand Staircase-Escalante country, along with famous slot canyons and the shifting sand of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
That wealth of nearby wonders makes Kanab an ideal home base for a road trip through southern Utah and northern Arizona. Many travelers set up here and fan out on day trips, returning each evening to the town's easygoing comforts, and the outfitters in town can arrange guided canyon and slickrock adventures for those who want a hand exploring the wilder corners nearby.
The people of the red rock
This country is the ancestral homeland of the Southern Paiute people, who lived among these canyons, springs, and plateaus for generations and whose descendants remain in the region today, including the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians nearby. The Ancestral Puebloan and Fremont peoples farmed and camped in the area far earlier, leaving rock art and stone dwellings in the surrounding canyons.
Mormon pioneers established Kanab in the 1870s at a well-watered spot below the cliffs, ranching and farming in a harsh but beautiful land. The town gained a small measure of fame when, for a time in the 1910s, it was governed entirely by women, an all-female town council that drew national notice. That spirit of independence and community still marks the friendly town today.
Best Friends, wildlife, and the seasons
Just outside town, in a stunning red-rock canyon, lies Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, one of the largest animal sanctuaries in the country and home to a great many rescued dogs, cats, horses, and other animals. Visitors are welcome to tour the sanctuary and even volunteer, and it has become one of Kanab's most beloved attractions. The surrounding desert holds its own wild residents, from mule deer and coyotes to lizards, ravens, and hawks riding the cliffs.
Spring and fall are the prime seasons, with mild weather perfect for exploring the parks and canyons, while summer is hot in the desert lowlands even as the high country stays cooler. Winter is quiet and cold, with occasional snow dusting the red rock and the crowds thinned out, making it a peaceful time to enjoy the town and its striking surroundings.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Kanab
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
About 20 miles northwest
A field of soft, rose-colored sand dunes set against red cliffs, good for hiking, sandboarding, and off-road fun.
Zion National Park
About 40 miles northwest
Utah's most famous park, a towering red-rock canyon carved by the Virgin River.
North Rim of the Grand Canyon
About 80 miles south
The quiet, forested high side of the Grand Canyon, with cool air and sweeping overlooks.
Bryce Canyon National Park
About 75 miles north
The famous amphitheaters of pink and orange hoodoos, glowing at sunrise and sunset.