Kanab

How to Get There

From Page, AZ (74 miles): Head northeast on S Navajo Dr toward S Lake Powell Blvd. Turn left at the 1st cross street onto S Lake Powell Blvd. Keep right. Continue straight onto US-89. Turn right onto S 100 E.

Overview

Kanab is a small city of about 5,000 people in southern Utah, on Kanab Creek just north of the Arizona line, and it is known as "Little Hollywood" for the many Western movies and television shows filmed in the area. It is a popular base for visiting Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, the Grand Canyon North Rim, Lake Powell, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, all within about two hours' drive.

People also come to Kanab for the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, the permit-limited hike to The Wave, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, and the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the largest no-kill sanctuary in the country. The small downtown has motels, old-time restaurants, and shops that keep the town's Western character.

History

Mormon pioneers first tried to settle Kanab in the 1860s, but conflict with Native Americans and flooding delayed permanent settlement until the 1870s. The town was a ranching and farming community, and Fort Kanab served as an early military post. In the 1920s and later, filmmakers discovered the red cliffs and desert around town, and dozens of Westerns and television series were shot here, giving Kanab its nickname and a lasting tourism economy.

Sightseeing and Popular Landmarks

Within a short drive are Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Buckskin Gulch, the Vermilion Cliffs, and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which has slot canyons and sandstone formations. The hike to The Wave in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness requires a permit won in a lottery. Visitors also tour the former Western movie sets and the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Angel Canyon, which offers tours by reservation.

Culture and Museums

The Kanab Heritage Museum and the Parry Lodge, a historic hotel that housed film stars in the 1940s and 1950s, tell the story of the town's pioneer and movie history. The Little Hollywood Museum displays old movie sets and props, and the Western Legends Roundup each August celebrates the town's cowboy and film heritage with parades, music, and a rodeo.

Parks

Kanab is surrounded by public land, including Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, where visitors can hike the dunes or ride off-highway vehicles. Kanab Creek Canyon and the nearby Moquith Mountain area have trails, and Kanab's city park has picnic facilities and a swimming pool.

Seasons and Weather

Kanab has a high desert climate at about 4,900 feet. Summers are hot, with highs in the 90s°F, and winters are cool with highs in the 40s and 50s°F and occasional light snow. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for hiking, while late summer brings monsoon thunderstorms and flash-flood danger in slot canyons.

This article uses material from Wikipedia as well as information from official tourism and institutional sources. Key references include Kane County Office of Tourism, Best Friends Animal Society, Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Parks, and National Weather Service Salt Lake City. Wikipedia material is from the article "Kanab, Utah", released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.