For us, Kanab is the best place to set up base for enjoying outdoor adventures in southern Utah. The small town has affordable hotels, great restaurants, a relaxed vibe and lots of fun activities on the doorstep. You’ll find stunning photo spots, otherworldly landscapes, unique slot canyons and one of the most sought after hikes in the US all within easy driving distance of Kanab.
In this guide we show you the 10 things you can’t miss on a first visit to Kanab, Utah based on our own experiences in the area.
Our Experience
During our first Utah road trip in 2019 we missed Kanab because we were focusing on the Mighty 5 national parks. But when we returned for a second road trip through southern Utah in 2021, we made a point of spending 2 nights in Kanab so we could explore its nearby natural landscapes. And we’re so glad we did.
We genuinely loved staying in Kanab, it’s such a great little town. Our hotel was cheap, we ate tasty meals and it had a calming atmosphere. Over the course of 3 days (after leaving Zion and before continuing to Page AZ), we visited each of the places we’ll show you in this guide. Our favorite thing to do near Kanab was hiking The Wave which we’ll cover first below. It’s truly amazing! Read more about us.
1. The Wave
- Location: Wire Pass Trailhead
- Distance: 47 miles from Kanab
- Hike: 6 miles roundtrip
- Time: 3-4 hours
The Wave is one of the most amazing hikes we’ve ever done, and hiking is a major part of how we live, travel and earn money so thats’s a huge statement. We found the 6-mile roundtrip trail across sand and red rocks easy enough by following paper instructions provided by the BLM. But it’s the truly extraordinary climax of swirling patterns and colorful sediment layers at The Wave that were out of this world.
On the downside, you must win a permit to hike The Wave and it’s notorious as the hardest hiking permit to win in the US. But if you can win a permit, this hike is definitely worth it. It’s easily the best thing to do near Kanab and we can’t recommend it highly enough. In total, we spent around 3 hours hiking and taking photos of The Wave, Second Wave, Boneyard and Alcove. Don’t miss it!
READ: How to hike The Wave
2. Buckskin Gulch
- Location: Wire Pass Trailhead
- Distance: 47 miles from Kanab
- Hike: 3-40+ miles
- Time: 2 hours-3 days
Buckskin Gulch is the longest and deepest slot canyon in the United States, and it’s one of the longest slot canyons in the entire world. We carved our way through the narrow and tall canyon walls, passing by boulders, climbing ladders and navigating stagnant pools of water. There were very few others inside the slot canyon so it was great for fun action photos, but the hike did have an eerie feel to it.
We day hiked it as an out-and-back for around 3 hours using Wire Pass as the trailhead (same as The Wave) and this day pass permit. But it can also be hiked one-way from Wire Pass to Lee’s Ferry as a multi-day camping adventure with this overnight permit, which would be a fantastic experience! Please, do not go inside Buckskin Gulch after rainfall because it may flash flood. Otherwise, this is a cool experience near Kanab you shouldn’t miss.
READ: How to hike Buckskin Gulch from Wire Pass
3. Toadstool Hoodoos
- Location: Toadstool Hoodoos Trailhead
- Distance: 45 miles from Kanab
- Hike: 1.6 miles roundtrip
- Time: 2 hours
Toadstool Hoodoos is a short and easy hike leading to unique and photogenic mushroom shaped rock features in a bowl-like landscape. In the late afternoon as the sun was beginning to set, we followed a slaloming dry river wash until it eventually opened up to a huge flat expanse filled with picturesque rock formations.
Along with a handful of others, we stayed for the sunset and it was stunning. If you’re into photography, we think this is a place you shouldn’t miss near Kanab. Parking is easy, it’s a great stop on the drive between Page and Kanab, it’s a family friendly hike and it has very little elevation gain. Overall, we’d say Toadstool Hoodoos is well worth the effort.
READ: How to hike Toadstool Hoodoos
4. Coral Pink Sand Dunes
- Location: Coral Pink Sand Dunes
- Distance: 20.5 miles from Kanab
- Hike: Yes, on sand dunes
- Time: 2-4 hours
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park consists of 3,370 acres of sand dunes on which you can hike, sandboard and drive off road vehicles. We stopped here on the way from Zion to Kanab, and we genuinely loved blasting down the dunes on our sandboard and sled. There were a few fun wipeouts and sand certainly got into places it shouldn’t, but we think it’s definitely worth stopping off for a few hours.
It was actually busier than we expected, but it’s not surprising considering it’s a picturesque and wide open landscape filled with smooth sand dunes, backed by enormous sandstone cliffs. You can hire ATV’s, sandboards and sleds to ride the sand dunes, but take care if it’s a hot day because the whole area is completely exposed.
READ: How to visit Coral Pink Sand Dunes
5. Sand Dune Arch
- Location: Hancock Road
- Distance: 8.5 miles from Kanab
- Hike: Less than 1 mile roundtrip
- Time: 1 hour
Sand Dune Arch is a large and thickset arch bursting out from a flat and sandy landscape. With very few other rock formations in the area, it’s interesting how this standalone arch has been spared from erosion over time. We parked on the side of Hancock Road at the entrance to Kane County Road 788d, walked a dirt road and sand path beyond Party Rock, and eventually reached Sand Dune Arch.
You can drive all the way to Sand Dune Arch if you hire a 4WD high clearance vehicle when you visit Kanab, but 2WD cars should be left on Hancock Road. This is another quick and easy stop to make on your itinerary, and it’s one of the most intriguing things to see near Kanab. We didn’t see a single other person either, so we think it’s a bit of a hidden gem.
6. Belly Of The Dragon
- Location: Belly of the Dragon Trailhead
- Distance: 17 miles from Kanab
- Hike: 0.5-5 miles roundtrip
- Time: 1 hour
Belly of the Dragon is a water drainage tunnel running underneath highway 89 near Kanab and it’s one thing you absolutely should prioritize doing if you’re interested in photography. We were able to create some really fun silhouette photos inside the tunnel, which is filled with lots of boulders and ledges that have been formed by erosion.
Finding the tunnel entrance isn’t easy because it’s not obvious, so use the trailhead location above for your GPS. After walking through the tunnel, we continued to hike up a dry creek bed for maybe another mile, but you could go as far as 2.5 miles. We turned around after reaching a dry waterfall because it required climbing to continue. Definitely don’t miss Belly of the Dragon when you go to Kanab!
READ: How to visit Belly of the Dragon
7. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
- Location: Best Friends Sanctuary
- Distance: 6.7 miles from Kanab
- Hike: No
- Time: 1-2 hours
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is a shelter home to around 1,600 rescued farm animals and domestic pets. You can tour the grounds and animal enclosures, volunteer to help out and even adopt pets on site. We spent an hour looking around the area, fighting not to take home all the animals and we buying merchandise to support the cause. It’s a great stop for families with younger kids.
What we didn’t know was that advanced reservations had to made for tours, so we missed out. If you’re interested, we recommend booking early because it’s a popular thing to do near Kanab and tours are in high demand. You can volunteer at dogtown, cat world or horse haven. The site also has lovely accommodation options which you can use instead of staying in town. This one place animal lovers shouldn’t miss.
8. Moqui Cave Museum
- Location: Moqui Cave
- Distance: 6 miles from Kanab
- Hike: No
- Time: 1 hour
Moqui Cave is a small natural history museum and southern Utah landmark filled with artifacts, rare geological commodities and an eclectic mix of artwork. We took a short guided tour of the museum which was included with a small entrance fee, and we learned that before it was a museum, the cave was once a concert hall and bar which hosted the odd western movie star.
The cave features four rooms including the old bar itself, a gift shop and the old concert hall, which has been transformed into a museum containing fluorescent minerals, rocks and fossils. It only took us around 30 minutes to visit and we enjoyed the story of its history. It’s another easy one to do with the kids, and it’s very close to Kanab.
READ: How to visit Moqui Cave Museum
9. Moqui Caverns Sand Caves
- Location: Sand Caves
- Distance: 6 miles from Kanab
- Hike: 0.5 miles roundtrip
- Time: 1 hour
Moqui Caverns are a small and photogenic series of human-made sand caves near Kanab, located a few hundred feet south from Moqui Cave. After parking, we hiked a short trail and climbed a very steep and slippery slick-rock formation, before skirting around to enter the caves. It’s one of Kanab’s most popular photo spots, especially around sunset when the caverns glow with soft light so don’t miss it if you enjoy photography.
We enjoyed taking photos in the caves and we had them to ourselves which was even better. But the climb was very steep and slippery, so we recommend only trying this one if you’re happy with the scrambling, and make sure you wear robust shoes with good tread. We spent maybe 20 minutes at the caves because it’s not a very large network.
READ: How to visit Moqui Caverns Sand Caves
10. Dinosaur Tracks
- Location: Utah Port of Entry
- Distance: 3 miles from Kanab
- Hike: Steep 0.7 miles roundtrip
- Time: 1-2 hours
Dinosaur tracks is a very short but steep climb up a rocky mound which ends at a plateau with dinosaur prints embedded into the flat summit surface. The Grallator prints are 185 million years old and have been revealed by wind and water erosion over millennia. We parked next to a porta-potty on the south side of the Utah Port of Entry for the hike, grab the exact location above for your GPS.
The climb was steep, on loose dirt and not following any particular beaten path. We had solid shoes on with good grips and we forged our own route to the summit. The dinosaur prints were way better than we expected and the views were far reaching. This is another short stop that’s perfect for families with older kids or couples who want to see dinosaur footprints.
READ: How to hike to the Dinosaur Tracks in Kanab
What Else Can You Do With More Time?
There were many places we didn’t have time to visit when we were in Kanab, which we would definitely consider visiting when we return to the area. Below is a summarized list of the places we’ll try to see next time. Note that many can only be accessed with 4WD or by taking a tour.
1. Great Chamber – Enormous sand cave with photogenic entrance that can only be accessed with 4WD vehicle or with this tour which also combines Peekaboo Canyon. It looks awesome!
2. Peekaboo Canyon – Also known as Red Canyon, this slot canyon has been dubbed “Antelope Canyon without the crowds”. It’s 4WD access only, but this 1.5 hour tour and this 3 hour tour include guided Jeep tour and hiking in Peekaboo Canyon.
3. White Pocket – Alternative to The Wave if you can’t win a permit. Stunning landscape with swirling patterns but requires 4WD and is hard to access, or you can take this tour of White Pocket instead.
4. Red Hollow – Small but picturesque slot canyon near Orderville, so it’s better to visit if you’re visiting Bryce Canyon before or after Kanab. Very lightly trafficked compared to other slots in the area.
5. Mansard Trail – 6-mile roundtrip hike with over 1000 ft elevation gain close to Kanab, with steep switchbacks, a deep sandstone alcove at the summit and ancient petroglyphs along the route. Perfect if you want a good early morning workout near town.
6. Coyote Buttes South – Located very close to The Wave but accessed from a completely different area, The Southern Wave is equally as stunning but lesser known and you must win one of these permits. We highly recommend you apply for this one if you’re unsuccessful with The Wave.
7. Via Ferrata Kanab – Thrill seeking adventure activity near town with climbs up and down metal courses built into rock faces. It’s an organized tour with prices set at $99 adults and $79 youths.
8. Old Paria Ghost Town – Movie set built on the site of an old town called Pahreah which was used back in the 1960’s for westerns. Not far from Toadstool Hoodoos.
9. Grand Canyon North Rim – Finally, it’s only 1 hour 30 minutes from Kanab to Grand Canyon North Rim. If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon and you don’t plan to visit South Rim, we think North Rim should be definitely be on your Kanab itinerary.
So What Can’t You Miss?
We’ve thrown a variety of hikes, photo spots and landscapes at you in this guide. So what are the things you really shouldn’t miss when you visit Kanab? Well, here’s our take on it:
- The Wave – Best day hike
- Buckskin Gulch – Best multi-day hike
- Peekaboo Canyon – Best 4×4 tour
- Coyote Buttes South – Best off the beaten path
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes – Best unexpected surprise
With that said, it all depends on what you prefer to do when you travel. You might find Moqui Cave Museum and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to be your favorite places nearby. But for the majority of people visiting Kanab for the first time, we recommend you prioritize trying to win a permit to hike The Wave. If you can’t get one, try to win a permit for South Coyote Buttes instead.
How Many Days Do You Need In Kanab?
We think 3 days is the perfect amount of time for a first visit to Kanab. The good news is that it’s very easy to combine lots of the natural attractions we’ve included in this guide because they’re close to one another. So if you can organize your route planning effectively, you’ll easily be able to get through lots of great spots in just a few days.
If you only have one day, you should either hike The Wave, or try to tick off several smaller and quicker attractions we’ve covered above. If you can stretch to 3 or 4 full days in Kanab, you can do some of the best hikes in Utah, join a 4×4 tour, tick off all the other smaller places we’ve listed and still have time spare.
We spent 2 nights and 3 days exploring the best spots around Kanab, but almost one full day was taken up with us hiking The Wave. One way we managed to plan efficiently was to stop at attractions northwest of Kanab on the way from Zion to Kanab. Similarly, we left Toadstool Hoodoos until last because we were planning to visit Page next anyway and it’s out that way from Kanab. Plan smart and save time!
What’s The Best Time To Visit Kanab?
March, April, October and November are the best times of year to visit Kanab to benefit from a nice blend of comfortable weather conditions, good value on hotels and reasonable crowd levels. The summer months are extremely hot in Kanab, which can lead to uncomfortable hiking conditions.
We visited Kanab in December 2021 and we think the winter is a fantastic time to travel through southern Utah. Not only did we enjoy great hiking conditions, but there were also very few people around, hotels were incredibly cheap and restaurants were quiet in the evening. The mornings and evenings came in cold, but during the day it was perfect.
Where To Stay
We visited Kanab as part of a multi-month road trip and we’d spent quite a lot of money on accommodation along the way. Kanab shocked us with how affordable its hotels were, and the best part was the quality didn’t drop along with the prices. We stayed at Best Western Red Hills and it was great, but we recommend you have a good look at all the options below to see what works best for your budget and expectations.
Here are the top rated hotels in Kanab:
Budget
Mid Range
Luxury
READ: The 12 best hotels in Kanab Utah
Where To Eat
We were surprised by how many great places there were to eat out in Kanab. It’s overflowing with quality restaurants, cafes and food truck stops. The small city has a wonderfully relaxing and chilled vibe in the evenings, which is perfect for a tasty meal and a cold beer after a full day exploring the surrounding natural landscapes.
Here’s some of the top rated food spots in Kanab:
- Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen
- Sego Restaurant
- Sunny Creek Coffee
- Rocking V Cafe
- Wild Thyme Cafe
- Escobar’s Mexican
We really liked Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen, the pizzas and beers were great. And we also really enjoyed the authentic Mexican food at Escobar’s. We highly recommend both for your visit to Kanab.
More US Southwest
- What to do at Grand Canyon South Rim
- The best Grand Canyon South Rim hikes
- How to visit Horseshoe Bend
- Top things to do in Valley of Fire
- Unmissable hikes in Zion National Park
Want more Utah content? Head over to our Utah Travel Guides to explore the Mighty Five National Parks and beyond.
We hope this best things to do in Kanab guide helps with planning your visit to Utah!
Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.
Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us.
Hi,
This is great info. Did you go to page? Antelope canyon? Do you recommend staying in kanab or page? Upper or lower antelope canyon, or neither? We are 2 adults hiking the wave in nov.
Thx!
Hi Liz, happy to hear you’ll be hiking The Wave, it’s one of the most unique landscapes you’ll see anywhere in the US. Yes, we’ve stayed in both Page and Kanab. We liked both towns but we preferred Kanab overall. It just had a more relaxed vibe. We did Horseshoe Bend for sunrise and sunset in Page but we didn’t do Antelope Canyon, mainly because it’s expensive and busy. But it looks cool, especially if you’re interested in photography. There’s a better time of day to do upper and lower canyons based on direction of light, so make sure you look into it before booking. Have a great trip!
Thx! Happy travels!