
Kanab, Utah, is a small town, but with a big personality. It’s located among red cliffs and desert valleys in the southwest corner of the state.
People call it “Little Hollywood” because of its film history. These days, people love it as a hub for outdoor adventure.
Most visitors use Kanab as a base for exploring famous parks like Zion, Bryce, and Lake Powell. But the town itself has plenty going on…
You’ll find slot canyons, sand dunes, historic museums, and even animal sanctuaries. Kanab invites you to slow down and discover something new each day.
Local inns, cabins, and boutique hotels make it easy to settle in. The friendly atmosphere just makes you want to stay.
Maybe you want to hike through narrow sandstone walls. Or you’re learning about movie sets, or volunteering with rescued animals.
Kanab gives you a mix of adventurous experiences. It’s the kind of place where you can do a little bit of everything.
In this article, I explore 10 of the best things to do here. Each one has its own story and vibe, so you can plan a trip that balances exploration, history, and relaxation in one unforgettable corner of Utah.
Let’s begin!
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Don’t miss: Utah Travel Ideas: 10 Beautiful Small Towns You Should Visit
Keep in mind: Our articles may contain errors, despite our best efforts. So, do thorough research before deciding on a travel destination.
1. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
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Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park sits a short drive from Kanab and feels like a sea of soft red sand. The dunes formed from Navajo sandstone as steady winds funneled through the nearby mountains.
You can hike along the ripples, try sandboarding, or take an ATV tour on designated routes. Keep an eye out for wildlife tracks and small plants that hold on in this dry environment. The park’s elevation brings cooler evenings, which makes sunset walks pleasant most of the year.
A fun fact: scientists documented a beetle here that lives only in these dunes.
There are basic facilities, picnic spots, and campgrounds if you want a simple night under the stars.
If you prefer staying in town, Kanab has easy options like Best Friends Roadhouse (pet-friendly), Canyons Boutique Hotel, Hampton Inn, and Red Canyon Cabins.
Many visitors pair the park with nearby scenic drives along Highway 89. Plan for loose sand, bring extra water, and check conditions if you’re visiting after wind or rain, since the dunes shift and change with the weather.
Read also: How to Have a Great Time in St. George, Utah, with these 10 Must-Do Experiences
2. Buckskin Gulch
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Buckskin Gulch is a long slot canyon that attracts hikers who like narrow passageways and tall sandstone walls. The canyon stretches for many miles, with sections where the walls rise high and light filters down in thin beams.
Many people start at Wire Pass for a shorter way into the canyon, then turn around at chokepoints or deep pools. This area has a long human story. Archaeologists have found artifacts and petroglyphs nearby that show how people traveled through and around these canyons long ago.
The main hazard is flash flooding, so checking the forecast and local updates is important, especially in summer storm season. Sturdy shoes that handle mud and water help a lot.
After your hike, it’s easy to relax back in Kanab at places like La Quinta Inn & Suites, Canyons Lodge, or Holiday Inn Express. You’ll find food, gear shops, and guided tour companies in town.
If you want more canyon time without a full-day commitment, consider an out-and-back section and keep an eye on turnaround times to avoid hiking in the dark.
Read next: Exploring Moab, Utah: 10 Best Things to Do for an Unforgettable Adventure
3. The Wave (Coyote Buttes North)

(The Wave, Kanab, Utah, USA – Photo by Stephen Crane)
The Wave is a sandstone formation known for curved bands of red, orange, and yellow rock that look like slow-moving swells. It sits within the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs area and requires a permit from land managers.
Permits are limited, so many travelers plan ahead or try for a day-before lottery when they arrive in the region. The rock here began as ancient sand dunes that hardened into Navajo sandstone, then eroded into the smooth shapes you see today.
The hike is mostly across open desert with little shade, so sturdy shoes, sun protection, and plenty of water matter. A paper map or GPS track also helps because parts of the route feel like a maze of slickrock and drainages.
After your visit, you can base yourself in Kanab at Canyons Boutique Hotel, Best Friends Roadhouse, or Hampton Inn for an early start and a simple return.
If permits are not available, consider nearby trails and viewpoints around House Rock Valley Road, which share similar geology without the crowds or permit needs.
Must read: The Top 10 Things to See & Do in Utah
4. Wire Pass Trail

(Wire Pass Trail, Utah, USA by Rick Bradley, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Wire Pass Trail offers a shorter route into narrow sandstone slots and connects with Buckskin Gulch. The hike crosses sandy wash bottoms and then funnels into tight walls where light paints stripes across the rock.
It’s a good option for families or hikers who want slot canyon scenery without a full-day effort. You’ll likely see evidence of past floods, like driftwood lodged above your head and smooth curves carved into stone.
This landscape holds traces of ancient travel, and nearby rock panels show petroglyphs that tell part of that story. Always check weather conditions, as even a distant storm can send water through these passageways.
Bring extra water, grippy shoes, and a small headlamp in case you stay late in the day. Back in Kanab, lodging like Red Canyon Cabins, Canyons Lodge, and La Quinta Inn & Suites makes it easy to plan a relaxed evening.
Many visitors pair Wire Pass with a scenic drive along House Rock Valley Road and a stop for food in town before or after their hike.
5. Little Hollywood Movie Museum
Little Hollywood Movie Museum celebrates Kanab’s long relationship with film and TV production, especially Westerns. For decades, crews came to use the red cliffs and open valleys as stand-ins for frontier towns and desert places.
At the museum, you can walk through outdoor sets, peek at props, and read about the shows and movies that filmed here. It’s a fun way to see how a quiet community turned into a working backlot for period scenes and action sequences.
Staff and displays have many stories about extras, set builders, and how the local economy adapted to visiting film crews. The museum is right in town, so it’s easy to fit into a day of exploring.
Nearby lodging includes Canyons Boutique Hotel, Holiday Inn Express, and Best Friends Roadhouse, which make simple bases for walking to restaurants and shops.
If you like history, you can pair the museum with a short walk past old storefronts and mural spots that show the area’s film past. Plan an hour or two, and leave time for questions. Locals often have their own production memories…
6. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary spreads across Angel Canyon just north of Kanab and focuses on care, adoption, and education for animals. Visitors can book a tour to see different areas for dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, horses, and farm animals.
Many people volunteer for a half day, helping with simple tasks like socializing pets or tidying spaces. The sanctuary began in the 1980s and has supported shelters across the country with training and programs.
The canyon setting adds a peaceful background, with red walls and quiet trails around the property. You can visit on your way into town or spend a full day learning about the care model and adoption stories.
In Kanab, Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile is pet-friendly and offers small perks geared to guests traveling with animals.
Other nearby places like Canyons Lodge or Hampton Inn work well if you want quick access to restaurants and gear shops. Reserve ahead in busy seasons, and check the sanctuary’s calendar for special events.
7. Moqui Cave
Moqui Cave is located in a sandstone outcrop north of Kanab and mixes a natural cave setting with a small museum. Inside, you’ll see displays of Native American artifacts, minerals, and fossils, including a room where rocks glow under black light.
The space once served as a roadside stop before shifting into education and history. Nearby, people have documented dinosaur tracks on exposed sandstone, which adds a prehistoric angle to the visit.
Short paths and shaded areas make this an easy stop between longer hikes. Staff have many local stories about early settlers, geology, and how the cave became part of Kanab’s tourist loop.
When you finish, you can head back to town and relax at Canyons Boutique Hotel, Red Canyon Cabins, or La Quinta Inn & Suites.
This is a good pick for a mid-day break, especially when desert heat makes longer hikes less comfortable. Tip: Bring a light jacket as caves can feel cool even on warm afternoons.
8. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers a wide area of canyons, cliffs, and plateaus stretching across southern Utah. The “staircase” name refers to a series of rock layers that step up from the Grand Canyon region toward Bryce Canyon.
You’ll find slot canyons, natural arches, and outcrops with fossils and traces of ancient life. The monument includes remote zones where dirt roads and wash crossings require careful planning and extra supplies.
Many visitors begin with scenic drives along Highway 89 or short hikes near trailheads closer to town, then branch out to longer routes when they understand the terrain.
The area’s geology tells a story of oceans, deserts, and rivers over millions of years.
In Kanab, hotels like Canyons Lodge, Hampton Inn, and Best Friends Roadhouse make simple bases for day trips.
Ask at local visitor centers for current road conditions: recent storms can change access in a single afternoon. Tip: Start early, pack more water than you think you’ll need, and keep an eye on the weather and daylight.
9. Kanab Canyon (Kanab Trail)
Kanab Trail begins near downtown Kanab and climbs a set of switchbacks to a mesa above town. The path is steady but not technical, and most hikers reach viewpoints in a couple of hours.
Along the way, you’ll see how water and wind shape the sandstone, with shelves, ledges, and small pockets that collect soil and plants. Locals have used this route for many years to reach higher ground and enjoy evening views.
The top looks across Kanab’s streets to the Vermilion Cliffs and surrounding valleys. Tip: Bring sun protection and sturdy shoes as the switchbacks feel exposed on warm days. Because the trail starts close to services, it works well as a morning or sunset plan.
Afterward, you can grab food in town and head back to Canyons Lodge, Holiday Inn Express, or Canyons Boutique Hotel. If you have extra time, add a short walk through downtown to see murals and small shops that highlight Kanab’s film and ranching history.
10. Day trips to Zion, Bryce, and Lake Powell
Kanab makes a practical base for visiting Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and Lake Powell without changing hotels each night.
Zion’s cliffs and river walks sit to the west, Bryce’s hoodoos rise to the north, and Lake Powell stretches across the Colorado River basin to the east. Drive times vary by route and traffic, so early starts help you find parking and cooler temperatures.
Many visitors pick one destination per day, then return to Kanab for dinner and rest. This plan means you can adjust for weather or crowds. In town, Best Friends Roadhouse, Hampton Inn, and Canyons Boutique Hotel offer simple access to food, fuel, and gear shops.
You’ll also find small cafés, bakeries, and markets for grab-and-go lunches.
Useful Tips: Check park updates for shuttle schedules, trail closures, and safety notices. Bring layers, water, and maps, and remember that desert sun and altitude can make hikes feel harder than expected.
Ending each day back in Kanab makes for a flexible and comfortable adventure…
Until next time…
