Kanab

Kanab - The North

The approach to Kanab from the north is along US 89 from Zion National Park and Mt Carmel Junction; from the junction, the road climbs up the side of Long Canyon, past the 'Belly of the Dragon', a surprisingly popular attraction, since it is merely a drainage tunnel underneath the road, and past the Elkhart Cliffs slot canyon (also known as Diana's Throne), then crosses the Sand Hills, a large expanse of dunes and bushy flats, before turning south and descending into Three Lakes Canyon, which soon meets the larger Kanab Canyon. Across the hills are various side tracks, good for primitive camping; one such track, very sandy, accesses Peekaboo Canyon, or Red Canyon, the most popular slot canyon in the vicinity.

Kanab Tours

Selected excursions around Kanab; some places, in particular Great Chamber and Peekaboo Canyon, need 4WD to access, so a guided tour is often the best way to visit.

Kanab - Sites Close to Town

Closer to town, another side road continues upstream along Kanab Canyon to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, supposedly the largest animal refuge in the US - near here, on the walls of the canyon, are a few rock art panels, and also Hidden Lake, an unusual pool in a cave at the base of a photogenic sandstone cliff. Closer to town are Moqui Cave and the Sand Caves, a series of excavations in the cliffs. The town itself has a compact center, about ten blocks square, with most facilities along the two main roads, US 89 north and east, US 89A south. Two popular trails start right at the edge of town - Squaw Canyon and Tom's Canyon. Kanab Creek flows past the western edge, in a shallow valley, following US 89A towards Fredonia in Arizona and continuing its long journey to the Grand Canyon across the great empty plains of the Arizona Strip.

Kanab - The East

To the east, US 89 runs all along the base of the Vermilion Cliffs, which are mostly continuous for 6 miles, split by just a few canyons. Because of its archetypal Western appearance, the rolling, empty land below the cliffs has been used as the setting for a number of movies, such as the Desperadoes, Mackenna's Gold and Outlaw Josey Wales. One popular hike along this section is the Mansard Trail which climbs the escarpment and crosses a plateau, ending at an elevated alcove containing pictographs and petroglyphs. The first major break in the Vermilion Cliffs is Johnson Canyon, where a road, paved for 16 miles, heads north accessing several more remote attractions, generally requiring 4WD, including Inchworm Arch and the Great Chamber.

Featured Hikes near Kanab