Some say that the little town of Kanab is in the middle of nowhere. Depending on how you look at it, that could be considered correct. Situated just seven miles north of the Arizona border, this small town in Utah was once almost completely cut off from the rest of the world. To the east, the Colorado River kept travelers at bay. Rough, dirt roads provided the only access from other directions, and short 20-mile trips could take several days. Luckily, US-89 was built, and visitors quickly saw what the residents of Kanab already knew — this place is surrounded on all sides by pure beauty. Take a look at what Kanab has to offer.

If you’re planning a visit to this incredible national park, there’s no better time to visit than during National Park Week. Learn all about this celebration of America’s great outdoors — including fee-free days throughout the year!

Downtown Kanab is set against the stunning red rock beauty of Utah's desert landscape.
Ken Lund/flickr
It was settled in 1864 and is currently home to nearly 5,000 people.
Kanab has several beautiful, historic buildings.
teofilo/flickr
The Rider-Pugh house, shown here, was built in 1892. The house was built by John Rider, an immigrant from Ireland who settled in Utah in 1886.
Visit the Little Hollywood Museum to learn about Kanab's history as THE place to film Westerns.
Little Hollywood Museum/Facebook
Pretty much every famous Western movie was filmed in or near Kanab, it seems. The museum is the perfect day trip destination for both adults and children alike.
Celebrate Jacob Hamblin Days.
Kane County Tourism/Facebook
This annual festival, held every June, celebrates Kanab's western heritage. The highlight of this event is the rodeo.
You'll find several adorable restaurants offering up some tasty food.
Julia A./Yelp
Kanab has quite a few restaurants for a town its size, and you can get a pretty diverse range of food from pizza to burgers to finer dining. Pictured is Rocking V Cafe, located at 97 W. Center Street.
Kanab is also home to roughly 1,600 homeless animals.
Best Friends Animal Society/Facebook
Visit Best Friends Animal Society, a sanctuary for homeless dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, llamas ... pretty much any animal you can imagine. The no-kill sanctuary helps finds homes for these gorgeous animals and is committed to ending the killing of unwanted pets in shelters around the country. Stop by to find your new best friend or just to say hello. This is truly a special place.
The town itself is pretty cool, but it's also surrounded by tons of amazing parks.
davidd/flickr
Kanab is smack-dab in the center of some incredible national and state parks, national monuments, lakes, and more. It's the perfect home base for all your exploration.

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Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is tons of fun.
Jen M./flickr
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is a favorite recreation spot for ATV enthusiasts, but it's also a beautiful location for hiking and enjoying nature. It's just a short half-hour drive west of Kanab.
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is just across the border.
Diana Robinson/flickr
Visit the north rim of the Grand Canyon, just about 1.5 hours south of Kanab, across the Arizona border.
Bryce Canyon National Park is nearby.
Royce Bair/Moment Via Getty Images
Drive north for about 1.5 hours to witness the majestic view and incredible hoodoos and spires of Bryce Canyon National Park.
It's a short, scenic drive to Johnson Canyon.
slashvee/flickr
It's about 37 minutes to get to Johnson Canyon, where you'll enjoy some incredible scenery and can also see the film set from Gunsmoke.
Head to Lake Powell for some boating fun.
Andy Morffew/flickr
Lake Powell is approximately an hour from Kanab along UT-89. Rent a houseboat, jump on some jet skis, and explore this Utah/Arizona treasure.
Zion National Park is just an hour from Kanab.
Jeff Krause/flickr
Utah's most popular national park is gorgeous year round. Visit during the fall and winter months for fewer tourists.
Explore Kodachrome Basin State Park
Jeff Moser/flickr
It's about a two-hour drive to Kodachrome Basin State Park where you'll witness the rich, vibrant colors of Utah's red rock country.
Cedar Breaks National Monument is gorgeous and easily one of the best places to visit in Southern Utah.
Timothy K Hamilton/flickr
The amphitheater of Cedar Breaks National Monument sits over 10,000 feet above sea level and rises 2,000 feet above the valley floor. Pretty impressive, right?

I’m willing to bet that if you’ve done much traveling in Utah, you’ve visited Kanab at least once. What do you love about this small town in Utah? What are some of your favorite things to do in Kanab? Let us know in the comments!

We love Utah’s small towns! Here are seven small towns in Utah with some of the best downtown areas. 

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Small town in Utah

Courtnie Erickson | June 08, 2022

What are some of the best small towns to visit in Utah?

It is almost impossible to narrow down and chose the best small towns in Utah to visit. Each small town in the Beehive State is full of hidden gems and incredible treasures that make it worth any traveler’s time. While Kanab certainly is on the list of the best small towns in Utah, another town in Southern Utah you will not want to miss is Panguitch. Located outside of Bryce Canyon National Park, this small town is the gateway to many outdoor recreational activities. You can fish and camp at Panguitch Lake, grab something delicious to eat at one of the many restaurants in town, or tackle one of the hiking trails in the area.

If you are in northern Utah, Brigham City is a charming small town with a lot to offer. There is a lot of history inside this town, particularly at the tabernacle and downtown area. Plan a visit during Peach Days, one of the longest-running festivals in Utah. And, of course, when hunger strikes, visit Idle Isle Café, one of the oldest operating restaurants in Utah.

What are the best parks in Utah that I should add to my bucket list?

Just like Utah’s small towns, it is almost impossible to narrow down the best parks in Utah to visit. There are the Mighty Five — the five national parks in Utah — that should be on every individual’s bucket list whether you live in Utah or not. However, there are many other parks that are certainly full of unique features and histories like Bear Lake State Park, Antelope Island State Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, and Gunlock State Park.

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Kanab, UT 84741, USA