Wander through endless slot canyons, explore wild rock formations, and get out in the sand! Find all the best things to do in Kanab Utah besides just visiting the famous Wave. Central to Zion National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante, Lake Powell and so many great destinations, Kanab is the ultimate road trip destination. You’ll realize you could spend months seeing this area!
I’ve been to Kanab twice now and each time I go I just end up adding more things to my bucket list! 📝 There are seriously endless outdoor adventures that you can go on in the area. It’s overwhelming to even decide what you want to do first.
I’ve spent a few weeks in Kanab, so I’ve created this guide for you to plan your trip to Kanab. Get a fantastic list of the best activities as well as tips on when to go, where to stay, and how to get there. I hope you have a fantastic trip!
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Table of Contents
Best Things to Do in Kanab
Go on a 4WD Adventure
Are you ready to explore crazy rock formations and drive over deep sand? Rent a 4WD vehicle, bring your own, or take out an ATV to explore some of the coolest spots in Kanab.
As individuals without a 4WD vehicle, we have only had the fortune of visiting South Coyote Buttes, but wow it blew us away. 🤯 This crazy area has incredible rock formations including its own wave! You will need a permit to visit here, so make sure to apply ahead of time on Recreation.gov.
You can read more about the other incredible destinations below! If you don’t have 4WD you can book tours to these places as well.
4WD Kanab Destinations:
- White Pocket – White Pocket is a group of swirling rock formations in the Vermillion Cliffs area. You can drive here spend a day exploring and even camp here for free!
- Coyote Buttes South – Coyote Buttes South is a wonderful alternative to The Wave. You can see crazy rock formations like the Southern Wave, the Hat, and dinosaur footprints!
- Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon – Take an easy hike into one of the most beautiful slot canyons in the area!
- Great Chamber – Visit the famous cave formation here that is full of sand dunes. It’s an incredible place to photograph!
Explore Grand Staircase Escalante
Large portions of the Grand Staircase Escalante are right in Kanab. This iconic monument is bigger than the state of Delaware with 18 million acres of protected land within Utah. 😮It’s a remote and rugged landscape that encompasses large washes, crazy slot canyons, and bright sandstone cliffs.
Grand Staircase Escalante Sites Near Kanab:
- Cottonwood Narrows
- Toadstool Trail
- Paria Box
- Buckskin Gulch
Wander through Buckskin Gulch
Kanab is home to a couple of insanely gorgeous slot canyons. Including the longest slot canyon in the US, Buckskin Gulch. Buckskin goes on for 70 miles, so hiking it is definitely one of the best things to do in Kanab!
Up for a large adventure? Then, you can backpack from Paria Canyon to Buckskin Gulch. Just apply for a permit and plan in advance! 🏕
But, if you’re just looking for a day excursion, then I recommend hiking from Wire Pass to the Gulch. You’ll climb down a ladder and get into the slot canyon. From there, you can decide how long you want to continue before turning back!
⚠️ If there is rain in the forecast, do not go on this trail! Flash floods can be fatal. ⚠️
Sandboard at Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Coral Pink Sand Dunes is a wonderful state park that is just 30 minutes from downtown Kanab. This state park is home to an area filled with uniquely pink colored sand dunes. It’s the perfect place to go on a family road trip or day adventure!
You can rent a sandboard 🏂 in the park and try your hand at riding down the dunes. But, be careful of completely wiping out! If you’d rather take it slow, then you can wander through the gorgeous dune fields and take stunning photos. Visiting here was one of my fondest memories!
💵 Coral Pink Sand Dunes costs $15 per vehicle!
Hike up to Moqui Caves
Explore a piece of history while you visit these incredible caves that are just outside of town. The Moqui Caves or Kanab Sand Caves were man made in the 1970s to collect sand for glass production.
Now, in order to visit the caves, you can put “Sand Caves Parking” into your GPS. 🗺 From there, it’s about a quarter mile walk to the caves themselves. However, it can be slippery to get up to them so bring shoes with good traction!
Hang on the Water at Lake Powell
Lake Powell is just an hour from Kanab with sandstone formations that line the shores of the water. It’s an incredible place to visit with endless adventures on the water and around it. So, if you are near the area don’t miss a stop here!
Things to Do at Lake Powell
- Kayak or paddleboard to Antelope canyon
- Go for a boat ride
- Drive to Alstrom Point
- Visit the Glen Canyon Dam
Volunteer at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Back in the day, most people visited the town of Kanab to see the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. This sanctuary was started over 35 years ago with the mission to help save abused and abandoned animals. But, it has grown into something much bigger with a mission to help animals everywhere.
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the world! 🐈
Today, you can visit the grounds of the sanctuary, volunteer with the animals, or get a coffee at the cafe. Angel Canyon is a special place where animals are saved on a daily basis, so make sure to stop by!
Visit the Wave
Saving the best for last! Although, visiting The Wave is one of the hardest things to do in the country. They only allow 64 visitors a day! I’ve applied 40 times and still haven’t won the elusive permit. 😢 Still, it’s worth adding to your bucket list!
This incredible rock formation looks like a red wave and creates absolutely stunning photos. Fortunately, you don’t need 4WD to access this site, you just need luck! You can apply to see The Wave 4 months in advance or in the daily lottery two days in advance on recreation.gov. I hope you win permits!
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Planning a Trip to Kanab
How to Get to Kanab
Kanab is centrally located to a plethora of outdoors adventures and is the perfect stop on a road trip. 🚗 However, if you’re just flying in to visit Kanab then Las Vegas is the closest major airport. It’s about a 3 hour drive from Kanab.
I recommend renting a car or driving your own to Kanab. However, a ton of the most incredible adventures in the area require 4WD. So, you may want to look into hiring a jeep for a week or even just a day!
Best Time to Visit Kanab
Kanab is located in the desert, which means that it’s often dry and hot. 🥵 So, the best times to visit are when the temperatures are milder in the spring and fall. We thought that the April weather was absolutely perfect there!
The best times to visit Kanab are the months of September, October, April, and May!
However, you can truly visit all year long! Winter has fewer people with cooler temperatures, so you will just want to layer up. If you visit in the summer, you can expect scorching hot days and heavy rains. However, our local guide says summer is his favorite time of year in Kanab.
Where to Stay in Kanab
Even though Kanab is a small town, it has plenty of great options for lodging. There are glamping, dispersed camping, and hotel options throughout the area. If you are interested in free camping like me you can look at my free campsite map.
Best Lodging in Kanab:
- Comfort Suites Kanab
- Kanab Suites
- Canyons Boutique Hotel
- Basecamp 37° (Glamping Option)
Packing Guide for Your Trip
Kanab is a desert climate, so the most important thing to pack on your trip is plenty of water and sunscreen! 💦 If you plan on exploring the outdoors make sure to pack good layers, comfortable hiking or walking shoes, and a good day pack!
You can find more of my favorite outdoor gears here.
Final Thoughts About Visiting Kanab
Kanab Utah has endless adventures and possibilities! Make sure to add this destination to your next Southwest road trip destination. Don’t worry if you miss out on The Wave, because there are so many incredible alternatives. Enjoy this wonderful area and its unbelievable beauty!
Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this guide!
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I absolutely love this area of the country! I haven’t been to Coral Pink, but I sandboarded in Great Sand Dunes, and it was SO fun!