Amazing encounters in a historically significant high-desert village Looking out to the neighboring Vermilion Cliffs, an elderly Kanab resident remarked, “The red dirt just kind of gets in your soul.” The overwhelming beauty of Kanab’s surroundings astounds the majority of visitors. The high-desert hamlet is surrounded by red mountains that stand out sharply against the seemingly endless blue skies. A journalist has called Kanab a “picturesque community where snow-white, billowy clouds provide a stunning canvas for clear azure skies.” It’s here that the invigorating aroma of sage and cedar fills the clear southwest air. The pinion woods tucked between the towering red rock cliffs and the far-off mesas are bathed in a beautiful golden light overhead. I’ll visit Kanab as frequently as I can, knowing that its kind people, breathtaking mesas, and slower way of life are waiting for me there.
Base Camp: Kanab
Kanab is becoming known across the country as a distinctive vacation spot. It’s easy to argue that this location on Earth is unmatched in its abundance of natural wonders. Astute travelers utilize Kanab as a “base camp” to take advantage of the abundance of recreational options nearby. An hour and a half’s journey will take you to amazing locations including the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon, and Zion national parks, in addition to the Grand Staircase Escalante and Vermilion Cliffs National Monuments. Remember also to include lesser-known locations like the Kaibab and Dixie national forests, Cedar Breaks, Cedar Mountain, Coral Pink Sand Dunes and Kodachrome Basin state parks, and Pipe Spring National Monument.
People travel from all over the world to trek The Wave, White Pocket, Paria Box Canyon, Peek-a-Boo, Buckskin Gulch, and Coyote Buttes, to mention a few of the wonderful places. The wilderness is unmatched. There are several knowledgeable guides in the area who can tour you about on horseback or in off-road or four-wheel drive cars if you’re not like hiking but still want to see some amazing sites.
Historical Backgrounds Hollywood first became aware of the stunning scenery and untamed terrain of southern Utah in the 1930s. Since then, Kanab has been dubbed “Little Hollywood” due to the production of more than 200 Westerns, TV shows, and feature films in this distinctive region.
Prehistoric times are when history began. In actuality, the region has yielded the discovery of more than 20 new dinosaur species. Numerous ancient Indian cultures called the spectacular red cliffs and canyons home; pictographs and fragments of their pottery may be found all over the place. The early Mormon Pioneers, whose descendants continue to grow cattle and crops in the region, were the ones who most recently settled in the little settlements of southern Utah.
Kanab is considered the “Heart of the Parks” because of all that it has to offer. You can come here, unpack only once, and spend as much time as you like exploring southern Utah’s breathtaking surroundings. You may enjoy the breathtaking environment, friendly locals, and laid-back vibe of Kanab. You’ll make some amazing memories from your trip off the main road.