Locals refer to Kanab as "Little Hollywood" due to its history as a filming location for mostly western movies and television series such as Stagecoach, The Lone Ranger, Gunsmoke, Daniel Boone, El Dorado, The Outlaw Josey Wales and Sergeants 3. This location is no doubt chosen because of its diverse western geologic scenery like its coral pink cliffs and sand dunes, its deep canyons and its majestic mountains and plains. This area was first settled in 1864 and the town was founded in 1870 when ten Mormon families moved into the area. Kanab is in the center of the "Grand Circle" area which includes Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon (North Rim), Zion National Park and Lake Powell. Other nearby natural attractions include Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, the privately owned Moqui Cave and the largest animal sanctuary in the United States, Best Friends Animal Society.
Kanab is located seven miles north of the Arizona border on U.S. Alternate 8, and is centrally located between Las Vegas, NV, Phoenix, AZ, Albuquerque, NM, Denver, CO and Salt Lake City, UT. One of Kanab’s most rarified sites is The Wave, referred to as Nature’s Sistine Chapel. Located along the Utah/Arizona border, in the middle of the desert, its exact location is kept hidden by the Bureau of Land Management. There is no trail leading to or from it and you will need a rare hiking permit to make this three-mile unmarked, cross-country hike in the desert to find. Get the most of this western wonderland when you stay at one of our Choice Hotels in Kanab. Enjoy affordable rates and everything you need for your Utah getaway. Book online now!