Kanab is one of our favorite towns in Southern Utah. It offers remote beauty and outdoor adventures perfect for a family getaway. If you’re planning a trip, this guide will help you find the best places to stay, the best places to eat, and the best things to do in Kanab with kids!
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Best Places to Stay, Eat, and Play in Kanab With Kids
Table of Contents
- Best Places to Stay in Kanab
- Best Places to Eat in Kanab
- Best Things to Do in Kanab with Kids
- Hike along Kanab Creek
- Discover a Hidden Lake
- Visit the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
- Take an ATV tour to the Peekaboo Slot Canyon
- Play at Coral Pink Sand Dunes Sate Park
- Explore the Moqui Sand Caves
- See old movie sets at the Little Hollywood Museum
- Tour the Heritage House Museum
- Book a canyoneering tour
- Go on a scavenger hunt for urban murals
- Play at Jacob Hamblin Park
- Take a hike
Best Places to Stay in Kanab
Timber+Tin
Timber and Tin is the perfect place for families to stay in Kanab. The spacious units are fully stocked with everything from washers and dryers to an Insta-pot and Keurig coffee maker.
Each unit is immaculately clean and beautifully decorated with modern decor. The beds and linens are so comfortable, and thought has been put into every detail.
Our favorite feature is the rooftop deck complete with a hammock and seating area with a fire pit.
The amenities include a pool, hot tub, and a historic barn that has been converted into a movie and game room.
The rates are very reasonable starting at $179 per night, which is such a steal for accommodations like this!
There are only 7 units so be sure to make your reservation in advance before they get booked up!
Red Canyon Cabins
If you are on a budget and looking for an inexpensive place to stay, Red Canyon Cabins offers the best value.
These cute little cabins start at only $56 per night. Rates increase on the weekends and holidays, but are still very reasonable.
Don’t expect all the frills and fancy amenities, but the cabins are clean and comfortable and provide all the basic needs.
A few more places to stay in Kanab:
Kanab has a collection of chain hotels, but if you’re looking for more unique places to stay, here are a few more recommendations:
- Canyons Collection: stay in the elegant Canyons Boutique Hotel, rustic Canyons Lodge, retro Quail Park Lodge, cozy Grand Circle B&B, or contemporary Flagstone Boutique Inn & Suites.
- Parry Lodge: Stay in a charming historic 1940s colonial-style motor lodge at Parry Lodge.
- Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile: If you’re traveling with your furry family members, be sure to check out Best Friends Roadhouse, a pet-friendly hotel in conjunction with the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
- Aiken’s Lodge: Aiken’s Lodge is a retro roadside motel that is cute, clean, and affordable.
- Big Springs Cabins: The rustic Big Springs Cabins are located within the Kiabab National Forest.
- Basecamp 37 Degrees: Try glamping under the stars in these luxury safari-style tents at Basecamp 37 Degrees.
Best Places to Eat in Kanab
- Kanab Drug and Soda Fountain: Grab a sandwich and milkshake from this 1916 drug store.
- Kanab Creek Bakery: This European style bakery prides itself on their pastries and breads. They also serve up mouthwatering plates. Try the Denali breakfast sandwich!
- Rocking V Cafe: Hearty home-cooked dishes, try the meatloaf and homemade bread pudding!
- Sunny Creek Cafe: This permanent food truck serves some of the best coffee in town. Try their egg and avocado croissant breakfast sandwich and strawberry banana smoothie!
- Iron Horse Restaurant and Saloon: Fun atmosphere and the best mesquite-smoked BBQ!
- Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen: Enjoy savory wood-fired pizza on the outdoor patio.
Best Things to Do in Kanab with Kids
Hike along Kanab Creek
This Kanab Creek water hike is a bit of a hidden gem.
Take Hwy 89 north for about 5 miles outside of Kanab, then turn right onto Angel Canyon Road (also known as Kanab Canyon Road). This will take you by the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
The paved road will turn into a maintained dirt road just past the welcome center.
Continue on the dirt road for about 1.4 miles then take a right and continue a short distance until you see a small parking area just above the creek.
I have pinned the exact location in the map below:
There is a sandy area at the top where you can have a picnic and watch the kids splash in the water.
Carefully make your way down to the creek where the water level varies from ankle deep to waist high.
You can explore both up and downstream. I’m not sure how far you can go, we just walked up a little way until it was up to our waist then turned back.
It’s a fun place to cool off in the summer and you can even see little fish and tadpoles in the stream. Just avoid the area when it is raining or during flood season as it is prone to flash flooding.
Discover a Hidden Lake
If you continue up the dirt road about 1.5 miles past Kanab Creek, you’ll discover Hidden Lake, or Crocodile Lake.
You’ll need 4WD, preferably an ATV, to reach the lake as the road has spots with deeper sand. You can also walk the 1.5 miles from the creek.
The Hidden Lake can be found inside a cave at the base of towering sandstone cliffs.
The water seeps up from an underground spring, resulting in a fertile green oasis in the midst of the surrounding desert.
Early settlers used the cave as a cooler. They would put goods inside of a tethered rowboat then the cool cave temperatures would keep the perishable items refrigerated.
Visit the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary spreads over 20,000 acres and is the largest sanctuary for homeless animals in the US.
Visiting the sanctuary is a unique and memorable experience. They openly welcome visitors to take a free guided tour and even play and interact with the animals.
Your family can even sign up to take a dog out on a field trip for the day to hike and play.
Stop by the Angel Village Cafe where you can enjoy a $5 vegetarian buffet with spectacular views over Angel canyon.
The visitor center offers interactive educational experiences and information about special events and volunteering opportunities.
Explore the expansive grounds where you can walk the Angels Overlook Trail, have a picnic on the grass at the rock amphitheater, and see the Disney Barn that was part of a movie set.
Take an ATV tour to the Peekaboo Slot Canyon
This stunning sandstone slot canyon can only be accessed by 4WD. The trail is open to the public and can be found off Hwy 89 between mile markers 72 and 73.
However, the sand on the trail is deep at parts so only attempt it if you have the proper vehicle and experience driving in sand.
An ATV tour is highly recommended. We booked an ATV tour with the Kanab Tour Company and had such a great experience.
The slot canyon rivals in beauty to Page’s Antelope Canyon with swirls of pink sandstone and sun rays filtering through the roof.
Not only did we get to explore the slot canyon on the tour, but we also had the chance to try sandboarding, visit Indian ruins and petroglyphs, discover the Hidden Lake, and visit the Angel’s Resting Place pet cemetery.
Play at Coral Pink Sand Dunes Sate Park
My boys had the best time playing on the sand dunes at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. They spent hours climbing, running, jumping, digging, and sliding down the dunes.
We brought boogie boards to slide down, but sand boards are available for rent at the visitor center. Saucer sleds also work great.
For more information about visiting these dunes, check out our guide 4 Reasons Why Kanab is Southern Utah’s Best Kept Secret.
Explore the Moqui Sand Caves
These unique man-made sand caves are easily accessible just off of Hwy 89. A short scramble up the sandstone mountain will lead to these caves that were once used to mine sand to make glass.
The large openings allow light to fill the cave, making for beautiful photos. Your kids will also like exploring back into the dark recesses of the cave and playing in the deep sand.
Be sure to stop at the Moqui Cave museum just up the road from the cave. This museum and gift shop is housed in a cave within the mountain.
More information and directions can also be found on our guide.
See old movie sets at the Little Hollywood Museum
The Little Hollywood Museum houses an extensive collection of old movie sets from westerns filmed right here in and around Kanab.
It is free to walk around and explore this little piece of history. My boys had fun peeking in windows, opening doors, and exploring hidden corners.
The Trading Post also includes a gift shop and restaurant offering chuck wagon cookouts. Make reservations for this dutch oven dinner with live western entertainment.
Tour the Heritage House Museum
This Victorian-style house was built in 1894 and was home to many prominent families in town. It was considered to be the “first modern home in Kane County”.
The ornate home has since been refurbished and converted into a museum that chronicles the history of Kanab.
Free guided and self-guided tours are offered daily. Pop in and listen to fascinating stories shared by the knowledgeable docents.
Check the calendar of events for demonstrations and hands-on experiences held throughout the month.
Book a canyoneering tour
Book a canyoneering tour with All Ways Adventures for a family adventure that suits everyone ages 5 and up, even grandparents!
Your knowledgeable tour guide will take you on a personal tour to a hidden slot canyon away from the crowds.
No experience is needed as you learn to rappel down into the canyon.
The particular canyon that we visited had a total of 8 rappels and an awesome natural rock slide. The tours vary in location and length. We did the half-day canyoneering tour that lasted about 5 1/2 hours.
This really is the best way to enjoy the incredible beauty while having an incredible adventure at the same time!
Go on a scavenger hunt for urban murals
Several colorful murals depicting the history and beauty of Kanab and the surrounding area can be found around town.
Go on a self-guided scavenger hunt to discover these colorful works of art. They can be found on the walls of places like the visitor center, grocery store, motels, and even the gas station.
Some of them are even within walking distance of each other. Check Visit Southern Utah for more information and to find the locations for each of the murals.
Play at Jacob Hamblin Park
When traveling with kids it’s nice to have a spot for them to run around and get their energy out. Jacob Hamblin Park is the perfect spot to do just that.
The shaded park offers a playground, splash pad, tennis courts, basketball courts, skate park, and the city pool.
Grab a pizza then relax and enjoy a picnic lunch or dinner while the kids play.
Take a hike
Kanab is surrounded by countless trails just waiting to be explored. Our favorite hike is the Toadstools Trail about 40 minutes east of Kanab.
The short 1.5-mile round trip trail leads to a sea of hoodoos and toadstools perfect for climbing and exploring.
See our guide for more information and details. There are also several popular trails located near town.
Hiking trails in Kanab:
- Tom’s Canyon Loop: This 3.5-mile round trip trail is easily accessible from town and follows along a fairly easy and scenic trail to Tom’s Canyon.
- K Hill Trail: Hike to the letter “K” painted on the mountain on this short 2-mile round trip trail.
- Squaw Trail: This 2.5-mile round trip trail climbs 800 feet up the Vermillion Cliffs through a series of switchbacks. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with magnificent views and a picnic table to take a rest.
I hope this guide helps you discover the best things to do in Kanab with kids on your next family vacation!
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- Three Perfect Days in Southern Utah
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- First Time Guide to Lake Powell
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Thank you! You had lots of new info I’ve never found about Kanab .
I’m so glad it was helpful, enjoy your trip!