Kanab, Utah, in a nutshell
Kanab lies in southern Utah, about 4,900 feet (1,500 m) above sea level and close to the Arizona border. The town itself is small. What draws people is the country around it: the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona with The Wave and White Pocket, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, the Toadstool Hoodoos, the slot canyons of Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch, and Zion and Bryce Canyon within a day's drive.
Some of these places are easy. Others need a lottery permit, a high-clearance 4x4 or a guide. This is an independent guide. It is not run by the county, the parks or any tour operator. Permits are issued only through recreation.gov and the BLM, and this site sells none.
Getting to Kanab
You will need a car for almost everything.
From Las Vegas
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is about 4 hours by car, according to Best Friends. Kanab uses Mountain Time, and Las Vegas is one hour behind.
From St. George
St. George Regional Airport (SGU) is about 1.5 hours away.
From Page
The airport at Page is about 1 hour 15 minutes away. Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell lie beyond Page and are covered in our sister guide to Arizona. During Utah daylight saving time, Kanab is one hour ahead of Page.
No public transit
Best Friends states that Kanab has no public transit. Plan to rent a car or join a guided tour, especially for the remote trailheads.
Our picks: Kanab tours
White Pocket by 4x4, the dunes by UTV and a slot canyon near town.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided 4x4 group trip to White Pocket
A guided group drive in an off-road vehicle with an experienced guide. Food and drinks are not included.
Check availability →
UTV ride, slot canyon and sand surfing at the dunes
A guide, the UTV ride, sandboards and water. Goggles, a neck scarf and park entry are not included.
Check availability →Peekaboo slot canyon tour by off-road vehicle
Off-road transport, a local guide and water. Other food and drinks are not included.
Check availability →Kanab tours and day trips
Guided 4x4 trips, slot canyon outings and day trips around Kanab, with live prices and availability.
The main sights around Kanab
The landscapes that bring most visitors.
The Wave, Arizona
How the monthly and daily lotteries work, what the permit costs and the unmarked 6.4-mile hike.
White Pocket
Swirling sandstone reached by deep-sand tracks, and how to get there with a guide.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Entry, sandboarding and the rules for off-highway vehicles.
Toadstool Hoodoos
A short walk through a wash to balanced-rock hoodoos on US 89.
Buckskin Gulch and Wire Pass
Day-use fees, the short Wire Pass walk and flash flood rules.
Vermilion Cliffs
Which areas need permits, and what the roads are like.
Plan your trip
Animals, national parks, weather and places to sleep.
Things to do in Kanab
Twelve experiences from the Moqui Cave to Little Hollywood and Zion.
Kanab tours compared
White Pocket and South Coyote Buttes day trips with published 2026 prices.
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Where it is, when it is open and how the free tours work.
Zion and Bryce Canyon from Kanab
Drive times, 2026 entry fees and the new vehicle size limits.
Kanab weather
Monthly temperatures, the monsoon and when to go.
Where to stay
Kanab, the road to Zion east, the Page side and camping.
What to know in autumn 2026
Status as of 20 October 2026. Conditions change, so check again before you drive.
Unpaved roads near Kanab
In the BLM road report of 16 October 2026, House Rock Valley Road was rated 2WD high clearance, with muddy sections north of Wire Pass. Cottonwood Road was closed and the Paria Movie Set Road was impassable after washouts.
Vermilion Cliffs →Zion-Mount Carmel Highway
A rockfall on 30 September 2026 closed the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Visitor access resumed on 9 October 2026. Gravel remains in the repair area for now, and paving is announced for later.
Zion and Bryce →Grand Canyon North Rim
The Grand Canyon North Rim is open until 30 November 2026 or the first major snowstorm, but the campground and gas station have closed for the season. Cape Royal Road and Point Imperial Road are closed from sunset on 15 October until sunrise on 3 November 2026, and the North Kaibab Trail is closed down to Phantom Ranch.
The Wave has no walk-in draw
The daily lottery runs on a phone inside a geofence, two days before the hike, from 6 am to 6 pm Utah and Navajo time. An application costs $6, and winners pay $7 per person or dog.
The Wave →National park fees for visitors from abroad
New in 2026 and easy to miss.
The $100 supplement
Non-US residents aged 16 and over pay $100 each on top of the regular entry at Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon. It is per person, not per vehicle, unless a valid annual pass covers you.
Annual passes
The Non-Resident Annual Pass costs $250 in 2026. The Resident Annual Pass costs $80. Fee-free days apply only to US residents.
Not covered by park fees
These fees do not replace Coyote Buttes permits or Utah state park fees. Paria and Buckskin day use gets no pass discount.
More independent guides to Arizona and southern Utah
Separate guides from the same team.
Kanab, Utah: frequently asked questions
What is Kanab known for?
Kanab is a base for sandstone country: The Wave and White Pocket in Arizona, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, slot canyons and hoodoos, plus Zion and Bryce Canyon. The town also has a film history, with the Little Hollywood Museum on Center Street, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary a few miles north.
How do I get to Kanab?
Most visitors fly into Las Vegas (about 4 hours by car) or St. George (about 1.5 hours). The airport at Page is about 1 hour 15 minutes away. Kanab has no public transit, so you need a car or a tour.
Do I need a permit for The Wave?
Yes. The Wave is in Coyote Buttes North and needs a day permit from a monthly or daily lottery on recreation.gov. There is no walk-in draw. White Pocket needs no visitor permit for an ordinary visit, and Wire Pass needs a $6 day-use pass.
How far are Zion and Bryce Canyon from Kanab?
Zion is about 30 minutes to the east entrance and about 1 hour to the south entrance. Bryce Canyon is about 90 minutes, as a rough guide. Entry in 2026 is $35 per private vehicle at both parks, plus $100 for each non-US visitor aged 16 and over.
When is the best time to visit Kanab?
NOAA climate normals for 1991 to 2020 show average highs of 69°F (20.7°C) in April, 79°F (25.9°C) in May and 73°F (22.6°C) in October, against 94°F (34.6°C) in July. January highs average 49°F (9.7°C). The monsoon runs roughly from 15 June to 30 September. See the weather page for monthly figures and flash flood advice.
Is this the website of the county or the parks?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by Kane County, the BLM, the National Park Service, Utah State Parks, Best Friends or any hotel or tour operator, and prices shown are those published at the time of writing.