4 natural wonders to visit near Kanab

4 natural wonders to visit near Kanab

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KANAB — Just seven miles north of the Utah/Arizona border is a small town of Kanab. For many years following its first settlers in 1864, Kanab was one of the most isolated cities in the nation. Being cut off by the Colorado River to the east, and treacherous terrain near Arizona and Las Vegas, this small town had very little in the way of inhabitants and visitors.

However, over the years, with new roads making access to and through Kanab possible, the once secluded town has become the grounds for hundreds of movies and TV series. It has also become a place visitors from all over the world call “the heart of the parks.”

Located within 90 minutes of three national parks, five national monuments, a well-known recreational area, two state parks and two national forests, Kanab sits centrally between the greatest concentration of natural wonders anywhere on earth.

Here are some recommended things to experience while on a trip to Kanab.

Lake Powell

Located 70 miles east of Kanab, this 186-mile-long reservoir has something for everyone. Visitors can go fishing, boating, kayaking, swimming, camping, sight-seeing or even build one-of-a-kind sand sculptures on a piece of the lake’s 2,000 miles of shoreline. One trip here and you’ll be hooked.

North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Known as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is the less visited of the two rims. Located just 70 miles from Kanab, visitors can enjoy all the canyon has to offer, in a more secluded and personal atmosphere.

The North Rim is also home to the world-renowned Grand to Grand Ultra race. With a limit of 10 participants per country, this seven-day, 170-mile race ends at the next place on the list — the Grand Staircase National Monument.

Grand Staircase National Monument

With its close proximity (1.1 miles) to the monument, visitors can have breakfast in Kanab and take a leisurely walk to experience one of the nation’s newest monuments … and even be back by lunchtime.

This remote area contains 200 million years of the earth's history. With a wide variety of fossils dating back to the triassic period, the Grand Staircase is easily a scientist’s laboratory and a child’s playground.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes

Just a 50-minute drive from the heart of Kanab, this state park is one-of-a-kind. Created by fierce winds, blowing the sand off of the nearby red rocks or sandstone, the sand dunes have a unique pink color that gives these 10,000-year-old marvels their name.

Visitors can ride ATV’s, hike, play or even sand board on the dunes. It is one big sandbox playground.

Inside the city itself, there are many things to offer. A visit to Western Legends to learn about movies filmed in the area will spark your inner movie buff. Time spent at the nation’s largest animal sanctuary will give you appreciation for all living things. A ride down Kanab’s zipline may just give you enough adrenaline to last for days.

For more things to do while on a visit to Kanab, go to visitsouthernutah.com, or go to the Facebook page.


Arianne Brown is a mother of six who loves running the beautiful trails around Utah. For more articles by her, "like" her Facebook page by searching "A Mother's Write" or visit her blogs, timetofititin.com or thestoriesofyourlife.wordpress.com.

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