Hugging Utah’s border with Arizona, Kanab is a lively city that serves as the seat of Kane County. It was founded in 1870 by a group of Mormons and takes its name from the Native American Paiute word for “place of the willows”. Kanab has been nicknamed “Little Hollywood” due to its setting as a filming destination for Western movies.
Things to do in Kanab
Kanab forms part of the “Grand Circle”, which takes in some of Utah’s most iconic natural parks. A short drive west are the shifting dunes of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park while the vast canyon of Zion National Park lies to the north-west. To the north-east of Kanab is Bryce Canyon National Park, famed for its spectacular hoodoos and expansive amphitheatre.
Hollywood memorabilia and vintage movie sets are on display at Little Hollywood Land, which features a museum, an old trading post and a store selling handcrafted Native American wares. In addition to a homestead from the 1973 film “One Little Indian”, its exhibits include a park entrance booth from the 1990 thriller “Desperate Hours”. Western-inspired cuisine is served at the Chuckwagon Cookout.
Just across the border in Fredonia is the Red Pueblo Museum and Heritage Park, which boasts a fascinating collection of Native American artefacts and early pioneer objects. While browsing its exhibits, you can get up close to pottery, tools and arrowheads dating back 1,000 years, as well as vintage moccasins, medicine bags and jewellery. The park also features several heritage buildings that showcase the lifestyle of early settlers.
Getting around Kanab
Kanab is just over an hour’s drive from Page Municipal Airport, which has regular flights to Phoenix. Buses connect to Kanab, although renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Kanab and exploring the surrounding area.