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Kanab, Page And Surrounding Area Guide

https://www.where2goguides.com/g/wendy-and-justin/kanab-and-page

There is a lot to see in this area, from hikes to whimsical geologic wonderlands to quirky museums and historical places. We always plan to spend a few days here!

Activities / Places

#1.Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

want to go park hiking / walking

#2.The Belly of the Dragon trailhead

want to go trailhead caving
Human-made tunnel that is fun to explore

Notes

    • Short walk to a tunnel; link here is to the parking

#3.Elkheart Cliffs Slot Canyon trailhead

trailhead hiking / walking
Sandy trail to dry, colorful slot canyon

Notes

    • Also called Diana's Throne canyon, it is short but beautiful; red walls are sculpted look a bit like a small Antelope canyon.
    • About a mile to the upper end of the narrows; some obstacles that may stop you (recommend bringing some webbing or a short rope)
    • A suitable parking area for Elkheart Cliffs Canyon is at the start of two sandy tracks that join the northeast side of US 89 between miles 78 and 79 (fine with a regular car)
    • There are many trails on the hillside; look for the one that heads down a steep, sandy slope into the wash. Head right once you hit the wash to find the canyon. Having an app like Gaia or All Trails is useful for this hike.
  • Lovely canyon; a bit of a sandy slog to get there but worth it.
    -- From visit in 2024

#4.Orderville Mine Rock Shop

shop

Notes

  • Meh, lots of uninteresting rocks.
    -- From visit in 2024

#5.The Rock Stop

shop

Notes

  • Rocks were fairly uninteresting, but they do have coffee!
    -- From visit in 2024

#6.Joe's Rock Shop

want to go shop

#7.Red Hollow Slot Canyon trailhead

trailhead hiking / walking
Short hike to a short, red walled slot canyon

Notes

    • Park at the fenced water facility (up a paved road in a subdivision).
    • Follow the narrow trail along the fence by the water facility and head down into the wash. If you go downstream, you will come to some interesting white rocks. Go upstream to visit the canyon. 
    • Canyon is relatively short and easy; might be pretty when the sun is high enough to get reflected light on the red walls.
  • When we went, there were tons of flies in the canyon, which made it fairly unpleasant (we decided to turn around). If we were in the area another time, I might try again when the sun is higher (but I wouldn't go out of my way).
    -- From visit in 2024

#8.Red Canyon Slot (Peek a boo) trail

want to go trailhead hiking / walking
Short, dry, colorful slot canyon requiring a long sandy hike or 4 wheel drive

Notes

    • This is to the two-wheel drive trailhead right off the road; most people park here and take an off-roading vehicle up to the slot (need 4 wheel drive and high clearance)
    • Hiking from this trailhead is a 8.7 mile rt hike through deep sand

#9.Moqui Cave museum

museum
Museum with rocks and artifacts in cave

Notes

  • A bit kitchy, but has an interesting museum.

#10.Sand Caves trailhead

want to go trailhead caving
Human-made caves that are fun to explore

Notes

    • Half mile rt hike from parking lot (this is a link to the parking)
    • Go early in day or later in day for better light to photograph

#11.Nature's Showcase

shop
Interesting shop that sells locally quarried picture sandstone

Notes

  • I love this shop and always come out with at least one treasure.
    -- From visit in 2024

#12.Little Hollywood Movie Museum and Trading Post

museum shop

#13.Gunsmoke Movie Set

want to go historic site
Can't go inside but can see from road

Notes

    • View the old movie set
    • Visit Eagle Gate Arch (on the right as you drive up Johnson Canyon road, 3.1 miles from the junction with 89

#14.South Coyote Buttes (Vermillion Cliffs; Lone Tree trailhead)

want to go hiking / walking
Area of beautiful sandstone with waves and teepees

Notes

    • Requires a permit; only 20 people allowed to enter each day.
    • South Coyote Buttes has 2 areas to explore - Paw Hole and Cottonwood Cove. Both are easiest accessed with 4 wheel drive (but warning - you need to be comfortable driving in deep sand); alternatively, you can access the areas via the 2 wheel drive Lone Tree trailhead off House Rock road.
    • Several outfitters in the area also take people to South Coyote Buttes (if you secure a permit first). If you get one, consider hiring an outfitter to take you to White Pocket and South Coyote Buttes in one long day.

#15.North Coyote Buttes (The Wave, Vermillion Cliffs) trailhead

trailhead hiking / walking
Sandstone that flows like fabric; incredible

Notes

    • Ever since The Wave appeared in a European calendar, it has been a dream destination - and rightfully so. We were lucky enough to get permits for the Wave a few years ago, and yes, it lived up to the hype.
    • Access is strictly limited - and patrolled! - so be sure to secure a permit if you go. Permits are famously difficult to get, and you need to plan ahead (see links for more information).
    • 6.4 mile round trip hike (it can be HOT).
    • Also called Coyote Buttes North.
  • We won the in-person lottery!
    -- From visit in June 2015

#16.Upper Buckskin Gulch trailhead (to the Dive)

trailhead hiking / walking
Provides access to Edmaier's Secret and West Clark Bench (the Dive)

Notes

    • This trailhead provides access to a magical area of crossbedded sandstone, teepees, arches, and fins
    • House Rock road should be passable by most passenger cars when graded (if in doubt, check road conditions at the Paria Contact Station)
    • Early morning or late afternoon works well for photography

#17.Catstair Canyon West trailhead

trailhead hiking / walking
Short slot canyon hike to see a set of stacked cars

Notes

    • About 1 mile rt 
    • Park at the west entrance (which is just east of mile marker 25); proceed down canyon to see the cars, until you hit several down climbs
    • You can drive about a mile down 89 to another pull out (the other end of the canyon - east entrance) to see petroglyphs

#18.Paria Townsite

historic site rockhounding
Picnic area, scenic badlands, and a ghost town

Notes

    •  The day use area is 4.6 miles in on the Paria River Valley Road, a wide gravel road suitable to all vehicles (but avoid when wet!). 
    • At the day use area, there is a sign, parking lot, outhouse, and picnic tables.
    • There are no structures to see anymore, but the striped bluffs are incredibly scenic, especially in the afternoon - it is a lovely place for an afternoon picnic!
    • From the day use area, you can drive or walk another mile to the cemetery but you must cross several washes (best done in a high clearance vehicle). 
    • You can also visit this area by hiking from the Paria Box trailhead on the Cottonwood Canyon road.
    • Search the purple and gray mud hills and the gravel patches on the hills (as well as the wash) for agate, petrified wood.

#19.Paria Contact Station

visitor center
Stop off for the latest weather, road, and trail information

Notes

    • Great place to get the latest weather and road information for the area.
    • There is good cell service from the parking lot.
    • There is a water spigot outside.

#20.White Pocket trailhead

want to go
Area with scenic, white sandstone

Notes

    • Beware - this hike requires many hours of driving on roads with deep sand - be sure to do your research!
    • Alternatively, go with an area outfitter (there are many offering trips to White Pocket - and they are happy to tack on Coyote Buttes North/South if you get a permit)
    • This area doesn't require a permit - yet.

#21.Nautilus trail

trailhead hiking / walking
Very short hike up a wash to a neat sandstone feature

Notes

    • Less than 1 mile rt hike up the wash (campground side)

#22.White House Campground and Paria River trailhead

campground
Lovely campground and picnic spot with pit toilets

Notes

    • We really like this campground; it is in a picturesque location near sandstone hills you can explore and the camp sites are fairly large.
    • Campground is first come, first served
    • There is a wash between the campground and the main road, which can make the entrance road impassable after rain for a time.
    • It is near the Paria Contact Station, where you can get good information on road and trail conditions in the area, as well as flush toilets, water, and cell service.

#23.Toadstool Hoodoos trailhead

trailhead hiking / walking
Hike to some quirky sandstone formations

Notes

    • 1.5 miles (not sure if that's one way or rt)

#24.White Rocks trailhead

want to go trailhead hiking / walking
Access to area of white rock hoodoos and Sidestep canyon

Notes

    • Trailhead is via BLM 435 - may be a 4wheel drive road (another source says TH is via K7065, which is an "easy dirt road" (ask at Contact Station)
    • Provides access to lower/upper White Rocks area (about a 4 hour loop) to see colorful hoodoos and provides access to Sidestep Canyon to the east (an area of slots and mushroom formations) 
    • White rocks loop - 
      • Follow "Way to Hoodoos" on Gaia up to Zebra hoodoo area; then backtrack and work way up to "Hoodoos White Rock" and the top of the mesa; from here can look over into Sidestep canyon (but finding a way down there is hard; to get to Sidestep - which has interesting mushroom formations and slots like Blue Wonder, go up Sidestep canyon from the Wahweap Hoodoos side)
      • Easiest way back to car is to follow jeep trail and walk cross country (follow green line on Gaia) to point where can cross wash back to car. Can also go down White Rocks Slot Canyon, but there may be a spot without a ladder that is hard to get over; would need webbing or ability to backtrack if necessary.
      • Excellent for sunset photos
    • Sidestep Canyon - 
      • Follow green, then yellow track cross country to way points to drop into the wash (path up a sand dune that can be easily seen from a distance); explore Sidestep from there
      • (per The Wave link below) Lower Sidestep can also be accessed by hiking up Wahweap Creek until the confluence with the West Fork and then hiking up the West Fork. This route is long and generally uninteresting until you reach the upper section of the West Fork. The route is 10-11 sandy but flat miles round trip from the Wahweap Creek trailhead. The 10-11 miles does not include any room for exploration.
      • Seldom Seen Adventures runs trips to Sidestep (and Blue Wonder slot)
    • See Photographing the Southwest vol 1 (The White Rock)

#25.Wahweap Hoodoos trailhead

trailhead hiking / walking
Hike to several sets of beautiful, white hoodoos, plus some bonus slot canyons to explore

Notes

    • 10+ mile hike down a wet wash to the hoodoos; you may get wet crossing the river (it is a bit of a slog)
    • This link goes to the 4 wheel drive trailhead - if you have a 2 wheel drive, cars should pass two fish hatcheries and a corral, then park on the right side of the road before Wahweap creek. If using 4WD, cars can pass over the Wahweap Creek and continue for .3 miles. There is a 4WD parking area and the trail begins in Wahweap Creek. Parking before the creek adds about ten minutes to the hike.
    • There are a few slot canyons to explore on the right side of the river (facing upstream)
    • It can be helpful to have a hiking app (like Gaia GPS) and trail descriptions to find the best groups of hoodoos and the slot canyons.

#26.Lone Rock Beach

campground beach lake swimming
Sandy beach access to Lake Powell, with camping right on the beach

Notes

  • If you don't have 4WD, ask the ranger for the best route down to the beach.
  • We've swam here multiple times, but never camped.

#27.Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant

restaurant
Giant margaritas with a side of Mexican food

Notes

  • The food is meh; the reason to go is the giant margaritas.