Hidden Gems in Kanab, Utah: Secret Spots Most Visitors Miss
Most Kanab visitors structure their trip around The Wave and Buckskin Gulch. Both deserve the attention. But the canyon country surrounding Kanab extends for hundreds of miles, and within it lie remarkable places that almost no one visits. The spots below require no permits (unless noted) and most you can have entirely to yourself.
1. The Yellow Cliffs
About 3 miles north of Kanab on US-89A, a dramatic wall of cream and ochre sandstone rises directly from the valley floor. Pull over and walk toward the cliff base. The color shifts from pale gold in morning to deep amber at sunset. Almost no one stops here despite it being visible from the highway. No fee, no trail, 20 minutes from town.
2. Squaw Trail — City View Overlook
Starting from the north end of 100 East Street, the Squaw Trail is a 1.8-mile round trip climbing 600 feet to an overlook above Kanab. From the top: the full town layout, the Vermilion Cliffs to the north, and canyon country stretching south to Arizona. One hour. Free, no permit, easily done before dinner.
3. Cottonwood Canyon Road
One of the most scenic drives in southern Utah and consistently overlooked. Cottonwood Canyon Road runs 46 miles from US-89 north to Cannonville through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, crossing the Cockscomb — a tilted ridge of eroded red rock — and several dramatic wash crossings. Passable in a high-clearance vehicle when dry. Check conditions at the BLM Kanab office. Free.
4. Old Paria Townsite and Movie Set
Eight miles east of Kanab, a dirt road leads to the Paria Townsite: a combination of the actual 19th-century Mormon settlement of Old Pahreah and movie set ruins built for various Hollywood productions. Decaying adobe structures and weathered wooden facades sit against vivid painted desert hills. No fee, no permit. An extraordinary photography location with almost no visitors.
5. The Toadstools
Balanced rock formations — rounded Entrada sandstone capstones sitting on eroded Navajo Sandstone pedestals — located 42 miles east of Kanab on US-89. The hike is 0.8 miles each way on clear sandy trail. Despite being technically accessible, this site sees a fraction of expected traffic because most people speed past on US-89 without noticing the trailhead sign. Free, 20 minutes from the highway.
6. Vermilion Cliffs Overlook (BLM Road)
A series of BLM dirt roads north of Kanab access viewpoints looking directly across to the Vermilion Cliffs — the same cliff face visible from much of Kanab, but seen here at close range. Go at golden hour when the cliffs glow deep red. Accessible in a high-clearance vehicle; some sections are passable in a standard car when dry. Check at the BLM office for current road conditions.
7. Shower Spring in Paria Canyon
About 2 miles into Paria Canyon from the Paria Trailhead, Shower Spring seeps from a sandstone cliff face in a thin curtain of water. Accessible on a day permit ($6/person at the Paria Contact Station). Combined with the painted badland hills of the Paria drainage, it makes a full morning of extraordinary scenery in a landscape that sees a fraction of the Buckskin Gulch traffic.
8. Kanab Creek Canyon South of Town
Kanab Creek flows south from town into progressively deeper canyon terrain. The accessible section has rough paths through pinyon-juniper woodland alongside the creek. Best in early morning or evening when canyon walls catch low-angle light. Access from BLM land south of town — check current access with the BLM field office.
Tips for Finding Hidden Gems Around Kanab
- Talk to BLM staff at the Kanab Field Office (669 S US-89A). They know what’s worth visiting this specific week and will suggest spots not on any website.
- Download Gaia GPS with offline maps before leaving town. Cell service disappears quickly in the backcountry.
- Many of the best spots involve unmarked terrain. Carry a paper topo map as backup to phone navigation.
- Tell someone your plans before going off main roads — not because it’s dangerous, but because it’s sensible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best hikes near Kanab without a permit?
The Squaw Trail, The Toadstools, the Old Paria Townsite, and Johnson Canyon Road all require no permit. BLM dispersed hiking in the surrounding public lands is also extensive and largely unregulated — the BLM office can point you toward unmarked routes.
See our complete Kanab travel hub for itineraries, hotel guides, and the full activity breakdown.
