Sample Plans
Kanab Itineraries
Four plans built around the drive times from our front door, with the long days spaced out so nobody burns out on day two. Treat them as starting points and swap freely.
Key Takeaways
- Four sample itineraries are included, built around real drive times from Kanab Basecamp.
- Zion National Park is about a 40-minute drive from the property.
- Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch slot canyons are both reached via US-89 east of town.
- The Grand Canyon North Rim is roughly 1.5 hours away; Lake Powell is about 1.25 hours away.
- Kanab has genuinely dark skies, backed by an outdoor lighting ordinance recognized by DarkSky International, making it a good stargazing base.
- On 100°F+ days, the itineraries suggest inverting the schedule — head out early or after 5 PM.
Three Days: The Essentials
A long weekend that hits the headline sights without living in the car.
DAY 1
Arrive and ease in
Settle in, then walk the Kanab Sand Caves or stroll Jackson Flat Reservoir — both short and close. Dinner in town, then the hot tub. If the sky is clear, stay out for it: Kanab has genuinely dark skies.
DAY 2
Zion
About 40 minutes to the park. Leave early to beat both the heat and the parking crunch, and check shuttle operations before you go. Back by mid-afternoon when the canyon gets hot and busy.
DAY 3
Slot canyon and hoodoos
Wire Pass into Buckskin Gulch in the morning — self-pay permit at the trailhead, no lottery — then the Toadstool Hoodoos on the way back, about 1.8 miles round trip. Both are on US-89 east of town, so they pair naturally.
A Week: The Grand Circle
Seven nights in one house, with day trips radiating out. No packing and repacking, no chasing hotel check-ins.
DAY 1
Arrive, settle, short walk
Groceries in town, then Belly of the Dragon or the Sand Caves. Both are quick and close.
DAY 2
Zion
~40 min. The big one, done early.
DAY 3
Recovery day in Kanab
Deliberately light. Jackson Flat loop, town, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary if you want a tour. Hot tub in the evening.
DAY 4
Bryce Canyon
~1.5 hr and roughly 3,000 ft higher — pack a layer even in summer. The amphitheatre trails need no permit.
DAY 5
Slot canyons
Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch, or a guided canyon trip if you want the sculpted narrows and do not have 4WD.
DAY 6
Grand Canyon North Rim or Lake Powell
~1.5 hr to the North Rim (seasonal — confirm it is open) or ~1.25 hr to Lake Powell for water and paddling.
DAY 7
Coral Pink Sand Dunes and pack up
~25 minutes. Easy morning, then home.
Too Hot, or Raining
Two conditions that wreck a rigid plan. Both are workable if you flip the day around.
When it is over 100°F
Invert the day. Be at a trailhead by sunrise, back at the house by eleven, and treat midday as pool, game garage, and air conditioning. Head out again after five — the light is better anyway. Bryce Canyon is the natural hot-day trip: it sits high enough to be markedly cooler. Lake Powell works for the same reason, differently.
When it rains
Stay out of slot canyons, without exception — they flood from storms falling far away. Skip dirt access roads too; the clay turns impassable. Good wet-weather options: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the museums and galleries in town, a scenic drive on paved road, or the game garage at the house. Sandstone scrambles like the Sand Caves get dangerously slick, so save those for a dry day.
With Kids
Short walks with a payoff at the end, and a base with somewhere to burn off energy.
WIN
Belly of the Dragon
A tunnel you walk through into a sculpted wash. Short, shaded, and memorable — usually the trip highlight for younger kids.
WIN
Coral Pink Sand Dunes
~25 minutes. Bring a sled or a boogie board. Go early or late so the sand is not scorching.
WIN
Toadstool Hoodoos
~1.8 miles round trip on gentle ground, ending at balanced rocks that look invented.
WIN
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
A large animal sanctuary just outside town offering tours — book ahead.
WIN
Jackson Flat Reservoir
Flat 4-mile loop in town. Easy walking or a first ride.
CARE
Save for older kids
The Sand Caves scramble, anything requiring 4WD access, and long exposed hikes in summer heat.
One House, Every Day Trip
Unpack once. Sleeps eight, private hot tub, garage for the gear, and the trailheads start minutes away.