Kanab, UT and Beautiful Red Rock Country

Oct. 15.  “Way out West, they got a name, for wind and rain and fire…..”.   Driving over a mountain pass and out into the rocky desert, bluffs, and cliffs, really makes you feel like you really are in the old west.  The sharp colors of the rock formations against the blue sky makes for really pretty scenery. 

     

Highway 89 is a beautiful drive and listed as a UT scenic byway.  As you crest the hills, you can get great views of the distant landscape.  We have driven this route a few times over the years and never tire of the views.  

We are staying for a week in the town of Kanab.  It is a rustic little town and fits right in with what you would imagine a small town in the west might look like.  We were surprised at how busy the town is this time of year.  There are plenty of gift shops and a few restaurants.  There are also outfitters that can provide all kinds of back country tours, etc.   Kanab is a great base spot for exploring Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Vermillion Cliffs, Pink Coral Sand Dunes, Zion National park, and even the north rim of the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell.  There are so many interesting things to see here that you could spend several weeks to do it all.  We are staying at the Kanab RV Corral.  Even this park is almost full each night, & there are a couple more RV parks around town.   You can see red rock bluffs right on the edge of town. 

 

We even have great views right from the back of our site.  The sunrises and sunsets on the cliffs give them even deeper beautiful color.

   

This area was first settled in 1864 and the town was founded in 1870 when ten Mormon families moved into the area.  There is even an old hotel that was built for actors out here during the earlier days of making western movies and it is still operational today.  Locals refer to Kanab as "Little Hollywood" due to its history as a filming location for mostly western movies and television series such as Stagecoach, The Lone Ranger, Gunsmoke, Daniel Boone, El Dorado, Planet of the Apes, The Outlaw Josey Wales. etc.   I am waiting for Marshall Dillon to step into the street at any time!

We have a list of things on our bucket list so this should be a great week!