Sandwiched on all sides by public land, Kanab, Utah is truly the perfect basecamp for exploring some of the Southwest’s most incredible landscapes.
Just two hours or less from epic national parks and bucket list destinations, day trips from Kanab are endless!
In this guide, I’m going to share my four favorite day trips from Kanab, each less than 2 hours away from this outdoorsy town.
With these day trips, you’ll get to kayak through windy canyons, wander through an amphitheater of orange hoodoos, explore a remote part of the Grand Canyon, bike between thousand-foot cliffs, and so much more!
4 Seriously Epic Day Trips From Kanab, Utah
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks so much for your support!
1. Page, Arizona
- Distance From Kanab: 1.25 hours
- Highlights: Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Biidi the Arch
Page is home to some of the most iconic, recognizable landscapes in the southwest. So if you’re looking to check off multiple bucket list items in less than 24 hours, this day trip is for you!
Since your day will be filled to the brim with a kayaking adventure, a slot canyon tour (or two), a sunset at Horseshoe Bend, and even a “hiding in plain sight” roadside stop, plan on leaving Kanab as early as possible to maximize your time in Page.
The drive from Kanab to Page is beautiful. You’ll coast through flat, wide-open desert, passing more cows than civilization. And suddenly, red rock crops up against the road, and the pavement begins twisting through this gorgeous canyon, painted hills rolling on as far as the eye can see.
After entering Page, which is basically your first real sign of civilization since Kanab, I have a quick pit stop for you!
You absolutely must check out the roadside Biidi the Arch sand cave. Or you might know it as simply the “Shell Cave!”
This hidden natural sand cave carved into a giant red cliff is inconspicuously tucked away behind a Shell Gas Station (hence the nickname).
Most people (including me up until our most recent trip) drive right past this cave, not realizing that anything significant is just behind the row of fuel pumps.
After all, why would you assume that?!
At first glance, Biidi the Arch looks like a hole carved into the rock. Nothing overly spectacular at all, or worth seeing, really.
But upon venturing closer, you’ll discover that it’s a beautiful sand cave with an arched alcove and curved, swirly interior.
To get to the arch, park in the dirt lot behind the Shell gas station on Coppermine Road in Page (exact location here) and take the short quarter-mile walk along the sandy path.
Go all the way inside the cave because the best view is from the far back wall. To get the iconic photo you’ve likely seen splashed across social media and blogs, venture to the very back end of the cave, crouch down, and using a wide-angle lens, point the camera toward the large mound of sand.
Standing deep inside with no view of the road, you’ll find it hard to believe you’re just steps from a gas station and a busy intersection!
For your next order of business in Page, I’d recommend kayaking to Antelope Canyon! Yes, you can actually paddle up to an entrance of this southwest gem. Even without a tour guide, if you’d prefer!
I enjoyed this paddle so much that it’s safe to say that kayaking to Antelope Canyon was the highlight of my day trip to Page.
You have a couple of options when kayaking to Antelope Canyon.
One, you can take a guided tour. This is the simplest option; you won’t have to worry about logistics, gear, or rentals. Just meet your guide at the docks and start paddling! Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
Two, you can kayak to Antelope Canyon without a tour guide. Once you rent a kayak at the nearby Antelope Point Marina, you can paddle and explore the canyon at your own pace, on your own schedule.
Depending on whether you take a guided tour and start at the boat launch or rent kayaks and begin at the marina, you’ll be paddling one to two miles to get to the mouth of Antelope Canyon and an additional two miles to get to the walking portion.
Even the paddle from the launch sites to the mouth of the canyon is super scenic as you paddle through the open, rock-framed Lake Powell.
But once you’re inside the canyon, the paddle gets even better! The canyon walls grow taller and push closer together. You’ll feel so tiny as you twist through the windy channels.
About two miles of narrow, twisty curves later, you’ll reach the end of the water portion. It’s at this point that you can get out and explore the canyon on foot, no tour guide needed!
Of course, you don’t have to paddle all the way in, and you don’t have to get out and hike. Go as far as you want, or as far as your schedule allows. But if you have the time, go to the end! It’s really neat to explore this side of the canyon, and in such a unique way!
After you get out of the water, it’ll likely be time for lunch, so grab a quick bite at Bird House before your next adventure.
While the kayaking and unguided walking portion of Antelope Canyon is a great intro to this complex series of canyons, I’d still recommend taking at least one walking tour of Antelope Canyon.
This way, you’ll get to see different parts of the canyon and learn interesting facts told by the Navajo Tribe.
What you might not know is that Antelope Canyon is a network of several slot canyons. Most visitors will tour either Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, but there are actually other, just as fascinating, options.
I’ll break down your four Antelope Canyon tour options below:
Antelope Canyon X: Two impressive, very quiet slot canyons, one A-shaped (dark) and one V-shaped (bright). These tours are slower-paced, more intimate, and have smaller groups. The guides are more laid-back about wandering and stopping for photos.
Upper Antelope Canyon: Iconic A-shaped (dark) slot canyon famous for its photogenic light beams. These tours are fast-paced and have large groups; photo opportunities are slim, and crowds are thick.
Lower Antelope Canyon: Beautiful V-shaped (bright) slot canyon with stairs and ladders. These tours are more adventurous than the others and, like Upper, large groups are the norm. The pace is faster than Antelope Canyon X but slower than Upper Antelope Canyon. Photo ops are more frequent than Upper but less frequent than Canyon X.
Cardiac Canyon: A relatively new, virtually untouched canyon that we heard about on our most recent visit to Antelope Canyon X. This tour is more adventurous, involving climbing, squeezing through tight spaces, and hiking 3 miles. We’re definitely going to add this one to our list for next time!
If you only have time for one, I’d tour Antelope Canyon X! This short-and-sweet tour is not as popular as Upper and Lower, so it’s less crowded, has smaller groups, and is more relaxed. And just as beautiful!
After your Antelope Canyon walking tour(s), grab takeout and drive to Horseshoe Bend for sunset. Your day trip to Page wouldn’t be complete without this epic hike, after all!
Horseshoe Bend is an iconic curve in the Colorado River, framed by towering red rock walls. The view from the rim is absolutely spectacular.
To get to the epic viewpoint, drive to the trailhead, pay the $10 fee to park in the large lot, and hike the 0.8-mile (one-way) trail.
Note that even though this is a short hike, you should still pack a day pack with the 10 essentials.
When you reach the viewpoint, use extreme caution. Give yourself plenty of distance between the edge because the drop is one thousand feet down to the Colorado River!
To get away from the crowds and enjoy your takeout meal in peace, walk carefully to the right of the guardrails along the rim. The further you walk, the fewer people you’ll encounter.
Slip a sit pad between you and the sandstone slab and enjoy your food as you watch the sun sink below the red rocks.
It’s the perfect way to end your day trip to Page!
2. Zion National Park
- Distance From Kanab: 1 hour
- Highlights: Zion Canyon, Narrows, Canyon Overlook
If biking between soaring red and cream cliffs, hiking through a rushing river, and chasing epic views sound like your kind of adventure, take a day trip to Zion National Park!
The drive from Kanab to Zion is wildly scenic. This route takes you through the east entrance of Zion, so that means you’ll be passing viewpoints like the Checkerboard Mesa and driving through the famous 1.1-mile Zion – Mount Carmel Tunnel.
Entrance into the park costs $35 per vehicle, but if you have a park pass, you’ll get in for free!
Zion is a giant park with multiple entrances, so you’ll need to come back and spend more than a day here. But for the sake of this day trip itinerary, I recommend that you rent e-bikes for the entire day and cruise the (mostly) vehicle-free Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
Since personal vehicles are not allowed on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive from March through November, your options for traveling through the Zion Canyon include biking or taking the shuttle bus.
As someone who’s done both (biked and taken the shuttle), I can confidently say biking is a way better experience!
Biking in Zion allows you to travel the canyon at your own pace, not subject to the shuttle bus’s timeline and crowded interior. You can hop on and off your bike wherever and whenever you want, stopping for a picnic, to admire the views, or to go for a hike.
Aside from a totally flexible schedule, you’ll get unobstructed panoramic views of the canyon as you ride!
Before you grab your bikes, make sure to load plenty of snacks and water into your backpack (along with the 10 essentials for hiking) so that you can enjoy a full day hiking and biking in the canyon! I’d also recommend packing a picnic lunch, so you don’t have to leave the park.
Once you secure your e-bike rentals in Springdale, ride them to the pedestrian entrance and pedal the Pa’rus Trail to get to the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
As soon as you’re on the main scenic drive in Zion Canyon, you have the freedom to travel at your own pace!
Your bike is your mode of transportation to access all the different hikes and viewpoints in the canyon, all on your own timeline.
These are my personal favorite stops on the scenic drive:
- Emerald Pools – Hike the 3-mile moderate Emerald Pools Trail to waterfalls and pools
- Grotto – Hike the famous 5-mile Angels Landing Trail (permit required) or a part of the West Rim Trail, and enjoy a picnic afterward
- Big Bend – Scenic viewpoint
- Temple of Sinawava – Stroll the easy 2-mile Riverside Walk or venture into the river and hike the iconic Narrows
You may not have time for all of the hikes on this list, so if you have to choose between just one big hike, I’d honestly recommend the Narrows. Essentially an adventurous river walk, this is one of my top favorite hikes in any national park.
PRO TIP: If you need bike and Narrows rentals, like wetsuits and hiking sticks, choose Zion Guru. They have both rentals in one location, plus a built-in hiking stick holder on the back of their bikes!
Once you’re done with your full hike/bike day, it’s time to pedal back to Springdale and return your bikes.
Grab dinner at Porters (the pizza is amazing!) before driving back to Kanab.
Have time for a sunset hike on the way back to Kanab? Hike the Canyon Overlook Trail, a 1-mile roundtrip trail that leads to one of the best viewpoints in Zion!
3. Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim)
- Distance From Kanab: 1 hour
- Highlights: Point Imperial, Cape Royal, Coconino Point
The Grand Canyon is one of those places everyone has heard of. A place that rests at the top of most bucket lists. But 90% of people who venture to the Grand Canyon only visit the South Rim. And 90% of those visitors never step foot below the rim.
For this day trip itinerary, we’re going against the grain and doing what less than 10% of visitors do: visit the North Rim and dip into the canyon.
Kanab is nearly 4 hours from the South Rim, so a day trip to the most popular side of the canyon just isn’t feasible. Instead, the North Rim is just over 1 hour from Kanab, so this is the day trip I’d recommend!
Before I give you a day trip itinerary, note that the North Rim is only open from May 15 to October 15. And there are no restaurants in the park, so make sure to pack in all the food you will need for the entire day, including lunch, dinner, and hiking snacks.
Water fill-up stations are available at the North Kaibab Trailhead, North Rim Visitor Center, and North Rim Backcountry Office. Potable water is not available in 2026. Bottled water can be purchased at the North Rim General Store at the entrance to the campground.
Alright, for your day trip to the Grand Canyon North Rim, head south on Highway 89 (truly the road that leads every which way from Kanab!)
After passing through the last morsel of civilization in Jacob Lake, you’ll point your vehicle south onto the long stretch of remote road into the park. If you’re lucky, you may see wildlife milling around in the wide, open meadows!
After you pass through the entrance station and pay the $35 fee (or show your park pass to get in for free!), follow the road all the way down to the rim of the Grand Canyon.
Treat yourself to a nice view from this side of the canyon. If you feel like stretching your legs after the car ride, you can even hike a part of the Transept Trail (4 miles roundtrip).
Next, it’s time to check off another item that most Grand Canyon tourists don’t do: dip below the rim into the canyon!
That’s right; it’s time to head to the North Kaibab Trailhead.
The North Kaibab Trail snakes all the way down to the Colorado River, but for your day hike, I’d recommend hiking to Coconino Point (1.4 miles roundtrip) or Supai Tunnel (4 miles roundtrip).
This route is short yet extremely steep and at a high elevation, so use caution.
Next, it’s time to cruise two scenic drives, check out some viewpoints, and hike a couple of shorter (easier) trails!
Head back the way you came and turn right down Cape Royal Road. In 5 miles, you’ll reach a fork in the road. Veering left will take you to Point Imperial, and veering right will lead you to Cape Royal.
Take both routes if you have the time! They’re each worth exploring. But if you only have time for one, drive Cape Royal.
The drive from the fork to Point Imperial is only about 3 miles. It deadends at Point Imperial, where you can take a short walk to a viewpoint.
To get to Cape Royal, head back the way you came and at the fork, continue straight. The road to Cape Royal is longer (about 14 miles one way) and offers many places to stop along the way, including viewpoints, picnic spots, and hiking trails.
Once you arrive at the Cape Royal parking lot, enjoy dinner at the picnic area, and then hike the short trail to Angel’s Window and Cape Royal viewpoint for sunset!
After the sun dips below the canyon and the stars start dotting the sky, it’s time to begin your journey back to Kanab.
4. Bryce Canyon National Park
- Distance From Kanab: 1.5 hours
- Highlights: Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, Rainbow Point, Natural Bridge
Bryce Canyon is one of the most unique national parks I’ve ever been to. With an amphitheater of orange hoodoos backdropped by a colorful, stairstep plateau, you’re not going to want to overlook this as a day trip destination from Kanab.
If scenic drives and wandering through towering orange pillars sound like your jam, this day trip to Bryce Canyon is for you!
The journey to Bryce Canyon from Kanab is super scenic. Noticing a theme here? After driving on the famous Highway 89, you’ll turn onto Scenic Byway 12 and pass beneath the picturesque Red Canyon Arch. Yes, you’ll be driving through a natural arch on the road!
Bryce Canyon National Park allows personal vehicles inside the park, but parking is limited, especially near the amphitheater. So I’d recommend driving to the main shuttle area in Bryce Canyon City, hopping on the shuttle bus, and getting transported around the park this way.
However, since the shuttle bus doesn’t venture beyond the amphitheater anymore, I’d first enter the park, pay the $35 entrance fee (or show your America the Beautiful Pass), and take the scenic drive all the way to Rainbow Point, stopping at points of interest like Natural Bridge and Agua Canyon along the way.
Hike the 1-mile Bristlecone Loop (through some of the oldest trees in the country) at the end before turning around and driving back to Bryce Canyon City.
In Bryce Canyon City, grab a quick lunch at Ruby’s Inn Cowboy’s Buffet before going to the shuttle area, boarding the bus, and using that as transportation around the amphitheater.
Depending on how early you left Kanab, you may have time for just one trail. Or you might have time for a few!
My top recommendation is to hike the Figure 8 Combination.
The Figure 8 Combination is one giant 6.4-mile loop, a combo of the Queen’s Garden, Navajo, and Peekaboo Trails. You’ll see exactly why these trails are the highlight of Bryce Canyon as you descend into the amphitheater, leave the crowds behind, and wander between the soaring orange hoodoos.
If you have time for another hike before dinner, I’d hike either a portion of the Rim Trail (the different vantage points from the rim are all so stunning and unique) or…
The Fairyland Loop! While we haven’t done this quiet 8-mile loop yet, it’s been at the top of our list since we left the park. We’ve heard it’s an underrated corner of the amphitheater!
Once you’ve finished your hike(s), grab dinner inside the park at the Bryce Canyon Lodge or Valhalla Pizzeria before catching a cotton candy sunset from the rim and heading back to Kanab.
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
- Petrified Forest National Park
- Havasupai
- Death Valley National Park
- Emerald Cave
- Saguaro National Park
PIN IT AND SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!
