Scenic Drives to Enjoy During Your Stay in Kanab UT Hotels
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Scenic Drives to Enjoy During Your Stay in Kanab UT Hotels


Whether you need to give your feet a break from hiking,  find yourself facing a chilly or rainy day in Southern Utah, or just want to do some sight seeing, nothing beats a scenic drive. There are an endless number of incredible drives to enjoy during your stay in Kanab UT hotels. In fact, you could take a drive in any direction and be certain to experience incredible views of the many diverse landscapes that the region is known for.

But if you’re looking for a few specific scenic drives to enjoy during your stay in Canyons Boutique Hotel, look no further. Keep reading as we bring you the best options near your lodging in Kanab UT.

Johnson Canyon Road and Skutumpah Road

The first scenic drive on our list starts just a short distance from Kanab UT hotels. While it may be the shortest drive on this list, it offers some of the best views.

After leaving your lodging in Kanab UT, head east on Highway 89. About 11 miles out of town, you’ll turn onto Johnson Canyon Road. This 18-mile route climbs upward along a cliff-line canyon. You’ll then find yourself on the far western edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. 

Along the way, you can stop at a number of pull-offs to catch views of stair-step rock formations. From one of these pull-offs, you can even see the remains of a 1960s replica of Dodge City that was used as a set for the TV series Gunsmoke, which lies on private property.

When you get to the end of the 18-mile road, you can either turn around and descend back into the canyon, or continue onto Skutumpah Road. This rough route continues 33 miles along the edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante and ends at Kodachrome Basin State Park.

Zion Park Scenic Byway

For most of the year, the Zion Canyon Shuttle System ferries visitors around the park’s popular Lower Canyon. This is where you’ll find many of the most popular trailheads, as well as the Zion Lodge. When the shuttle is in operation, personal vehicles aren’t allowed into the Lower Canyon. But while many visitors head to the lower canyon, there’s an entire other section of the park that’s always open to personal vehicles.

Entering Zion National Park from the South Entrance of the park, you’ll keep to the right as you pass the turn off for the Lower Canyon. By keeping right, you’ll stay on Utah Highway 9. Following a series of switchbacks with incredible views of the canyon below (don’t stop for photos unless it’s at a designated pull-off!), you’ll enter the famous Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. After that, you’ll be above the canyon, where the landscape changes but the incredible views at every turn continue. Here you’ll find Checkerboard Mesa, Pine Creek Canyon, and other lesser-known icons of the park. 

Highway 9 continues out the East Entrance of the park, where you can then connect to Mount Carmel Junction and Kanab, or continue on to Bryce Canyon National Park. The Zion Park Scenic Byway technically stretches 60 miles total, beginning in Hurricane, Utah, continuing through the park, and ending in Mount Carmel Junction.

Highway 12 Scenic Byway

This next scenic drive starts where the last left off. Mount Carmel Junction is located about 17 miles north of Kanab UT hotels. Here, Highway 89 intersects with the beginning of Highway 12. 

This scenic byway first takes drivers past Bryce Canyon National Park and its towering hoodoos and stunning amphitheater. Turning south, the road goes through the town of Tropic before passing the entrance to Kodachrome Basin State Park, one of Utah’s best-kept secrets. 

Highway 12 follows the edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and passes through a variety of small western towns, like Escalante and Boulder. It ends in Torrey, Utah, on the west side of Capitol Reef National Park.

Highway 12 Scenic Byway stretches 124 miles in total and is paved throughout. During the roughly 3 hour drive, you’ll pass red rock domes, slickrock canyons, heavily wooded mountainscapes, and more. This is a great way to experience some of Utah’s most stunning landscapes from the comfort of your car.

Planning Your Stay in Kanab UT Hotels

One of the best things about choosing lodging in Kanab UT is enjoying easy access to so many of the most popular attractions in Southern Utah. From Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon to several Utah state parks, not to mention the attractions just steps away from Kanab UT hotels, there’s truly something for everyone.


Ready to start planning your next stay in Kanab UT hotels? Now is a great time to book your stay at Canyons Boutique Hotel! Located in the heart of Kanab, it’s the perfect basecamp for your Southern Utah adventure. Check out our room options today to choose the perfect one for your stay.

Phone

New Reservations
(844) 322-8824

Front Desk
(435) 644-3069

Address

236 North 300 West
Kanab, UT 84741

Email

New Reservations
info@thecanyonscollections.com

Front Desk
stay@canyonslodge.com