Kanab Visitor Center

The Kanab Visitor Center is run by the BLM and serves as the information hub for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the wider Kanab area, roughly 80 miles from the North Rim. It's a smart first stop before heading out to the North Rim, Vermilion Cliffs, Paria Canyon, or the Wave/Coyote Buttes permit area, since staff here field questions on all of it and keep current conditions on hand for roads and trails that don't show up on a map app.

What's inside

• Geology exhibits explaining the Grand Staircase's rock layers, including a cross-section display reviewers single out as a highlight
• Maps, road-condition updates, and permit information for surrounding public lands
• A small gift shop and National Park passport stamps
• Public restrooms located outside the building

At 4.5 stars across nearly 1,500 reviews, this is one of the higher-rated stops in Kanab, and the reviews consistently point to the same thing: knowledgeable, patient staff who go beyond handing out a brochure. Past visitors mention getting pointed toward the Toadstools hike and the Johnson Canyon Driving Tour, both easy add-ons if you're passing through on Highway 89. Open daily, 8am to 4pm. Worth 15-20 minutes even if you think you already know where you're going.