Discover a Winter Wonderland at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Southern Utah
Experience the enchantment of Southern Utah this winter by visiting the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a serene and picturesque destination nestled in Kanab, Utah. A stone’s throw from Zion and Bryce National Parks, the Sanctuary transforms into a magical landscape in winter, with snow-capped red rocks and fewer tourists, offering a tranquil retreat.
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is the largest no-kill sanctuary in the United States and a haven for about 1,600 animals. Best Friends Animal Society, which operates the Sanctuary, started in 1984 with a mission to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters. What once was a rugged terrain known for dinosaur fossils and as a setting for Western movies has evolved into a hub for animal welfare and a national movement.
The Sanctuary draws around 30,000 animal enthusiasts annually from across the globe. The diverse array of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, pigs, goats, and wildlife, initially attracts visitors. However, the Sanctuary’s sense of community, awe-inspiring scenery, and serene atmosphere leave a lasting impression and beckons guests to return.
Animal lovers will find a range of free visitor and volunteer experiences at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Volunteers can engage in activities like socializing puppies, feeding pigs, taking cats for stroller rides, walking dogs, and playing with kittens. There are also several hiking trails open to the public, as well as adoption areas, including Roxy’s Room at the Welcome Center, Syngin’s in Cat World, and the Adoption Hub on Rhonda Road in Dogtown for those looking for a new best friend.
Open daily from 8 am to 5 pm, guests can stop at the Welcome Center to sign up for sanctuary or animal care tours, get directions to adoption areas, or just to enjoy a cup of complimentary coffee with a magnificent view. Just add 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, to your GPS to find the Sanctuary.
For those seeking to extend their stay, the Sanctuary provides lodging in several on-site cabins and cottages with picturesque views of horse pastures and starry skies. Alternatively, guests can stay at downtown Kanab’s Best Friends Roadhouse & Mercantile.
This motel, honored with the Best Motel Award in 2022 and 2023, as well as Best Overall Hospitality in 2023 by Best of State Utah, is designed as the most pet-centric lodging in the country. It offers Sanctuary sleepovers with dogs, cats, and bunnies or welcomes your pets (up to four per room at no cost). Plus, every stay contributes to the lifesaving work of the Best Friends Animal Society.
Whether you plan a short visit or an extended stay, the Best Friends experience in Kanab is unforgettable. For more information about the Sanctuary or to sign up for tours/volunteering in advance, visit bestfriends.org. Visit bestfriendsroadhouse.org to book a stay at the Best Friends Roadhouse & Mercantile!
