Whether you’re passing through Kanab or planning an extended stay, Best Friends Animal Society offers plenty of ways to connect with animals and nature this summer.
Nestled in the red-rock majesty of Angel Canyon, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the United States. On any given day, the sanctuary is home to about 1,600 animals—including dogs, cats, pigs, goats, horses, bunnies, birds, and even wildlife.
Visitors can witness the Sanctuary’s lifesaving work firsthand through free daily tours, or dive deeper by volunteering. Help socialize puppies and bunnies, feed pigs, groom horses, walk dogs, or take cats on stroller rides—there’s something for everyone.
If adoption is on your mind, meet adoptable pets daily at the Welcome Center, Sinjin’s in Cat World, or the Adoption Hub on Rhonda Road.
Guests can also enjoy a $5 vegan buffet lunch at the Village Café, which comes with a million-dollar view. The buffet—available from 11:30 AM to 1 PM—features a salad bar, rotating hot entrées, sides, desserts, and coffee or tea.
It’s no surprise Best Friends Animal Sanctuary was named Best Attraction (for the second year running) and Best Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant in the 2025 Best of State Utah awards. The Sanctuary also claimed top honors at the 2025 Best of Southern Utah, winning Best Nonprofit and Best Place to Volunteer for the second consecutive year.
Overnight guests can stay on-site in pet-friendly cabins, cottages, or RV sites with views of horse pastures and breathtaking starry skies. New restrooms with sparkling showers make camping even more comfortable, and the scenic flat paths are perfect for walking or biking. Hikers can explore several trails around the property, including one that leads to a cool hidden lake—often 20 degrees lower than the surrounding desert.
For a downtown option, the Best Friends Roadhouse & Mercantile—winner of the 2025 Best Boutique Lodging award—offers an extended Sanctuary experience. Known as the most pet-centric hotel in the country, the Roadhouse allows guests to host overnight “sleepovers” with adoptable dogs, cats, or bunnies. Up to four personal pets are welcome per room at no extra charge.
Guests at the Roadhouse enjoy a vegan continental breakfast and coffee each morning, plus two complimentary lunch passes to the Village Café. On Saturdays, enjoy yoga and live music on the outdoor stage. After dark, guests can stargaze under Kanab’s famously clear skies or gather around the bonfire for vegan s’mores, available in kits from the Mercantile.
The Mercantile itself is a lively gathering spot—great for meetings, games, or browsing for one-of-a-kind gifts for animal lovers. It recently won Silver for Best Place to Buy a Unique Gift in the Best of Southern Utah awards.
Whether you’re visiting for a few hours or settling in for a few weeks, you won’t want to miss the magic of Best Friends.
To learn more about Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, call 435-688-2327 or visit the best friends website. For Roadhouse & Mercantile lodging, call 435-644-3400 or go to the Roadhouse & Mercantile website.
