Have a Magical Winter at Best Friends
Southern Utah is gorgeous any time of year, but there’s something extra special about visiting in the winter. With fewer tourists and unobstructed views of the majestic red rocks, you’ll have more time and space to explore all the fantastic attractions in the area.
At the top of the list is the award-winning Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary, just outside Kanab, Utah. Awarded Best Attraction from Best of State Utah in 2024, Best Friends cares for about 1,600 animals on any given day and offers free visitor and volunteer experiences at every level. You can spend time brushing horses, petting pigs, walking dogs, socializing with cats and bunnies, and much more!
What began as a dream by its co-founders in 1984 to save homeless pets, Best Friends’ Sanctuary has grown from endless acres of rustic land formerly used as dinosaur stomping grounds and a backdrop for Western movies into a national organization that’s working to end of the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters.
It’s the dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, pigs, goats, and more that attract visitors for the first time. But it’s the sense of community, the beautiful ambiance, and the peaceful energy of the Sanctuary that has people coming back from all over the world to explore all the Sanctuary has to offer. From stunning hiking trails on the 3,000-acre property to the $5 all-you-can-eat daily vegan lunch with a million-dollar view of the canyons, there is so much for animal lovers of all ages to enjoy.
Of course, if you’re looking for a new four-legged friend, the Sanctuary is the perfect place to find your new pet! There are three adoption locations on site: Roxy’s Room at the Welcome Center, Sinjin’s in Cat World, and the Adoption Hub on Rhonda Road in Dogtown. Stop by the Welcome Center to get a map of the Sanctuary, find out about available tours and volunteer options in real-time, and enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea.
Lodging can be found on-site in one of the Sanctuary’s several cabins and cottages that offer views of horse pastures and starry skies or at the organization’s hotel, the Best Friends Roadhouse & Mercantile, in downtown Kanab, winner of the 2022 and 2023 Best Motel Award and the 2023 Best of the Best Hospitality Trophy from Best of State Utah.
Designed as the most pet-centric hotel in the country, the Roadhouse extends the Sanctuary experience by offering guests sleepovers of Sanctuary dogs or cats. – Bringing your own pet? No problem! You can have up to four pets in your room at no additional charge. What’s more, every Roadhouse stay benefits the lifesaving work of Best Friends Animal Society.
The Roadhouse is just five miles away from the Sanctuary, within walking distance of delicious dining destinations like Peekaboo Woodfire Kitchen, which offers a tantalizing array of vegan and vegetarian dishes, including delectable thin-crust pizzas, tasty brunch options, and desserts to die for.
The Sanctuary is also a fabulous staging area to visit Utah’s world-famous national parks just 90 minutes away: Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon North Rim.
However long you plan to visit Kanab – a few hours, days, or even weeks – you won’t want to miss the magic of Best Friends. Visit bestfriends.org or call (435) 688-2327 to learn more about the Sanctuary. To book a stay at the Roadhouse, visit BestFriendsRoadhouse.org or call (435) 644-3400.
