Kanu Kanab?

The last item on our list of things to do this time around in Page, AZ was to drive up to Kanab, UT to check it out, and then site see on the way back.  The drive over is only 64 miles, and the entire way you are driving through the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.  Since the forecast for Sunday is "WINDY" we decided Saturday would be the day to make the drive.

We had to fill up the VW gas tank as we had pretty much run it low with our round trip to Flagstaff, so we left camp just before 9 am, filled up in the little town of Big Water, UT (about 6 miles north of us) and then we were on our way to Kanab.

Kanab is located at the crossroads of US 89 and US 89A.....89 takes you north to Bryce and Zion National Parks, and 89A takes you south and east to the Grand Canyon.  We enjoyed the views of GSE (short for Grand Staircase Escalante) as we motored to Kanab, arriving at our destination a little after 10 am (Arizona time......we haven't changed our clocks over to Utah time and don't plan on it until we get nearer to Moab).  We visited the visitor's center to find out about a slot canyon located near Wire Pass somewhere between Kanab and Big Water.  We hadn't been able to figure out where the turnoff was, but he nice gentleman at the desk helped us out. Next we headed over to the local market to buy some bottled water....two gallons of Arrowhead for $1.98.....not bad. In addition we found they had Snap-E-Tom Tomato Cocktail juice in stock so we cleaned them out of their 13 can stockpile....score again!

Next we drove across the street to the local Shell gas station so I could clean the VW windshield while TLE went into the Subway next door to get a footlong for our lunch later.  There are not any services between Big Water and Kanab, so if we wanted any lunch time sustenance this would have to be it.

We were not done with Kanab quite yet.....we drove on through their "old town" section and found  a little antique shop called  "Antiques and Things".  TLE score another pair of Marcasite earrings for $10, and I 2 more state license plates for my collection.....Wyoming and North Dakota.....for $10 each.....that gives me 31 plates so far and 11 to go to catch up to the 42 states (plus one more for Alberta) we have been in so far on this journey.

Kanab Visitor's Center

We then headed back east toward's Johnson Canyon Road which is a scenic 16 drive into GSE.

Johnson Canyon

Then it was on back east and a little south to House Rock Canyon Road which would take us to Wire Pass and the beginning of our 5 mile roundtrip hike into a really cool slot canyon. The drive into Wire Pass trailhead was about 8 miles of washboardy, quite uneven dirt road, but we made it in about 40 minutes.  The parking lot was almost full, but we managed to snag the last parking spot.  Before starting our hike we ate our Subway sandwich, and then We bought two $6 hiking passes at the trailhead iron ranger.

The first mile of the hike takes you down a wash before you hit the slot canyon.  This slot canyon is very long and very narrow.  The colors were not as spectacular as Antelope Canyon, but they were pretty nice, nevertheless.

In all we hike about 5 miles before returning to the trailhead and beginning the tortuous 8 mile drive back to pavement.  By the time we arrived home around 4 pm I was ready for a nap, but not before taking a nice hot shower.  It was a good day, and I wish I could have uploaded more of the pictures we took, but my internet connection this morning stinks......not sure why, because it has been pretty good all week until this morning.

Sunday will be our last full day at Lone Rock and then we will begin to move northward toward Moab.....first stop Monday will be Monument Valley for a day, or two.

Thanks for stopping by!

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