A quintessential setting for many classic westerns earned Kanab the nickname Little Hollywood.
You may not know it to look at it, but the quaint desert town of Kanab was once a bustling epicenter of filmmaking. Commonly referred to as “Little Hollywood,” Kanab has set the stage for more than 100 movies and television shows and was the quintessential setting for many classic westerns like The Lone Ranger, El Dorado, and Billy the Kid. More recently, Hollywood movies such as John Carter and Planet of the Apes filmed scenes in the desert surrounding Kanab.
Even today, Kanab’s towering Navajo sandstone walls, big skies, and red dirt for miles, makes it easy to pretend you’re back in the Wild West. Here are six ways you can relive the classic westerns filmed in Kanab on your next visit.
1. Visit the Little Hollywood Movie Museum
The charm of the Old West is undeniable at the Little Hollywood Movie Museum, a must-see for all film fanatics. This free attraction was designed to be a fully immersive experience, and you can gaze at old relics and walk among the old movie sets—building fronts from films such as the Clint Eastwood classic, The Outlaw Josey Wales. Allow between 20 minutes to an hour to check out the museum and gift shop.
2. Take a Drive by the Gunsmoke Movie Set
Gunsmoke, a Wild West TV series that ran from 1955 to 1975, was one of the longest-running primetime shows in television history. More than 635 episodes and many outdoor scenes were shot in Johnson Canyon, just outside of Kanab. Today, the old Hollywood set remains 10 miles from town—you can only view this site from the road due to its age and its state of disrepair. Regardless, as you look at the tilting wooden buildings in the distance, you’ll find it easy to imagine the days of the Wild West, where cowboys roamed streets lined with saloons and brothels. Harsh desert weather continues to wear at the buildings, so visit them before they are gone entirely. Be sure to bring a telephoto lens to get great photos!
From Kanab, drive east on Us-89 for 9.2 miles until you reach Johnson Canyon Road. Here, turn right and continue north for 5.7 miles until you reach the Gunsmoke Movie Set. The set is a great day trip on its own, but you can combine it with the scenic drive along Johnson Canyon Road. Continue past the Gunsmoke Movie Set to be engulfed by the colorful cliffs of the Grand Staircase region.
3. Stay at the Parry Lodge
If you want to live like a Hollywood star, look no further than the Parry Lodge. This historic building hosted some of the most famous actors of Western films, including John Wayne, Burl Ives, Clint Eastwood, and Frank Sinatra. The Parry Brothers, a trio of entrepreneurs, founded the Parry Lodge in 1931 after realizing the potential the film industry offered.
They traveled to Hollywood, promoting Kanab—and their new business—to location scouts and executives. Their hard work paid off; the Parry Lodge was immensely popular with visiting stars. Rumor has it that John Wayne paid for the lodge to install a pool so that he could soak in the sun between scenes. Today, it is a fully-operating lodge on the National Register of Historic Places.
Whether you choose Parry Lodge as your basecamp during your visit or simply stop by, be sure to check out the Old Barn Theatre, where you can watch some of the films shot in the area. The theatre initially housed stables for the horses of Hollywood stars. Now, there are free movie screenings from April – October.
The Parry Lodge is open year round, and all stays include a free breakfast buffet.
4. Explore Johnson and Paria Canyons
Johnson and Paria canyons, two of the most famous filming locations for Westerns, are located within an hour’s drive of Kanab. They are ideal destinations if you are an outdoor adventurer seeking to immerse yourself in an iconic desert environment.
If you plan to visit Johnson Canyon, schedule a full day and take it slow. Although this canyon is most well-known for the Gunsmoke Movie set, it has mind-blowing views just a bit further north. The Vermillion and White Cliffs tower above the road and change color with each bend in the street. At sunset, a golden glow is cast upon the cliffs, lighting up the landscape. If you want something a little extra, cruise down the all-dirt Skutumpah Road and check out Willis Creek, an easily-accessible slot canyon. Run your hands along the striated sandstone and hop over seasonal streams as you watch the sun cast shadows on the wave-like walls.
Paria Canyon is best known for the Paria (Pahreah) Townsite, a ghost town that was inhabited from 1870 until 1929. Location scouts quickly caught on and began using the site in movie sets. The location saw use from Buffalo Bill and Seargent 3. The buildings in the town have faced their fair share of challenges first being washed away by flash flooding, then rebuilt only to be set fire by arsonists. But the backdrop still stands. The vast desert and wild scenery remain to be explored.
If you plan to hike or backpack there are a variety of trail options. The Toadstools Loop is a 1.3-mile family-friendly hike to alien-like hoodoo formations. If you’re looking for something longer, the White House Trail lies off a dirt road in Paria Canyon. This 7.5-mile one-way hike offers access to the iconic Buckskin Gulch, a fiery red slot canyon deep in the desert.
5. Go Horseback Riding in Kanab
If you truly want to relive the days of the Wild West, you’re going to have to get on horseback. Experience the landscape surrounding Kanab just like you’re in a Western movie as you bounce up and down through the red-rock expanse. Outfitters in the area offer half-day trips to multi-day horseback adventures. Many of these trips are offered in Paria Canyon.
6. Participate in the Little Hollywood Shootout
Not only can you experience Kanab like you’re in a Western, but you can relive the Hollywood days as part of a film crew, too. Kanab hosts an annual filmmaking contest for film buffs and movie-making students alike. The “Little Hollywood Shootout” happens over a weekend during spring and includes a screening and awards ceremony. Grand prize finalists win up to $1,000 in cash.
The glory days of the “Little Hollywood” era in Kanab may be over, but that doesn’t mean visitors can’t relive the classic Westerns that were filmed in the surrounding desert. Whether you come to Kanab to check out long-abandoned movie sets, lounge by the pool like John Wayne, or walk the canyons as if you were part of the films, Old West adventure is waiting for everyone.
Written by Hannah Singleton for Matcha in partnership with Kane County.