2020-11 Kanab Utah, A Western Town for a whole month

2020-11

Kanab Utah

Welcome to Kanab Utah
"Little Hollywood"

Campsite: Crocodile Staging area. BLM, Johnson Canyon Rd. Free camping in open dirt parking lot. Beautiful canyon, approx. 12 miles from Kanab.

Campground: Crazy Horse Rv Park. Kanab Ut. $475 per month (30 amp site). $50 deposit for electric. 3 Blocks from the main street in town. Good Verizon signal, Good over-the-air TV. Owners of this park also own Rv parks in Show-Lo and Yuma.

Distance Traveled: 75 miles

Kanab Utah

a couple fun vehicles on a lot along main route into Kanab

The journey continues in this most unusual time and period in history. My summer goal has been to get to the Grand Tetons somewhere around the July time frame. Initially, I chose that location because they have a number of dispersed campsites and it’s an area I particularly enjoy, both scenery wise and lots of wildlife viewing. However, watching the news and realizing it has become or may be a hot spot for Covid 19, I am considering changing those plans.

Kanab Utah, a pretty cool western town
home to many western movies and Tv shows

I’ve arrived in Utah, a state that has been diligent about trying to control the Corona virus outbreak, including asking people traveling through the state to fill out an online form requesting info as they travel through. Utah is a stunning state with so many interesting places to visit, and although some of the national parks are partially opening, there are many other secondary sites to enjoy.

I arrived in Kanab and stayed overnight at a BLM staging area called Crocodile Staging Area. After going into town (on a Sunday) I walked around the 5 or 6 blocks of town, enjoying the western town very much. I’ve come through this area a couple of times and each time I’m blown away by what a nice community it is. One year, I arrived in time for their 4^th of July celebration. It was a typical small town parade with fire trucks shooting spurts of water at the crowd and candy being thrown out to the kids. The parade made up for it’s size by going through town a second time.

With plans to head to Escalante and staying for a month, a town smaller than Kanab I kept thinking, why not stay here, in Kanab Utah. After checking out a couple of the Rv parks, all within walking distance of town, I decided to rent a spot at Crazy Horse Rv Pk for a month. The price, $475, plus electric is very reasonable.

 a B&B in Kanab

Historic museum/house

a few restaurants open, with outdoor seating,
lots of space between tables

Kanab has quite an extensive city park, with roller blade,
swimming pool and baseball ,,,, so much more

First off, the temperatures for the week will be only around 70-75 daytime and down to the mid 30’s at night. With lots of sunny blue blue skies. Boondocking, that would mean a lot of propane being used to keep the furnace running. So here I am at Crazy Horse Rv and getting to test out what it’s like to be “plugged in” to electric for a month. The first thing I’ve been able to take advantage of having the hot water heater on electric all the time and I have a choice of using the propane furnace or using the Heat-pump (electric). Well that’s been a nice feature rarely found in an Rv, having two sources for heat. I can tell you, the heat pump works rather nicely. Very even heat.

a road worthy of exploring

Now, while I stayed at the Crocodile Staging area, on Johnson Canyon Road, I wanted to visit the Hollywood Western town set that I had visited over 10 years ago. Well, as you’ll see by the pictures I’ve taken, not much is left of the site. Keeping in mind these stage sets were built to last only as long as the movie needed them for. And although this site was used for may western movies, it was basically just a prop. And that prop has just about completely disintegrated.

So yes, once again, only for my readers, I climbed over a gated fence into a field to get to the site. With ragged weeds nipping at my legs and dodging cow patties along the way, I arrived at the Western movie set. While taking as many pictures as I could, a stray dog walked up behind me, shook his body, having just been in a stream of water and covered me in a welcoming spray of water droplets. Friendly fellow, didn’t bark once and followed me around as I explored what was left of the site.

yes, I had to climb over that fence
only for you my readers 

I really need to find the pictures
I took 10 years ago, such a shame to see it falling apart

The town of Kanab is known as Little Hollywood as many western movies and a few Tv series were all filmed here. Between the 1930’3 and the 1990’s over 300 movies and TV shows were filmed here. Recently it’s been popular for shooting Ads. Parry Lodge was as is still today a popular hotel where allt he movie stars stayed while filming in the area. The Little Hollywood Museum provides a free viewing of all the memorabilia and a few of the original sets for such movies as Desperate Hours, One Litlle Indian and Outlay Josey Wales. Www.littlehollywoodmuseum.org

Kane County where the town of Kanab resides has only had 3 Covid 19 cases so far. Adding a bit of assurance for staying in this area. And one more note on Kanab, it is one of the small towns in the U.S.A. that is vibrant, well taken care of, only a very few empty shops (I saw one).  Lots of amenities for the locals and visitors.  But no Big box stores, almost all local businesses. Nice to see that.

More Photos:

Kanab Utah

Kanab Utah (part 2)

2020-10 Winslow, Flagstaff, Page Arizona

2020-10

Winslow Arizona
Flagstaff, Coconino National Forest
Page Arizona
Kanab Utah

Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, Page AZ

Campsite: Little Painted Desert County Park. Couple of picnic tables. Restroom closed. Overlook of the Little Painted Desert. Winslow Arizona. FREE

Little painted desert county Park

Campsite: Coconino NF. Opposite entrance to Sunset Crater Volcano NM. Nice dispersed campsite among tall nicely spaced pine forest. I was fairly close to the entrance, so had lots of vehicles coming and going on the dirt road/lot of dust plumes as they whizzed on by. Might be worth driving a bit further back into the forest. Still a gorgeous setting. FREE

Coconino National Forest

Campsite: Page AZ. Back parking lot of McDonald’s. Specifically for RV’s and trailer towing. Stayed overnight, only one there overnight, very quiet, well lit. Walmart’s across the street was loaded with Rv’s all over the parking lot. FREE

Distance Traveled: 44 miles
Winslow AZ

Made famous by the song “Take it Easy” recorded by the Eagles.

whole wall murals

After waking up from my parking lot location in Holbrook, I took the 38 miles drive to another famous little town along Route 66, (hwy 40) Winslow Arizona. Made famous by the song “Take it Easy” recorded by the Eagles. “Well, I’m a-standin on a corner in Winslow Arizona and such a fine sight to see. It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowin’ down to take a look at me.”

A trompe-L’oeil mural by John Pugh and a bronze statue by Ron Adamson of a man standing on the corner with a guitar by his side. Rather than take the usual selfie, which I’m not a big fan of, instead I opted for a cool Iced coffee and sat outside watching all the other tourists take way to many pictures of themselves, standing, hugging, etc with that now famous bronze statue. Two gals took enough pictures to fill a complete album over a 20 minute period. Don’t think they ever looked at the rest of the street or town.

Enjoyed walking around the town, a couple of the tourist shops are open with limits of 5 people at a time in each store. Somehow I wasn’t tempted into buying yet another T-shirt. Did walk down to the La Posada Hotel, one of the most famous of the grand hotels along the Santa Fe rail line and once a Harvey House, which could feed the train passengers in as little as 15 minutes before they would re-board the train. Unfortunately the entrance was closed off, however, I did get a few outside shots. Sure would have enjoyed touring the hotel. But that will have to be another time.

La Posada Hotel

I’m discovering that having my vehicle/home all in one is most advantageous while on the road, touring these little towns. After wandering around town, I can go back to the camper, take a restroom break, stop and check the internet and do some research as to my next stop or find out where things are located in-town. it’s becoming one of my favorite things to do.

While taking one of these breaks, I checked out I-Overlander, an app I’ve downloaded onto my tablet and phone, which gives great info for places to camp, whether it be a commercial campground, or a free roadside stop or BLM camp site. It suggested, Little Painted Desert Count Park which is about a 20 minute drive north of town. So after completing my tour of Winslow, I headed out into flat high country prairie with miles and miles of sage brush stretching to the horizon. The Little Painted Desert park sits along the edge of the Painted Desert. A couple of picnic tables and a closed restroom are around the small loop parking area. So far, a few cars have driven up and the passengers get out, take a few quick shots, get back in and drive off. Probably the same thing I would do, except I’m in no hurry and plan to stay the night.

Little Painted Desert 

Little Painted Desert 

Before leaving the area I visited Homolovi Ruins State Park. $7 self pay entry fee. Aptly named as this site contains a few large 1,200 room pueblo structures dating back to the 12^th and 13^th century. Although the ruins were just that, as this site was decimated by thieves looting the ruins for Indian pots and other treasures. Still it provides additional knowledge of how vast the Native Indian culture was throughout the west.

I might add, although I was able to drive to each site and do a bit of self guided touring, the visitor center/museum was closed and I didn’t see another soul anywhere. Well, except for a half dozen wild mules grazing on the high desert grass. The campground is open, via online registration only.

pot shards were everywhere, please don't take any with you
leave them where you found them.

Distance Traveled: 68 miles
Forest, north of Flagstaff

All highway driving on I-40 then north a short distance along hwy 89.

More forest camping just north of Flagstaff. In the morning I headed on the loop road through Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monument. I was able stop at the many turn outs along the way through Sunset Crater. Lots of black laval and views of the volcano. The quaking Aspen and pines against the black lava fields were dramatic. Further on up the loop road through Wupatki NM, unfortunately I was not able to amble around any of the adobe structures as all were closed. A couple were visible from the main road, but the parking lots were closed, or roads leading to them blocked off. What a shame, as I had been here about 10 years ago, and had missed a number of the sites. These Pueblo structures are in excellent condition and well worth the effort to visit. But that will have to wait until another time.

Sunset Volcano surrounded by lava fields

Sunset Volcano crater

Wupatki National Monument, closed at this time
the dramatic pueblo's are not view-able from
the main loop roads

Wupatki National Monument

Distance traveled: 119 miles
Page AZ

Well thank goodness I didn’t take Alt 89 which is a steep road along the edge of the Vermilion Cliffs. I had done that one years ago. Instead I took a longer route to get into Utah, hwy 89. Well, should have known, it too was a steep incline a couple thousand feet to the top. However, the road was excellent, and easy to travel on and there was a spectacular “scenic view” area ¾ of the way to the top. The camper handled the grade beautifully I might add. The shear size of the mountain ranges and dramatic sandstone cliffs and buttes are breathtaking.

Page Az, Colorado River area

Glen Canyon Dam, Colorado River

this is Indian country, many roadside tourist gift sheds
along hwy 89, currently closed with Covid 19

What a dramatic drive along hwy 89 into Page AZ
road is well maintained as I climbed a couple thousand feet

I stayed overnight in the McDonald’s back parking lot designated for Rv’s and trailers, not bad for in town rest stop. But I was eager to get to Kanab Utah.

Distance Traveled: 75 Miles
Kanab Utah.

From Page, entering Utah, the scenery changes dramatically. The sandstone walled cliffs turn from a dark ominous red to a lighter terracotta color and the mountains ranges begin to show signs of more vegetation. Kanab is a delightful western town, surrounded by dramatic mountain ranges on all sides. One that I particularly enjoy visiting. The shops and restaurants are beginning to open up slowly. Lots of unique shops and lots of places to explore.

My next report will tell more about this western town…. and photos galore.

More Photos:

Flagstaff to Page AZ photos

Winslow, Little Painted Desert,  Homolovi Ruins State Park.