Best route between Page, Arizona, and Kanab, Utah?
 

I am fine-tuning a trip to Page, Kanab, Bryce, and Zion my husband and I will be taking in October. We will be spending the day in Page, visiting Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, and will then be making our way to Kanab, Utah. We are in no rush to get there as our plan is to volunteer at the Best Friends Sanctuary the following day.

We had originally planned on taking Route 89, but I'm wondering if it would be worth going south and taking the Fredonia-Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Byway. Our original route would be just over an hour, I believe. Any idea how long this detour would take?

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions as I get down to the nitty-gritty of our itinerary. This is a great forum, and your advice has always been so helpful in the past.
Greatly appreciate it,
Laurie

The only issue you might encounter with the southern route is snow up by Jacob Lake. But you could call/check road conditions first. I would totally do the southern route. It is really gorgeous. Be sure to stop at Navajo Bridge/Lees Ferry to see if you can spot the condors that hang out there. You could even drive into the boat "put in" and stick your hand in the Colorado River!! Maybe stop for lunch at Jacob's Lake Inn--good diner food and pie.

You could keep going west (vs. turning north to Kanab) to see the Pipe Spring Monument--I have never been there but am planning on taking my kids there when I take them to Kanab (they have never been).

How long it takes depends on you. It takes about 45 minutes from Jacobs Lake to Kanab. Maybe it is almost 2 hours from Marble Canyon to Kanab. So maybe the whole thing would be under 3 hours without stops???

Great! Thanks for your help! We have found some of the scenic byways out west just draw-dropping gorgeous.
Laurie

89A is beautiful. Check this site for road conditions

http://www.udot.utah.gov

If NRGC road is open, use that route and visit Lee's Ferry (as suggested earlier) and its historic buildings. It was a Mormon raft crossing through the late 1800s built and operated by John Doyle Lee who was later executed by Mormon, falsely, for a massacre north of St. George, Ut . DO NOT miss touring Lonely Dell Ranch that was his home! The best hike is Spencer trail for a view of the Colorado River and ruins - short but strenuous.

At milepost 557.5 is a turn off to honor the famous 1776 Dominguez-Escalante Spanish Padre (failed)Expedition searching for a route from Sande Fe, New Mexico to Los Angeles California area.

There is a turn off to view condors at milepost # 565.- at least 10 x binoculars are needed.

Also Pipe Springs - an original Mormon Settlement - very historic and fully restored. http://pipespring.areaparks.com/
There are some attractive petroglyphs there, but they are on Paiute Indian property. The visitor center will give you a contract for a tour guide.

There are many attraction on top of Vermillion cliffs, but you have not allocated time for an extensive tour of that area (need 4-wheel drive with very good tire thread - sand)

Just before the Utah border, there is a town named Colorado City (formerly known as Short Creek) It was created by Mormons in the late 1800 fleeing from federal police arresting polygamists in Utah. It had a recent problem with its fundamentalist Mormon leader,Warren Jeffs (now in jail), but ignoring that, it is a beautiful town of elaborate houses. It has the finest city park in the US - just beautiful.

Vaga