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Can you visit Best Friends Animal Sanctuary?
Yes. Best Friends’ official visitor FAQ answers the question “Can I visit the Best Friends sanctuary?” with a yes, adding that tours are the best way to get an overview of the property. Best Friends describes itself as “the largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals in the country,” a claim the organization makes about itself. It also says more than 30,000 visitors come each year. The official material does not say which year that count covers, so treat the figure as Best Friends’ own approximate number rather than a dated statistic.
The Sanctuary is a working animal-care operation set in the red-rock canyon country of southern Utah. Public areas are open to visitors, but the animal-care centers themselves are closed to people who arrive without a booking.
Start at the Welcome Center
The Welcome Center is the place to orient yourself. It provides visitor help and maps covering trails, public areas, Kanab businesses, and the volunteer orientation centers. Use the Sanctuary address, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741, for navigation, then follow the on-site route below.
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- Drive about five miles north of Kanab on Highway 89.
- Turn at the Sanctuary entrance, which sits between Highway 89 mile markers 69 and 70.
- Turn into Kanab Canyon and continue about a mile to the Welcome Center.
- Park in the visitor lot. RV day parking is also available beside the Welcome Center during business hours.
- Ask at the Welcome Center about tour availability and pick up a trail map before you head to any animal area.
Choose the visit that fits your trip
The Sanctuary’s options differ mainly in how structured they are, how much contact with animals they offer, and how far ahead you need to plan. Best Friends does not state durations for most of them in its official visitor pages, so confirm length when you book.
| Option | What it involves | Animal contact | Booking | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand tour | Overview of the Sanctuary and canyon; Best Friends suggests it for a first visit | Not stated | Book ahead; tours tend to fill | Not stated |
| Focused animal-area tour | Concentrates on one animal-care area | Viewing from the tour; hands-on contact not stated | Book ahead; tours tend to fill | Not stated |
| Angels Rest tour | Visits the resting place for animals who have died | Not applicable | Check availability at the Welcome Center | Not stated |
| Volunteer shift | Scheduled work shift with the animals | Hands-on, subject to eligibility and availability | Register in advance; shifts tend to fill | Set by the shift schedule |
| Approved resident dog outing | Take an approved resident dog out for a scheduled outing | Direct, one-dog outing | Scheduled; eligibility conditions apply | Not stated |
| Dog or cat sleepover | Overnight stay with an animal at pet-friendly accommodation | Overnight | Scheduled; availability conditions apply | Overnight |
| Public animal-meeting spots | Short stop to meet adoptable pets | Meet and visit with adoptable animals | No reservation needed; hours vary by location | Short stop |
| Trails and walks | Self-guided walking on trails; leashed dogs welcome | Dogs on leash only where welcomed | Not stated | Self-paced |
Tours
The grand tour
If you have one day, take the grand tour. It is the broadest introduction to the property and the canyon around it, and it gives you context for the other options. Check the Welcome Center or the official booking system for departure times, because these change.
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Focused tours and the Angels Rest tour
Focused tours cover particular animal-care areas and suit visitors who already know which group of animals they want to learn about. The Angels Rest tour visits the resting place for animals who have died at the Sanctuary, and it is a quieter option that many visitors choose for its reflective tone. Best Friends’ tours page says that family-friendly options are available, so check the tour descriptions for age guidance before you book.
Meeting animals respectfully
Best Friends frames its animal experiences as scheduled, not spontaneous. Do not expect to walk into a kennel or cattery and handle an animal on arrival. Closer contact requires planning, and the official pages attach eligibility and availability conditions to most of it.
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Public spots where you can meet adoptable pets
The official activities page lists four places where you can meet adoptable pets without a reservation:
- Roxy’s Room
- The cat lounge in the Sanctuary Store
- The adoption hub in Dogtown
- Club Sinjin at Cat World
Each has its own hours, and those hours are the most volatile detail on the official site. Check the live activities page on the day you plan to go rather than relying on any printed schedule.
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Volunteering, dog outings, and sleepovers
Volunteering is the deepest form of involvement. You register for a shift, and Best Friends fills those shifts quickly, so plan well ahead. Approved resident dog outings and dog or cat sleepovers at pet-friendly accommodation work the same way: they are scheduled, they depend on eligibility, and they depend on what is available on your dates. None of these can be arranged on the spot at the gate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Trails and walks
Walking trails give you a way to see the property at your own pace. The official activities page says leashed dogs are welcome on the trails. The official material I reviewed does not give trail difficulty ratings, required gear, or current conditions, so ask at the Welcome Center for the current trail map and conditions before setting out, and plan for the rugged terrain described below.
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Hours and time zone
Best Friends’ official pages currently disagree on closing time. The general visit page gives 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The directions and Welcome Center pages say public areas and restrooms are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mountain Time daily except Christmas. Until the organization resolves the discrepancy, confirm the closing time with Best Friends directly before you drive, and plan to arrive early enough that a 5 p.m. close would not cut your visit short.
The Sanctuary keeps Mountain Time. If you are coming from Las Vegas, which is on Pacific Time, your clock is one hour ahead. Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, so its time difference with the Sanctuary changes twice a year. Check the time on your phone against the Sanctuary’s schedule when you plan the day.
Accessibility and terrain
Best Friends says most public areas are wheelchair accessible, but it also describes the terrain as rugged. Plan for uneven ground and slopes even in areas that are open to wheelchairs. Visitors with questions about access or accommodations should call Best Friends before the visit. The organization does not promise that every route or animal-care area is accessible, so ask about the specific areas you want to see.
Where to stay nearby
Best Friends’ visit page describes the Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile as lodging in Kanab, a short drive from the Sanctuary. Its volunteer FAQ also points to Sanctuary cottages, cabins, RV sites, the Roadhouse, and other Kanab accommodations. The official pages I reviewed do not list room rates or availability, so check those directly with each property. The same goes for pet-friendly accommodation tied to the dog or cat sleepover program.
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Quick Recap
Before you drive over
- Confirm the closing time with Best Friends, because the official pages disagree.
- Book your tour, volunteer shift, outing, or sleepover ahead of time, and confirm the booking before you leave.
- Check the live activities page for public meet-spot hours on the day you go.
- Call ahead if you have access needs, and ask about the specific route you plan to take.
- Pick up a current trail map and ask about trail conditions at the Welcome Center.
- Set your phone to Mountain Time if you are crossing from Pacific Time or Arizona.
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