Take a scenic ride through the high desert and red-rock canyons of the Arizona Strip as we follow U.S. Route 89A for 7 short but striking miles from Fredonia, Arizona to Kanab, Utah. This brief but memorable drive crosses state lines and geological boundaries, offering a glimpse into the rugged beauty that defines the Colorado Plateau. It’s a route that connects two small towns steeped in Western heritage and surrounded by some of the most iconic landscapes in the American Southwest.
Our journey begins in Fredonia, a quiet outpost tucked into the northern tip of Arizona. Set against a backdrop of mesas and wide-open desert, Fredonia was settled in the 1880s by Mormon pioneers seeking fertile ground on the edge of the Kaibab Plateau. Today, it’s the southern gateway to the less-traveled Arizona Strip, a remote and isolated region cut off from the rest of Arizona by the Grand Canyon itself. As we leave town heading north, U.S. 89A quickly leaves behind the residential blocks and becomes a classic two-lane desert highway. The road rolls gently through the parched terrain, flanked by sagebrush and scattered juniper, with distant cliffs hinting at the grandeur to come.
As we near the Arizona-Utah border, the terrain begins to shift. To our left, the Vermilion Cliffs begin to emerge—a massive escarpment that rises like a stone curtain along the horizon. Though we don’t quite reach the heart of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument on this segment, its presence is palpable, casting long shadows and painting the skyline in hues of rust and ochre. Shortly before the border, the road begins a subtle descent, crossing the Kanab Creek drainage, whose seasonal waters cut a green ribbon through the otherwise arid landscape. The contrast between the dry uplands and this narrow canyon oasis is a reminder of how vital water is in this part of the world.
Crossing into Utah, we enter the town of Kanab, often called “Little Hollywood” for its long history as a filming location for Westerns. Over 100 movies and TV shows have been shot in the area, drawn by the dramatic scenery and the old frontier atmosphere. U.S. 89A seamlessly transitions into local streets, guiding us gently into town past classic motels, western-themed shops, and the distinctive red rock architecture that Kanab has embraced as part of its identity. The backdrop of towering sandstone buttes is ever-present, wrapping the town in a warm, sunbaked embrace.
Though only 7 miles long, this stretch of U.S. 89A encapsulates the spirit of the Arizona-Utah borderlands. It’s a transitional space—between states, between biomes, between past and present. The journey from Fredonia to Kanab isn’t just about the miles; it’s about experiencing a moment of quiet in the wild, feeling the desert wind roll through the canyons, and glimpsing the raw geological forces that shaped the American West. Whether you’re continuing on to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, heading north toward Bryce Canyon, or simply exploring the red rock country around Kanab, this short drive offers a fitting welcome to one of the most storied landscapes in the United States.
🎵 Music:
Piano March by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/
🗺️ Route Map
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