Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, at the heart of the Golden Circle of national parks, is a miracle of nature, millions of years in the making. What happens there every day, for thousands of homeless animals, is a miracle of love.

Every year some 20,000 people make the trek to the sanctuary. About 3,500 visitors also stay to volunteer. They might contribute a few hours or a few days while others choose much longer stays. Some even end up moving here permanently so they can contribute their labor of love to the sanctuary on a regular basis.

Abused, abandoned or neglected, the animals come to this spectacularly beautiful place in a remote part of southern Utah’s red rock country. Here they find refuge from a world that has treated them harshly. About 1,500 dogs and cats, horses and mules, bunnies and birds, and other animals, find the special care, unconditional love and safety they need. Many visitors feel they reclaim a part of their soul through their simple acts of kindness to animals while at the sanctuary.

The distant white cliffs of Zion National Park stand watch over the sanctuary, forming a giant semicircle around the sage and juniper woods where the dogs and cats have their homes. Angel Canyon, the home of Best Friends, is noted for its atmosphere of peace and healing. According to the oral history of the ancestors of the Pueblo people who lived in the Golden Circle of what is now Southern Utah, their people would gather each year here at Angel Canyon to give thanks and seek guidance.

Today’s visitors and volunteers, like the animals, all come with stories: Honeymooners who met while volunteering at their local animal shelter; families holding reunions and spending time caring for animals; a woman celebrating her 94th birthday by cleaning cat boxes; schoolchildren who chose working at the sanctuary as a reward for good grades, and people who come in honor of a beloved pet who died, are a few of the reasons people come to Best Friends.

Visitors are welcome the year around. Free, guided tours are offered daily.

To find out more about visiting, e-mail visiting@bestfriends.org or phone 435-644-2001, ext. 0.

Volunteers perform a wide variety of functions working with the animals. RSVP by e-mail: volunteers@bestfriends.org or phone 435-644-2001, ext. 119

Visiting Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

How to get there: The closest major airport is Las Vegas. Driving from Las Vegas to Best Friends takes 4 hours. Delta offers commuter flights from Salt Lake City to St. George, Utah. The drive from St. George takes about an hour and a half. Kanab Airport is open 24 hours a day and can handle private planes. Car Rentals are available in Las Vegas, St. George and Kanab.

Best Friends is located about 5 miles north of Kanab on the east side of Highway 89. Turn onto the road at the Best Friends and Kanab Canyon signs, proceed for about 1 mile, and follow the signs to the Welcome Center.

Tours: The Welcome Center and Gift Shop are open daily from 8:30 AM to 5 PM, Mountain Time. Tours take about an hour and a half. Be sure to call ahead to book your tour: (435) 644-2001, ext. 0

Where to stay: Angel Canyon Guest Cottages, located near the Welcome Center, are available for visitors. To make a reservation, phone 435-644-2001 X 102. Hotels are available in Kanab, about 5 miles away. Call the Kane county Office of Tourism at 800- SEE-KANE (733-5263) or http://www.visitsouthernutah.com.

What else to do: While visiting Best Friends you are in the heart of the Golden Circle of National Parks, which include Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument and Lake Powell. Each park is less than a 90-minute drive from Best Friends. For information on visiting the area call the Kane County Travel Center at 800-773-5263.

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