A Few Things to Know
The practical side of booking, arriving, the houses, and spending time in southern Utah. If we missed something, ask us.
Booking
Why book directly with Quiet Shelters?
You get our best rate. There are no third-party platform fees built into the price, and you are dealing with us, Heather and Dave, from the first message.
Is it safe to book directly?
Yes. Reservations and payments run through OwnerRez, the secure booking system we use. You will get a confirmation right away and everything you need before arrival.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel more than 30 days before arrival and we refund 50% of the total booking charges. Within 30 days, the booking is nonrefundable. We are a small operation in a small town, and a house that empties close to arrival is hard to fill again. That is why the policy is firmer inside 30 days.
You also have 48 hours after booking to cancel for free, as long as your arrival date was at least 14 days away when you booked.
And if we are able to rebook nights you cancel, we refund those nights at the rate they were rebooked for.
When is payment due, and is there a security deposit?
Payment is due in full when you book.
About two days before arrival, we place a $500 authorization hold on the card on file. It is a hold, not a charge, so no money leaves your account, and it is normally released within five days after you check out.
How old do you need to be to book?
The primary guest making the reservation must be at least 21.
Is there a minimum stay?
Usually two nights. Now and then a single night opens between reservations, and if housekeeping allows, we make it available.
Can I book the same day?
Often, if the house is ready. Same-day booking closes at 1 PM for houses with a 3 PM check-in, and at 2 PM for Goldena's 4 PM check-in.
The Houses
Which Quiet Shelters house is right for us?
They are deliberately different, down to the books on the shelves, which come from our own collection.
Red Rock Adobe Retreat is the most minimal and architectural: an adobe house for two with one bedroom, one bath, desert views, a Wolf kitchen and three outdoor spaces. Its library leans toward the Southwest and the borderlands, with Cormac McCarthy and Edward Abbey.
Grand Canyon Cabin Hideaway is the smallest and most intimate: a 760-square-foot log cabin for two with a king bed, records, a fire pit and red-cliff views. Its shelves are eclectic and mostly fiction.
Vermillion Log Cabin Refuge is a log cabin for up to four, with a king bedroom, a queen loft, two baths, a deep jetted tub and wide views of the Vermilion Cliffs. Its library leans toward classics and philosophy.
Goldena Library Cabin is the largest and most bookish: a log cabin with two bedrooms, a king and a queen, an upright piano, records, and a library heavy on music, with room for four.
How many guests can stay?
Red Rock Adobe Retreat and Grand Canyon Cabin Hideaway sleep two. Vermillion Log Cabin Refuge and Goldena Library Cabin sleep up to four.
Will we have the whole house to ourselves?
Yes. Every stay is a private, whole-home rental. Nothing indoors is shared.
Are the houses good for solo travelers, writing retreats or longer stays?
Very. All four work well for one person, whether you are coming to hike, write, read, photograph, work on something, or simply have a few quiet days to yourself.
Each is a private whole house with fast Wi-Fi, a real kitchen, laundry, books and music, outdoor space, and enough room to settle in rather than feel like you are staying in a hotel room. The Adobe and the Grand Canyon Cabin are especially comfortable for one person, while Vermillion and Goldena give you more space if you are staying longer or want room to spread out.
Can we bring children?
Please ask us first. The houses were made with adults in mind and are not especially set up for young children. If you are traveling with kids, tell us their ages and we will give you an honest answer about which house, if any, would work.
What amenities do the houses have?
All four have fast fiber Wi-Fi, a full kitchen, quality linens and towels, shampoo, conditioner and body wash, coffee and tea, a washer and dryer, books and records from our own shelves, outdoor seating and free parking on the property.
And the things we want when we travel ourselves: extra pillows and blankets, hair dryers, spices and pantry basics, an electric kettle, wine glasses and plenty of towels.
Each house has its own extras too, from record players and sound systems to fire pits, outdoor grills, yoga gear, deep tubs and an upright piano at Goldena. We spend a lot of time on the things people actually touch and use, so no two houses follow quite the same checklist.
Do the houses have heating and air conditioning?
Yes, all four, each in its own way.
The Adobe has radiant floor heat, so on a cold morning the floor is the warmest thing in the room, along with a wood-burning stove and a small unit for cooling/heating. Goldena has central heat and air and a gas stove fireplace. The Grand Canyon Cabin has a mini-split and a gas stove fireplace. Vermillion has two mini-splits.
Is there Wi-Fi and cell service?
Yes. All four houses have fast fiber Wi-Fi and good cell service. We like disconnecting from some things, but not because the internet doesn't work.
Are there TVs?
Only Goldena has one, and it is small. The houses are made for quiet: long dinners, reading, writing, time outside, and conversations that go later than you planned. If you are looking for game rooms and big screens, we are probably not the right fit, and we would rather tell you now.
Can we cook?
Absolutely. Every house has a real kitchen with a stove, oven, refrigerator, cookware and dishes. The Adobe has Wolf appliances and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. Outdoor cooking and grilling vary a little by house.
Is there a washer and dryer?
Yes, in every house.
Is there parking?
Yes. Every house has free private parking on the property.
Are pets allowed?
No. None of the Quiet Shelters houses are pet-friendly.
Can we smoke or host events?
No. All four houses are non-smoking, and we don't allow parties or events.
Are the houses accessible?
It varies. Some are single-level, while others have stairs or lofts. If mobility, bathroom access, parking distance or anything else matters for your stay, ask us before booking. We would rather give you an exact answer about one house than a broad promise about four.
Arriving
What time is check-in and checkout?
Check-in is 3 PM at the Adobe, the Grand Canyon Cabin and Vermillion, and 4 PM at Goldena. Checkout is 11 AM at all four.
How do we get in?
Every house has a smart lock. Before your stay, we send your arrival information, including the address, directions and your four-digit access code.
Can we check in early or check out late?
You can always ask, but plan on the standard times. When another guest is arriving or leaving the same day, Mona and Jenny need the full window between stays.
If the schedule opens up and we can give you extra time, we will.
What do we need to do at checkout?
Not much. Wash any dishes you used, put things back roughly where you found them, make sure the outdoor propane is off, and lock up. If you take the trash out, Mona and Jenny will thank you.
The last morning of a trip should not be spent working through a list of chores.
How far are the houses from downtown Kanab?
Close to town without feeling like town. The Adobe and the Grand Canyon Cabin are about two miles from downtown Kanab. Goldena is about a mile and a half away, tucked back on its own acreage. Vermillion is about five miles east of town. Every Quiet Shelters house sits on at least two acres.
Do we need four-wheel drive?
Not to reach any of the houses.
Some of the backcountry around Kanab is another story. Deep sand and rough roads are real here, and certain destinations require high-clearance four-wheel drive. Our guides note when the vehicle matters.
OUT THERE
Is Kanab a good base for Zion, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon?
Very much so. Kanab is about 30 minutes from the east entrance of Zion National Park, about an hour and twenty minutes from Bryce Canyon, and about an hour and a half from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, which is open seasonally. Lake Powell, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Buckskin Gulch and the Vermilion Cliffs are all day trips, with a great deal of public land much closer. We built Discover Kanab around both the well-known places and the ones we actually send friends to.
Can you help us plan hikes and things to do?
Yes. Discover Kanab covers the parks, local trails, quieter desert places, restaurants, art and the people we trust for guided adventures. Tell us what kind of day you are after and we will point you somewhere good.
Can we hike from the houses?
At Red Rock Adobe Retreat and Grand Canyon Cabin Hideaway, public land and desert trails begin right behind the property. Vermillion Log Cabin Refuge is near the Mansard Trail area and other local desert routes.
Goldena is just down the road from the Adobe and the Grand Canyon Cabin. It does not back onto public land the way they do, but the same desert trails are only a few minutes away.
How do we get a permit for The Wave?
The Wave, in Coyote Buttes North, is permit-only, and permits are awarded by lottery through Recreation.gov. The advance lottery opens four months ahead. The daily lottery is entered on the Recreation.gov app two days before you hike, and you have to be in the area around Kanab or Page to apply. Daily winners pick up their permits in Kanab or Page the next morning, so staying here puts you in exactly the right place to try. Rules change, so check Recreation.gov before you go.
Can you arrange massages or guided experiences?
Yes. Local massage therapists can come to your lodging, and we have gathered guides and experiences we genuinely like, some with Quiet Shelters guest discounts. You will find them under Curated Experiences.
Where can we buy groceries in Kanab?
Kanab has two full grocery stores, Honey's Marketplace and Glazier's Market, along with a local butcher, a seasonal farmers market, a liquor store, a pharmacy and a handful of good places for bread, coffee and trail supplies. Our favorites are in Eats & Treats.
Is there a hospital in Kanab?
Yes. Kane County Hospital is in town, along with basic medical services. For an emergency, call 911.
What is the weather like, and when is the best time to visit?
Kanab is high desert, so the weather changes a lot by season and sometimes by hour.
Spring and fall tend to bring mild days, although warm sun can turn into cold wind surprisingly quickly. Summers are hot and dry, with cooler evenings. Winter brings colder days, occasional snow and some wonderfully empty trails.
Bring layers. The sun is stronger than it feels.
Is Kanab good for stargazing?
Very. The houses sit on at least two acres with little surrounding light, and on clear, moonless nights you can often see the Milky Way right from the property. For darker skies still, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon are both International Dark Sky Parks.
If you want someone to show you what you are looking at, Stellar Vista in Kanab hosts private stargazing parties with telescopes. Ask us and we will help you set one up.
What wildlife might we see?
Deer, rabbits, lizards and birds of prey are common around the area. Farther out, you may see bighorn sheep, coyotes and plenty of other desert residents best admired from a distance.
Still wondering?
Send us a note.
We answer every note ourselves, usually with coffee in hand.