Location: South Central Utah
Length: 124 miles (200 km)
Time To Allow: 2 – 4 days

Description/Highlights/Points of Interest

Utah's Scenic Byway 12 is one of the most spectacular roads in the country. Stretching across a dramatic landscape, it serves as the main artery through one of the most rugged regions of the Colorado Plateau. Its sensational scenery draws people from all over the world to journey through unforgettable terrain. The road travels through a landscape ranging from 4,000 feet (1219 m) to 10,000 feet (3,048 m).

Suggested Itinerary

Beginning off U.S.-89 south of Panguitch, the byway leads east through Red Canyon in the Dixie National Forest while rising in elevation toward Bryce Canyon National Park. Here, a side trip on the 18-mile (29 km) long park road (U-63) leads south through the park to views of hoodoo filled amphitheaters, cool meadows and forests. Highway 12, itself, passes through the northern portions of Bryce on the way to the town of Tropic.

A small community rich in pioneer heritage, Tropic is typical of the other small towns on U-12 east of Bryce Canyon and was named for its mild climate. Near the town of Cannonville, is the northern boundary of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. A visitor center in Cannonville may help visitors experience the local culture past and present. A seven-mile (11.2 km) paved road leads south from Cannonville to Kodachrome Basin State Park for a delightful side trip to view petrified geysers and spectacular sand pipes.

One mile (1.6 km) west of the town of Escalante is Petrified Forest State Park. The road continues through the Escalante canyons with panoramic views over miles of colorful slickrock. After crossing the Escalante River, visitors may picnic at Calf Creek Campground. From here, a six-mile (9.7 km) round-trip trail takes visitors to Lower Calf Creek Falls, which cascades 126 feet over Navajo Sandstone.

Nearing the town of Boulder, Highway 12 twists and turns through the Hogsback, a section of the road where cliffs drop steeply into narrow canyons on both sides of the highway. In Boulder, a museum and remnants of a prehistoric Indian village at Anasazi State Park take visitors back in time thousands of years.

Following the summit of Boulder Mountain, the byway travels a spectacular forested course where views of colorful Capitol Reef National Park, the Circle Cliffs and the Henry Mountains are framed by the trees of the Dixie National Forest. Autumn on Boulder Mountain means golden aspen groves punctuated by pines. From Boulder Mountain, the highway drips to the byway's end in the farming town of Torrey near the entrance to Capitol Reef National Park.

The following organization offers trips near Utah's Scenic Byways 12-A Journey Through Time:

Canyonlands
Tauck World Discovery
Experience overnight stays in three national parks (Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion) and one national recreational area (Glen Canyon, overlooking Lake Powell). Red spires, painted pinnacles, and unique wildlife create memories to last a lifetime.