Spanning a route of more than 120 miles, Utah's
Highway 12 Scenic Byway travels through some of the most diverse
and ruggedly beautiful landscapes in the country. Included in
this natural showcase is the newly created 1.7 million acre
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Scenic Byway 12
is one of two paved highways in the monument.
Rated among the top ten Scenic Byways in America by Car and
Driver magazine, Scenic Byway 12 is a unique route well worth
traveling. It winds through slickrock canyons, red rock cliffs,
pine and aspen forests, alpine mountains, national parks, state
parks, a national monument, and quaint rural towns.
Highway 12 travels from west to east through Garfield County,
the home of three national parks, three state parks, a national
recreation area, and the nation's newest national monument.
Highway 12 Scenic Byway begins at U.S. Highway 89, seven miles
south of the city of Panguitch and eight miles north of the
town of Hatch. From the junction, the byway quickly bisects
the beautiful red rock formations of Dixie National Forest's
Red Canyon.
A Forest Service campground, visitor center and hiking trails
are in the canyon. The route continues eastward, crossing the
top of the Paunsaugunt Plateau through the northern section
of Bryce Canyon National Park. The main section of the park,
with campgrounds, visitor center, overlooks and hiking trails,
is just a short drive from Highway 12.
Continuing to the east, the Scenic Byway passes through a combination
of private and public lands including the Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument. Spectacular views along Byway 12 include
Powell Point and rock formations like the Blues. Stone and mud
food storage structures called granaries can also be seen along
the route. Travelers pass through the rural communities of Tropic,
Cannonville, Henrieville and Escalante. Kodachrome Basin State
Park and Grosvenor Arch in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument are short drives from Highway 12. And Escalante State
Park is well worth visiting. Visitor centers and businesses
located along Highway 12 have additional information about the
area.
From Escalante, the road turns north winding through vast expanses
of slickrock country including the Escalante Canyons and other
popular desert canyon hiking areas on the way to Boulder, Utah.
Along the way, travelers are rewarded with views of the Escalante
River, Calf Creek Canyon, the Hogsback - where Highway 12 crosses
a narrow ridge with steep cliffs on either side and magnificent
views of the surrounding slickrock canyon country - and Boulder
Mountain. Many of these areas are located inside the Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument. Other areas inside the monument can be accessed
via Scenic Backways that branch from Byway 12. The Hole-in-the-Rock
Road and the Burr Trail are two of these backways that provide
opportunities for hiking, camping or sight-seeing. Another optional
side trip from Scenic Byway 12 is the spectacular Hell's Backbone
in the Dixie National Forest.
At Boulder, visitors can get a firsthand look at life in a prehistoric
Native American village at Anasazi Indian Village State Park.
North from Boulder, Highway 12 crosses the eastern flank of
Boulder Mountain with spectacular views of Capitol Reef National
Park, Boulder Top, the Henry Mountains, Circle Cliffs, and Navajo
Mountain on the far side of Lake Powell. On a clear day (and
there are lots of them), travelers can see more than 100 miles
into Colorado and Arizona. Hiking trails, campgrounds and side
roads along the way provide numerous opportunities to further
explore the area. Highway 12 ends at its northernmost point
where it joins Highway 24. Travelers can take the short drive
east along Highway 24 to Capitol Reef National Park, thus adding
to the Highway 12 experience. |
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Features Along Scenic Byway
12
1. Red
Canyon
2. Tropic
Reservoir / East Fork of the Sevier River
3. Bryce
Canyon National Park
4. Pine
Lake / Powell Point
5. Kodachrome
Basin State Park
6. Griffin
Top
7. Escalante
Petrified Forest State Park
8. Smokey
Mountian Road*
9. Posey
Lake
10. Hell's
Backbone / Box Death Hollow Wilderness Area
11. Hole-in-the-Rock
/ Devil's Rock Garden*
12. Calf
Creek Recreation Area / Escalante Canyons*
13. Burr
Trail*
14. Anasazi
Indian Village State Park
15. Boulder
Mountian
16. Capitol
Reef National Park
*Part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument
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Scenic Backways
As you travel Highway 12 Scenic Byway, take time to explore
the designated scenic backways. A backway is a paved or dirt
road that reaches less traveled, but breathtaking areas. Check
with the nearest visitor center or any local business for
road and weather conditions. Be sure to have plenty of gasoline,
food and water as there are usually no facilities along these
beautiful corridors.
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East Fork of the Sevier Scenic
Backway
Double and single lane gravel road / passenger
cars / fair weather only
Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities for seeing pronghorn
antelope, deer, prairie dogs and elk can be found. Features:
East Fork of the Sevier River, Tropic Reservoir, Great Western
Trail, Dixie National Forest and King Creek Campground. Distance
17 miles one way (1-1/2 hours).
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 Cottonwood
Canyon Road Scenic Backway*
Graded dry-weather road. Do not travel this
route if storms are threatening.
A photographer's dream. Features: Kodachrome Basin State Park
(camping and picnicking facilities), Grosvenor Arch, Cockscomb,
Paria River and views of Bryce Canyon National Park, Glen Canyon
National Recreation Area and Table Cliffs Plateau. Paved to
Kodachrome State Park, dirt after. Distance 49 miles (2 hours).
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Griffin Top Scenic Backway
Narrow single lane dirt and gravel road (closed
in winter) / passenger cars
This 32-mile gravel road crosses the Table Cliffs Plateau on
the Dixie National Forest. Features: secluded lakes, excellent
wildlife viewing, and vistas from the high plateau. The road
is wonderful for snowmobiling in the winter. Distance 32 miles
(1 hour).
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Smokey Mountain Scenic Backway*
Dirt and gravel / impassable in bad weather
/ high clearance vehicles
This rugged corridor between Highway 12 and Highway 89 requires
a high clearance vehicle. Spectacular views of Fifty Mile Mountain,
Powell Point, desert slickrock and Lake Powell can be seen while
traveling this backway. Distance 78 miles (5 hours).
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Posey Lake Scenic Backway
Single lane dirt and gravel road (closed in
winter)
Camping, fishing, hiking, hunting and mountain biking opportunities
abound on the road through the Dixie National Forest. This backway
provides access to Posey Lake and Posey Lake Campground with
beautiful scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. The backway
starts in Escalante and ends on Highway 24 at Bicknell. Distance
40 miles (1 hour).
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Hole-in-the-Rock Scenic Backway*
Gravel and graded dirt road / passenger cars
in good weather; 4-wheel drive recommended.
Step back in time and travel the route that Mormon pioneers
took on their historic journey to the San Juan country. Access
is provided to Devil's Rock Garden, Dance Hall Rock, Glen Canyon
National Recreation Area, Hole-in-the-Rock and several desert
hiking trailheads. Last five miles requires a high clearance
vehicle. Distance 56 miles one way (6 hours round trip).
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Burr Trail Scenic Backway*
Hard surfaced, graded dirt and gravel road
/ passenger car in good weather; 4-wheel drive recommended.
Beautiful scenery can be found around every turn! Features access
to Deer Creek Recreation Site, Long Canyon, Capitol Reef National
Park, Lake Powell and Bullfrog Marina. Impassable when wet.
Distance 66 miles (4-1/2 hours).
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Hell's Backbone Road
Gravel and dirt road (closed in winter) /
high clearance vehicles recommended
Although this is not a designated scenic backway, Hell's Backbone
is one of the most dramatic roads in the world. The road makes
a loop connecting Escalante with Highway 12, three miles west
of Boulder. From the Posey Lake Scenic Backway, Hell's Backbone
heads east, passes Blue Spruce Campground and circles the Box
Death Hollow Wilderness Area. Hell's Backbone Bridge is an engineering
feat. Distance 44 miles (1-1/2 hours).
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Notom Road Scenic Backway
Dry weather road (open all year) / high clearance
vehicles recommended
Notom Road parallels the Waterpocket Fold of Capitol Reef National
Park. It skirts the eastern section of Capitol Reef between
Hwy 24 and the Burr Trail. Views of the Henry Mountains and
Capitol Reef are among the highlights. Impassable when wet.
Distance 29 miles (2 hours).
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Bull Mountain Road Scenic Backway
Single lane dry weather road / high clearance
vehicles required
Vistas of the Colorado Plateau can be seen along the Bull Mountain
Road. It climbs from the desert floor to 10,500 feet as it crosses
the Henry Mountains. Splendid scenery includes beautiful canyons,
red cliffs, forests and mountains. Impassable in winter and
when wet. Distance 68 miles (6 to 7 hours).
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| Some of the Scenic Backways are gateways to
the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Stop at the
Interagency Office in Escalante for information and topographic
maps of the area. When driving in the back country, please stay
on the roads to avoid damaging the environment. |
| *Indicates the road is inside the Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument
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