Panguitch, Utah

Lodging

Hotels / Motels

Camping

Dining

Photo Gallery

Information

Panguitch lies in the heart of Bryce Canyon Country, immersed in history, scenery and boundless outdoor recreation opportunities. Known as 'The Center of Scenic Utah,' Panguitch is surrounded by Dixie National Forest to the east and west and is located just 26 miles northwest of Bryce Canyon National Park. At an elevation of 6,700 feet, Panguitch's verdant spring, mild summer climate, brilliant fall colors and snowy winters makes it pleasant to hike, mountain bike, ATV ride, snowmobile, cross country ski, horseback ride, fish and more. A stroll through the Panguitch Historic District, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, reveals charming red brick buildings, plus unique shops, restaurants and a museum. In a place like Panguitch you simply won't run out of things to do.

History
Mormon pioneers settled the area in 1864. They adopted the name Panguitch, meaning 'big fish,' from the Paiute Indian word for the large fish they caught in nearby Panguitch Lake. Following a bitter fall when crops froze before the harvest, the new settlement faced starvation. Seven volunteers braved the harsh mountains in search of flour to keep the town's residents from starving, laying down a path of quilts to keep from falling in the snow. Today the annual Quilt Walk Festival commemorates this courageous journey. Panguitch was abandoned in 1866 during the Black Hawk Indian War but determined pioneers resettled the town in 1871.

Things to do in Panguitch

• Historic District: Tithing Office/Bishops Storehouse, Social Hall, The Old Firehouse, Carnegie
  Library and more.
• Triple C Arena/Canyon Country Complex: A state of the art event center at the northern end of
  town hosting rodeos, concerts, equestrian competitions, and sporting events.
• Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum: Information about early pioneers and lifestyle.
• Thunderhorse Mercantile: Located in The Old Firehouse, offers carriage rides and tours of the Historic District.
• Shopping, art gallery and museum in the Historic District.

Area Attractions

• Panguitch Lake, 18 miles southwest on Scenic Highway 143, with great trout fishing, boating,
  hiking, horseback riding, and cross country skiing.
• Scenic Byway 12, located just seven miles south of Panguitch, at the intersection of Highway 89.
• Bryce Canyon National Park, 20 minutes southeast via Scenic Byway 12.
• Paunsaugunt Western Wildlife Museum, located near Bryce Canyon entrance.
• Paunsaugunt Plateau, home to the 5,000-year old Bristle Cone Pines, some of the oldest trees in
  the world. Rolling meadows give way to dramatic limestone cliffs and panoramic vistas.
• Casto Canyon, the former outlaw hideout, with its red sandstone hoodoos.
• Tropic Reservoir, a high-elevation lake (7,835 feet) 25 miles southeast of Panguitch.
• Red Canyon
• Kodachrome Basin State Park
• Dixie National Forest
• Cedar Breaks National Monument
• Zion National Park
• Capitol Reef National park
  
• Lake Powell/Glen Canyon Recreation Area
• Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Annual Events
Panguitch holds a variety of fun and exciting festivals throughout the year, including the Quilt Walk
Festival and the spectacular Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally, both held in June. Other annual festivals
include A Taste of Panguitch and the Big Fish Fiddlers Festival in July; the Desperado Duel Bicycle Rally in
August; and the Little Britches Rodeo in September.

Lodging, Dining & Amenities
To enjoy all the fun you'll need a great place to stay, and Panguitch has more than a dozen hotels,
a bed and breakfast, and several campgrounds to accommodate travelers. A handful of restaurants
and fast food eateries provide a variety of dining options. And as the Garfield county seat, Panguitch
offers convenient services including groceries, auto care, churches, a library, a post office, a bank, and a
hospital.