Scenic Highway 89 through Bryce Canyon Country is part of the Utah Heritage Highway 89. This road passes through the western section of Bryce Canyon Country from north to south and connects travelers on the south to Zion National Park, and the north rim of the Grand Canyon. This section of the Utah Heritage Highway 89 is an adventure through scenic beauty and living history.

Extending 500 miles from Idaho to Arizona, Highway 89 brings you through the heart of unique culture, architecture, history, and scenery. The communities of Panguitch and Hatch, Utah are part of what is known as the Headwaters section of the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area.

Panguitch

Panguitch is nicknamed “The Center of Scenic Utah” and is a great central point to experience places such as Red Canyon, which is just about a mile from the intersection of Highway 89 and Scenic Byway 12, Bryce Canyon, Tropic Reservoir, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Panguitch Lake, and more. The entire community of Panguitch is listed as a National Historic District because of the many original and restored brick buildings, with some dating back to the community’s 1860s origins.

Hatch

Just 8 miles south of the junction for Byway 12 and Highway 89, at the junction of Mammoth Creek and the Sevier River, you find the little community of Hatch. This quaint community is also a great central location for the exploration of destinations such as Mammoth Cave, one of Utah’s largest lava tubes, Red Canyon, the Dixie National Forest, the Sevier River drainage, and other attractions. 

One of the unique attractions in Hatch is a 50s-style Galaxy Diner, and there are another great dining, lodging, and other visitor services found here. 

Located in Hatch, the Mammoth Creek Fish Hatchery provides rainbow trout for many local lakes and streams. Fishing, ATV riding, snowmobiling, hiking, and mountain biking are just some of the activities that can be experienced while staying in Hatch. By appointment, visitors can enter The Daughters of Utah Pioneer Museum, and there is a seasonal visitor center for the US Forest Service found just south of Hatch.