Red Canyon on Scenic Byway 12

Twelve miles outside of Bryce Canyon National Park on Scenic Byway 12, Red Canyon beckons with a similar red rock landscape. Like Bryce Canyon, Red Canyon’s hoodoos were sculpted from Claron limestone over eons from wind and water erosion.  Red Canyon is part of the Dixie National Forest and follows Scenic Byway 12 for about four miles.

Trails lead visitors past many of the hoodoos, which can be explored via short hikes. Visitors also have the option of enjoying the paved, five-mile Red Canyon bike and walking path. This popular bike and walking trail winds through the ponderosa forest between Red Canyon and the upper Paunsaugunt Plateau with access points for the Grand View Trail and the Thunder Mountain Trail.

In the winter months, the paved trail is also a very popular throughway for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even sledding.

Other trails in Red Canyon include the Casto Canyon ATV Trail, Losee Canyon for hiking and mountain biking, and the 0.7-mile Arches foot trail. Begin your experience at the Red Canyon Visitor Center, operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Here, you’ll find information about trails, camping, and sightseeing points of interest. The visitor center is located on the north side of the byway, about four miles from the intersection of Scenic Byway 12 and Highway 89. You’ll enjoy the interpretive displays, a picnic area, drinking water, restrooms, and a campground across the byway. The Red Canyon Visitor Center is open from mid-spring to late fall.

5375 UT-12, Panguitch, UT 84759

435-676-2676

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