Scenic Drives & Byways Near Bryce Canyon

Scenic Byway 12 is the region's headline drive and the most likely place to start if you only have one day. It connects directly to Bryce Canyon National Park. 

Scenic Byway 143 is the pick for high-elevation scenery and Cedar Breaks. 

Highway 89 ties the whole region together and is the road you'll use to connect to Zion National Park or the Grand Canyon's North Rim.

Scenic Backways: Off the Beaten Path

Beyond the three main byways, several unpaved "backways" branch off into the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Dixie National Forest. These roads reach places the byways don't, but they demand more preparation, as most have no services, no cell signal, and can become impassable after rain or snow.

Burr Trail Scenic Backway 

This scenic backway runs from the town of Boulder to Lake Powell's Bullfrog Marina. The first 18 miles are paved and cut through the red Wingate sandstone cliffs of Long Canyon; the remainder is graded dirt through Capitol Reef National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Cottonwood Canyon Road 

Cottonwood Canyon Road is a 46-mile dirt route connecting Byway 12 near Cannonville to Highway 89 in the south, passing Kodachrome Basin State Park and Grosvenor Arch.

Hell's Backbone Road 

Hell’s Backbone is a well-known feature in the area. The gravel road links Escalante and Boulder, climbing to 9,200 feet through Dixie National Forest. It’s a scenic way to beat summer heat, and a dramatically different experience from the desert backways.

Scenic Byway 12 is the region's headline drive and the most likely place to start if you only have one day. It connects directly to Bryce Canyon National Park. 

Scenic Byway 143 is the pick for high-elevation scenery and Cedar Breaks. 

Highway 89 ties the whole region together and is the road you'll use to connect to Zion National Park or the Grand Canyon's North Rim.