Scenic Byway 12

Utah’s All-American Road

Scenic Byway 12 … Utah’s All-American Road … will take you through some of the most spectacular scenery in the entire country. In fact, it’s generally recognized to be one of the most scenic highways anywhere.

From stunning Red Canyon. Past incomparable Bryce Canyon National Park. Through the wild and untamed Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. And over Boulder Mountain in the Dixie National Forest.

Neat the town of Cannonville ... along the Byway ... you can take a side trip to Kodachrome Basin State Park. Traveling north along the route near the town of Escalante, you might want to stop and visit Escalante Petrified Forest State Park. Escalante also sits near the boundary of
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

As you travel north along Scenic Byway 12, you’ll drive through the intensely hued Escalante Canyons. If you like to hike ... or picnic ... you’ll enjoy Lower Calf Creek Falls.

This moderate level hike covers six miles round trip. It takes you to a beautiful 126-foot waterfall spilling over the Navajo sandstone.

Near the town of Boulder, explore an ancient Native American village at Anasazi State Park Museum. As its names implies, it’s more a museum than a park.

As the Byway crosses over Boulder Mountain, see breathtaking Capitol Reef National Park. The Circle Cliffs and the Henry Mountains … in the midst of the Dixie National Forest ... are absolutely stunning in the fall.

The Byway takes you through the little town of Grover and then on to Torrey … the portal to Capitol Reef National Park.

From the south end, Scenic Byway 12 heads east from US-89 just south of Panguitch. Or … from the other direction … just north of Hatch.

From the north, take exit SR-24 at the town of Torrey and head south on SR-12. Panguitch is located 204 miles (329 km) south of Salt Lake City. Torrey lies 172 miles (277 km) southeast of Salt Lake City.

Plan on taking at least 4 hours to drive the Byway one way. Of course, add more time for stops and sight-seeing along the way.

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Bryce Canyon National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Wasatch Mountains

Lake Powell

Zion National Park

Arches National Park

Great Salt Lake

Monument Valley