Scenic Byway 12 All-American Road
1 dia / 123 milhas / 2 horas e 33 minutos
Scenic Byway 12 takes you to the heart of the American West. This exceptional 124-mile route negotiates an isolated landscape of canyons, plateaus, and valleys ranging from 4,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level. You'll encounter archaeological, cultural, historical, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities while driving this exhilarating byway.
Dia 1
9:00 - 2.5 milhas / 2 minutos - 9:02
From the Native Americans who traveled the canyons to people like J.W. Humphrey who constructed the tunnels, Red Canyon in the Dixie National Forest has fascinated people for centuries. Unique, vermilion-colored rock formations and stands of Ponderosa pines make the canyon exceptionally scenic. Take time to discover all that Red Canyon has to offer. For a closer look at the unique scenery, Red Canyon features an extensive and well-maintained trail system that provides something for everyone. The Red Canyon Trailhead Kiosk, located a short drive east of the visitor center, accesses five different trails which are open to hiking, biking, and horses. Travelers will also find information on the geology of Red Canyon and the Paunsaugunt Plateau.
9:07 - 0.1 milhas / 1 minuto - 9:07
This 9.1-mile out-and-back hike just outside Bryce Canyon National Park is a peaceful backcountry route that follows ridgelines and passes through striking hoodoos similar to those in the park. The landscape is filled with ponderosa and ancient bristlecone pines, some of which appear to cling to the eroding ground around their roots. Because the trail is remote and lightly traveled, hikers should bring enough water and supplies, and remain alert for horseback riders and mountain bikers sharing the route.
9:12 - 0 milhas / 0 - 9:12
The Red Canyon Bike Trail was developed through a partnership between the Dixie National Forest and the Utah Department of Transportation to give cyclists a safe, paved route parallel to Highway 12. The trail runs the length of the Red Canyon area through ponderosa pine forests and connects to the Paunsaugunt Plateau, and it can also be linked with the Thunder Mountain Trail to form a loop of about 15 miles.
9:17 - 0.7 milhas / 1 minuto - 9:18
Get information about Red Canyon and the nearby national forests here. This visitor center is run by the U.S. forest service. Just around the back you'll find a trailhead and kiosk that will lead you through the wonderland of Red Canyon.
9:23 - 7.4 milhas / 7 minutos - 9:31
East Fork Sevier River Scenic Backway
East Fork of the Sevier River Scenic Backway extends 17 miles south from the byway along the boundary of Bryce Canyon National Park before reaching Tropic Reservoir, a popular retreat for warm-weather recreation featuring trout fishing, boating access, picnic areas, and camping facilities.
Beyond watching wildlife, the area’s dirt roads are well-suited for ATV riding, horseback riding, and four-wheel-drive adventures. In winter, snowmobilers can also take advantage of well-marked trails throughout the region.9:36 - 6.5 milhas / 7 minutos - 9:43
This short, easy hike into Bryce Canyon's northern area is the only hike in Bryce Canyon to parallel a year-round, running stream. One branch leads to a waterfall, the other to a damp cave. The cave is a natural feature adjacent to Scenic Byway 12. Visitors may view both the cave itself and "the Dump" - where early pioneers diverted streams from the top of the Paunsaugunt Plateau into Bryce Valley.
9:48 - 3.9 milhas / 4 minutos - 9:53
Tropic Heritage Museum highlights the natural and cultural history of the Bryce Canyon region and upper Paria River area through exhibits on paleontology, geology, archaeology, pioneer life, and the story of Ebenezer Bryce. Located in the center of town, the museum features donated artifacts, rotating historical displays, and serves as a source of community pride while helping visitors better understand the heritage of the surrounding public lands.
9:58 - 0.0 milhas / 1 minuto - 9:58
Tropic is a welcoming community located beneath the pink and salmon-colored cliffs of Bryce Canyon National Park. It is one of three towns in Bryce Valley along Scenic Byway 12. The town’s unusual name comes from early settlers who believed the local climate was noticeably milder and more temperate than that of surrounding settlements.
10:03 - 4.6 milhas / 5 minutos - 10:08
Cannonville is a small, scenic town in Bryce Valley that was established in 1876 and named after early Mormon leader George Q. Cannon. It hosts the annual Old Time Fiddlers and Bear Festival—visitors should check with local businesses for exact dates and details—and its community park provides a peaceful and attractive place for picnics.
10:13 - 0 milhas / 0 - 10:13
Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Backway
This scenic backway runs about 46 miles south from Cannonville through Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument to Highway 89. The first 9 miles are paved, while the remainder is a graded dirt road with a clay base that can become impassable when wet, so checking conditions at the nearby visitor center is recommended. Along the route are access points to Kodachrome Basin State Park, Grosvenor Arch, Cottonwood Narrows, and Hackberry Canyon, offering highlights such as a striking double arch, a short scenic hike, and canyon routes ranging from easy walks to multi-day backpacking trips.
10:18 - 3.4 milhas / 3 minutos - 10:22
Henrieville Historic Schoolhouse
The town’s original schoolhouse, built in 1881 from locally harvested rough-cut timber, now serves as both a senior center and town hall.
10:27 - 0.1 milhas / 1 minuto - 10:27
Henrieville, settled in 1878, offers splendid uncluttered scenery with nearby fossil beds and a pioneer hiking trail to Kodachrome Basin.
10:32 - 1.3 milhas / 1 minuto - 10:34
Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument is a 1.9-million-acre protected area managed by the Bureau of Land Management, established in 1996 to preserve its vast open landscapes, intact ecosystems, and scientific value. It lies within a larger network of public lands and protected areas that form one of the largest continuous public land regions in the lower 48 states. The monument includes three main landscapes: the Grand Staircase of layered cliffs stepping down toward the Grand Canyon, the remote Kaiparowits Plateau with its mesas and archaeological and fossil resources, and the Canyons of the Escalante, a maze of sandstone canyons carved by the Escalante River. Across all regions, the area is defined by dramatic geology, rich biodiversity, wide-open silence, and striking scenery that feels both expansive and remote.
10:39 - 10.7 milhas / 13 minutos - 10:53
The Blues / Powell Point Overlook
East of Henrieville, just after crossing the Paria River drainage, Scenic Byway 12 climbs through the eroded badlands of green-gray mudstone and sandstone of the Kaiparowits Formation, referred to locally as The Blues. Sparse in vegetation, this stunningly eerie, "blue" landscape yields some of the richest fossil specimens ever discovered from the Cretaceous Period. The Blues are a part of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The grey-brown rocks of this area are in startling contrast to the brilliant reds and golds of the rest of the area. At the Lower Blues Overlook, travelers find a viewpoint of the Blues where there is information on geology, exploration, and paleontology. Striking views of the Blues and Powell Point, as well as beautiful rockwork walls make Upper Blues Pullout a "must-stop" pullout.
10:58 - 10.6 milhas / 13 minutos - 11:11
Built into the cliff above this roadside stop is a small stone-and-mud structure created by the Ancient Puebloans, believed to have been used for storing corn, grain, and other locally harvested foods. A viewing tube helps visitors spot the granary, which is otherwise difficult to see because it blends naturally into the surrounding rock.
11:16 - 7.1 milhas / 9 minutos - 11:25
Escalante Interagency Visitor Center
Regional information, topological maps, and travel advices are offered from the three agencies sharing this building: the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service.
11:30 - 0.9 milhas / 1 minuto - 11:32
Escalante was founded in 1876 by Mormon settlers, who - following advice from members of the Second Powell Expedition - named the town after the river flowing through the valley, itself named for Spanish explorer Silvestre Vélez de Escalante. Often referred to as the “Heart of Scenic Byway 12,” it sits between the Aquarius and Kaiparowits Plateaus and the desert landscapes of the Escalante Canyons, and it hosts annual festivals celebrating the region’s cultural heritage and artistic inspiration.
11:37 - 0.3 milhas / 1 minuto - 11:37
Posey Lake/Pine Creek Scenic Backway
Pine Creek Road travels north from Escalante into Dixie National Forest, climbing onto Escalante Mountain and providing access to Posey Lake and its campground, along with numerous forest roads popular for ATV riding and mountain biking. Posey Lake and nearby mountain lakes are regularly stocked with rainbow, brown, and brook trout, making the area a favored fishing destination.
11:42 - 1.0 milhas / 1 minuto - 11:43
The small museum tells the story of Hole-in-the-Rock Expedition.
11:48 - 3.5 milhas / 4 minutos - 11:53
Hole-in-the-Rock Scenic Backway
Beginning about five miles east of Escalante along Scenic Byway 12, Hole-in-the-Rock Road stretches 57 miles through rugged desert terrain, following the historic route used by Mormon pioneers in 1879–80 as they sought a crossing over the Colorado River. Today, the road provides access to scenic and historic destinations within Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, including Devil’s Garden, the Dry Fork slot canyons, Dance Hall Rock, and Hole-in-the-Rock itself. Passenger cars can usually travel the road in dry conditions, though four-wheel drive is needed for the final seven miles.
11:58 - 5.0 milhas / 6 minutos - 12:05
Head of the Rocks Overlook offers sweeping views across the Escalante Canyons, where vast expanses of colorful slickrock—once ancient sand dunes formed over 160 million years ago—stretch to the horizon. The overlook provides dramatic scenery of Scenic Byway 12 winding below, along with distant views of Boulder Mountain, the Henry Mountains, Navajo Mountain, and the Kaiparowits Plateau.
12:10 - 3.8 milhas / 4 minutos - 12:14
Travelers may take a break from the curving, climbing road to view the twisted, rounded canyons below where outlaws once hid out in the Old West. The overlook is named after John Boynton, a cattleman involved in a violent 1878 dispute over livestock that escalated into a murder during a lawless confrontation.
12:19 - 0.8 milhas / 1 minuto - 12:21
Escalante River Trailhead sits next to Scenic Byway 12 on the upstream side of the Escalante River Bridge within the Escalante Canyons region of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. From here, hikers and backpackers can travel up or downstream through cottonwood-lined river corridors framed by towering sandstone cliffs, with access to features like Escalante Natural Bridge and Escalante Natural Arch. In warmer months the river is often fordable, though conditions should be checked before exploring nearby canyon routes.
12:26 - 1.1 milhas / 1 minuto - 12:27
About 15 miles east of Escalante, Scenic Byway 12 descends to the Calf Creek Recreation Area. Here, wade in the creek, have a picnic, or take the 5.5 mile round-trip nature hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls. The sandy trail ends with water cascading 126 feet from the rock walls above into a pool surrounded by shade trees. Calf Creek Recreation Area also has a BLM campground and a picnic area.
12:32 - 4.2 milhas / 5 minutos - 12:37
Scenic Byway 12 east of Escalante is "The Million Dollar Road to Boulder". This section was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and completed in 1935, providing the first year-round access for automobiles to this isolated pocket in southwestern Utah. Before then, mail and supplies were carried to Boulder by mules and pack horses over Hell's Backbone or the Boulder Mail Trail, both hazardous routes. Here, the Million Dollar Highway travels its trickiest point -- along the top of a narrow canyon, which in places slopes down with little shoulder on both sides to a 2000-foot drop. There is a small turn off to the side of the road and many travelers cannot help but stop to peer over the edge. Down below the Escalante River is lined with trees and appears to be a giant green snake winding its way through the bottom of the canyon.
12:47 - 4.1 milhas / 5 minutos - 12:53
Hell’s Backbone Scenic Backway
Hell’s Backbone Road was completed in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, creating the first vehicle route between Escalante and Boulder. A highlight of the drive is Hell’s Backbone Bridge, a popular photo stop that spans above Sand Creek and offers views of the nearby Box-Death Hollow Wilderness.
12:58 - 3.1 milhas / 4 minutos - 13:02
Burr Trail Scenic Backway winds through slickrock canyons and desert forests, linking areas of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The route passes landmarks such as Deer Creek Campground, Long Canyon, and the Circle Cliffs, before descending the Burr Trail Switchbacks down the Waterpocket Fold. Along the way, overlooks provide expansive views of mesas, buttes, and mountain ranges, and the road eventually connects to Highway 276 near Bullfrog Marina on Lake Powell.
13:07 - 0.5 milhas / 1 minuto - 13:07
Boulder was once called Utah’s “last frontier” due to its extreme isolation, where mail was delivered by horseback and supplies like milk were transported by mule to nearby Escalante until the mid-1930s—often turning into butter along the rough slickrock routes. First settled in 1894, it was named for the volcanic boulders found on the slopes of nearby Boulder Mountain.
13:12 - 0.2 milhas / 1 minuto - 13:12
Visitors to the Anasazi Indian Village State Park will go back in time to 1050 A.D. when the Fremont and Kayenta Anasazi occupied the area. An estimated 200 people once lived at the site, making it one of the largest Anasazi communities west of the Colorado River. Take a self-guided tour through the partially excavated village and stop at the museum to view the artifacts. Anasazi Indian Village State Park is located in Boulder on Scenic Byway 12. The park is open daily all year excluding a few major holidays. Group and individual picnic areas are available. All services are available in Boulder.
13:17 - 10.9 milhas / 14 minutos - 13:32
Homestead Overlook sits at about 9,400 feet and offers sweeping panoramic views of surrounding landscapes. From the overlook, visitors can see the five peaks of the Henry Mountains to the east, the layered expanse of the Waterpocket Fold below, and the striated cliffs of the Kaiparowits Plateau to the west, with distant views of Navajo Mountain. The area is also surrounded by groves of quaking aspen above and below the viewpoint.
13:37 - 1.3 milhas / 1 minuto - 13:38
Steep Creek Overlook offers a view of more than 100 miles on a clear day. Boulder Mountain is a recreation area for all outdoorsmen.
13:48 - 5.6 milhas / 7 minutos - 13:56
This small, secluded campground on Boulder Mountain is sprinkled with aspen and pine. A small creek runs through the lower portion of the campground. Large vehicles and trailers are not recommended due to space restrictions.
14:01 - 1.9 milhas / 2 minutos - 14:03
Scenic Byway 12 passes the Wildcat Visitor Information Center. This historic building was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps nearly 60 years ago. Until two years ago, it housed Forest Service summer workers; it has recently been converted to offer information, maps, and books to visitors. The center is run by volunteers and is open from June until September.
14:08 - 2.1 milhas / 2 minutos - 14:11
As Scenic Byway 12 descends the northern side of Boulder Mountain, this scenic overlook commands a stunning view of southeastern Utah, especially the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park and the Henry Mountains.
14:16 - 14.1 milhas / 17 minutos - 14:33
At the intersection of Scenic Byway 12 and Highway 24 in Torrey, visitors can stop at the Wayne County Travel Council and U.S. Forest Service Visitor Information Center for maps, brochures, and local guidance. The facility also features a patio garden with informational and orientation displays about the Scenic Byway.
14:38 - 0.0 milhas / 1 minuto - 14:38