Scenic Byway 12 in Utah:

A tapestry of southern Utah's finest scenery unfolds along the 122 miles of Scenic Byway 12. This spectacular paved drive starts off in the tiny town of Panguitch and from there it enters into a realm of high desert landscapes, including Red Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Escalante Canyons, Boulder Mountain, and Capitol Reef National Park. Numerous state parks and National Forest recreation/wilderness areas can be explored a short distance off the scenic route. Until this highway was constructed, it was very difficult to explore this remote area of the Colorado Plateau. It helps to take at least 3 days to appreciate some of the sights that this drive makes possible.

The first indication that you have embarked upon a special journey comes when you enter Red Canyon, only 2 miles from the starting point. A storybook setting of ponderosa pine-speckled hills and limestone pinnacles lures visitors to hiking and biking trails. The hills and rock formations are colored in brilliant shades of red and orange by iron oxides. This exceedingly beautiful area reveals a strong hint of the type of scenery that awaits in Bryce Canyon National Park (Bryce Canyon has already been discussed elsewhere on this web site). A few miles after passing the turnoff for Bryce Canyon, you will see a sign for Kodachrome Basin State Park. Take the short detour into this beautiful park in order to explore multi-colored cliffs and dozens of rock chimneys.

Not far beyond the town of Escalante, the byway snakes through an awesome stretch of slickrock hills and then crosses Calf Creek. From here it climbs up a cliff and then clings to the crest of a sharp ridge overlooking the spectacular Escalante Canyons on both sides. Before long the scenic drive leaves behind the slickrock country and moves up the flank of Boulder Mountain where huge stands of aspen mingle with evergreen forests. Expansive views of the rugged Henry Mountains and Capitol Reef National Park's famous monocline can be enjoyed from several overlooks. Back roads provide access to Boulder Mountain's quiet forests and lakes where fishing and hiking opportunities abound.

The drive finishes up at Capitol Reef National Park which protects a portion of the Waterpocket Fold, a colossal uplift of the Earth's crust often referred to as a monocline. Erosion of the monocline has created a parallel string of ridges with exposed rock layers, twisting canyons, imposing cliffs, and gigantic domes (the park is named after one such dome). Other amazing features of the park include the large natural arch known as Hickman Bridge, the Fremont River riparian zone, and the sharp, dramatic monoliths of Cathedral Valley (accessible only by a rough, 4WD high-clearance road).

Recommended Day Hikes:
Lower Calf Creek Falls - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Round Trip Length: 5.6 miles
Trailhead location: Calf Creek Campground, about 15 miles east of Escalante on Utah Scenic Byway 12
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Attractions: A sandy trail that follows Calf Creek, a tributary of the Escalante River, along the bottom of a canyon with huge sandstone walls until it reaches Lower Calf Creek Falls which plunges over a 126 foot cliff.

Chimney Rock Trail - Capitol Reef National Park
Round Trip Length: 3.5 miles
Trailhead location: About 2 miles west of the visitor center on Utah 24
Level of Difficulty: Strenuous
Attractions: Great views of the bent and broken layers of the Waterpocket Fold; you will also get a high-elevation view of the Goosenecks, a serpentine gorge carved out by Sulphur Creek

Rim Overlook/Hickman Bridge Trail - Capitol Reef National Park
Round Trip Length: 6.0 miles
Trailhead location: The trail begins at the Hickman Bridge trailhead located 2 miles east of the visitor center on Utah 24
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Attractions: This hike climbs to the top of the cliffs of the Waterpocket Fold and overlooks the Fremont River; tremendous views of the Waterpocket Fold and dome-shaped sandstone formations; large round black boulders of basalt are present as you head towards the cliff tops; a side-trail leads to close-up views of a huge natural bridge

Goosenecks - Capitol Reef National Park
Round Trip Length: 0.2 miles
Trailhead location: About 2 miles west of the visitor center on Utah 24
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Attractions: This easy trail leads to the edge of a twisting gorge referred to as the Goosenecks

Panorama Trail - Kodachrome Basin State Park
Round Trip Length: 3.0 miles
Trailhead location: From Bryce Canyon National Park drive east for a few miles on Utah 12 until you reach the town of Cannonville where you will turn right onto Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Drive 7 miles to the park's entrance. The trailhead is located directly off the park road
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Attractions: This quiet hike makes a loop through a basin containing unique desert beauty, including colorful cliffs and dozens of freestanding rock spires or chimneys

Recommended Points of Interest:
Red Canyon; Kodachrome Basin State Park; Powell Point (a phenomenal viewpoint located atop the Aquarius Plateau); Boulder Mountain; the Burr Trail (a scenic back road located off Utah 12); Calf Creek Campground; Anasazi State Park; Box-Death Hollow Wilderness Area (accessible via Hell's Backbone, a rough dirt road)

Helpful travel tips and observations
If possible, visit in late September to take advantage of the awesome fall color display on Boulder Mountain when the massive groves of aspen turn a golden yellow. You can pick up a great topo map of the Grand Staircase area from Bureau of Land Management offices located just off Utah 12. Many first class hiking adventures are available in National Forest lands adjacent to the Scenic Byway. Contact the Dixie National Forest offices for hiking maps in order to be prepared before you arrive. The scenery in these forest areas easily rivals the sights found in Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks. My personal recommendations are Red Canyon, Powell Point, Box-Death Hollow Wilderness Area, and Boulder Mountain. A high clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle is necessary to access trailheads in the latter three

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