Scenic Byway 12

Scenic Byway 12 begins as it intersects US Highway 89 near Red Canyon and continues east and eventually north to Highway 24 near Torrey. While it is only 124 miles long, the byway spans an area with eight designated nature areas including three national parks, three state parks, a national recreation area, and a national monument.

While each landmark along the road is worth seeing, there are some more prominent highlights. For instance, Bryce Canyon National Park on the southwestern part of the byway is always a popular stop as it has natural amphitheaters full of red rock spires that resemble humans in a large meeting. Beautiful green ponderosa pines accent the amphitheaters along the rim. Also, the Hogsback stretch of the road is exciting to travel as there are steep drop offs of more than 1,000 feet on each side of the road as it follows the spine of a sandstone ridge. There are turn offs that allow people to stop and enjoy the grand views from the road. Further, most of Scenic Byway 12 traverses through the recently established Grandstaircase – Escalante National Monument. The main feature of this expansive monument is the descending cliffs that drop down from the Aquarius Plateau to the Grand Canyon, and the cliffs appear as steps as they drop in elevation. The monument is also home to many spectacular sights like the Blues -- blue colored rocks are an interesting site in this red landscape -- and the Calf Creek Recreation Area with a hike that leads to an enchanting grotto with a waterfall.

Geology buffs will enjoy visiting this area as they can see the various layers of rock as the cliffs descend from the Aquarius Plateau. Those interested in the human history will see evidence of ancient Indian life through artifacts, petroglyphs, pictographs, dwellings and other edifices that are still in the cliffs that the Anasazi and Fremont Indians left behind. The Anasazi State Park Museum on the northeastern end of the road is an excellent place to learn more about them. Also, the quaint towns along the byway still have structures that the early Mormon pioneers erected when they settled in the area. The area around the road also is home to many animals like mule deer, many types of birds, and beavers, and the Paunsaugunt Wildlife Museum near Bryce Canyon National Park is a great place to learn more about the animals that live here.

Scenic Byway 12 traverses a spectacular area with awe inspiring scenery. Even though it is short enough for to fit in a day trip it deserves much more time since there are so many landmarks and side roads to explore. Services are available in most of the towns along the way like Bryce, Escalante, and Boulder.