UT-12 Scenic Byway
Bailey Wash Rd, Escalante, UT
Escalante, UT
One of the most spectacular drives in America, threading red-rock canyons, slickrock domes, and a knife-edge ridge between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef.
Utah Highway 12 is one of the most breathtaking drives in America, an All-American Road that threads through the canyon country of south-central Utah between Bryce Canyon country and the town of Torrey near Capitol Reef. Along its length it passes red-rock canyons, slickrock domes, high desert, and forested mountains, linking a string of scenic wonders.
The route runs through the small towns of Escalante and Boulder and skirts the vast Grand Staircase-Escalante landscape, giving access to slot canyons, trails, and viewpoints. Its most famous stretch, the Hogback, follows a narrow ridge with dizzying drop-offs on either side, before the road climbs high over Boulder Mountain. It is a drive to savor slowly.
What Guests Love
- A world-class scenic drive through red-rock canyons and slickrock
- The dramatic Hogback ridge with drop-offs on both sides
- Access to slot canyons, trails, and the Escalante backcountry
- The climb over forested Boulder Mountain with sweeping views
Worth Knowing
- The Hogback section is narrow with steep drop-offs, so drive it slowly and carefully
- Winter snow and ice can affect the higher Boulder Mountain stretch
- Services are limited along the route, so fuel up in the towns
- Allow far more time than the mileage suggests, with countless stops worth making
Details
Escalante, UT
Learn about UT-12 Scenic Byway
A road through canyon country
Highway 12 begins near Bryce Canyon and winds east and north through some of the most varied scenery in Utah, from the pink cliffs of the Bryce country to the slickrock and canyons around Escalante. The road constantly reveals new views, dropping into canyons, crossing washes, and topping ridges.
Much of the route borders the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a vast and rugged landscape of canyons, plateaus, and desert. Pullouts and trailheads along the way invite exploration, and the drive can easily fill a full day or more with stops.
The Hogback and Boulder Mountain
The most thrilling section is the Hogback, where the highway follows the crest of a narrow ridge with steep drop-offs falling away on both sides into canyon country. It is a spectacular and slightly nerve-wracking stretch, best driven slowly to take in the views without leaving the road.
Farther along, the byway climbs over Boulder Mountain, rising from desert into cool aspen and evergreen forest with sweeping overlooks across the red-rock country toward Capitol Reef and beyond. The contrast between the high forested mountain and the desert below is one of the drive's great pleasures.
Towns and trailheads along the way
The small towns of Escalante and Boulder sit along the byway, offering the few services on the route and serving as bases for exploring the surrounding country. Boulder is home to the Anasazi State Park Museum, and both towns give access to the Escalante canyons.
Numerous trailheads and side roads branch off the highway toward slot canyons, natural bridges, waterfalls, and overlooks. The famous Hole-in-the-Rock Road and slot canyons like those in the Escalante drainage lie within reach, making Highway 12 a gateway as much as a destination.
The land and the seasons
This country has been home to people for thousands of years, from the ancient Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan cultures to the Southern Paiute, whose homeland includes this region and whose connection to it endures. The land is rich in archaeological sites, which visitors should leave undisturbed.
Spring and fall bring ideal weather and beautiful light for the drive, summer is hot in the canyons but pleasant up on Boulder Mountain, and winter can bring snow and ice to the higher stretches. In every season the byway rewards an unhurried pace and plenty of stops.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Escalante
Escalante
Along the byway
A small canyon-country town and base for exploring the Grand Staircase and its slot canyons.
Anasazi State Park Museum
In Boulder
A museum and excavated village interpreting the Ancestral Puebloan people of the region.
Kodachrome Basin State Park
About 30 miles southwest
A park of colorful cliffs and unusual stone chimneys off Highway 12 near Cannonville.