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By Jacob
By Jacob
Between the town of Torrey, Utah, just outside of Capitol Reef National Park, and US-89, just west of Bryce Canyon National Park there is Utah Highway 12. This highway has been designated an all-american road because of its unique features that are hard to find anywhere else. I will describe the road east to west because that is the way we took this road from in our 2020 vacation.
Starting in the north near the town of Torrey the road begins its journey to Bryce Canyon. The first section of this road is a change in scenery, for a while we had been traveling through the red rocks of western Colorado and southern Utah. We were now driving through what was what appeared to be a mountain road through the front range in Colorado. Alpine vegetation with cows. We saw several signs that said open range and they really mean it. There were cows just walking along the road or sometimes even on it. You have to be careful on this stretch, you do not want to turn and hit a cow. Near the pass of the mountains there is an overlook that you should stop to see. You can see the Henry Mountains and down to the southern district of Capitol Reef National Park.
Once you get over the pass and down you read the end of the mountains and the town of Bouler, Utah. Suddenly, you find yourself on a narrow ridge with thousand feet drop offs on either side of you back in a southwestern environment. The road can be narrow and hilly, hopefully your driver is not afraid of heights. By this point you have now entered Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument. You eventually are making your way through these canyons. There is a stop, if you have time that you should take. There is a 5 ½ mile trail to Lower Calf Creek Falls. The hike is easy but is long because the best place to put a parking lot is far away.
Devils Backbone
After leaving this section of road you are close to the town of Escalante, Utah. At the far end of town along the highway is the interagency visitor center to get information about the Grand Staircase National Monument as well as a park stamp. There is much to do in the monument but that is another article for another time. Just past the visitor center is Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, this park has a reservoir popular for fishing. There are RV spots available here.
Now the road is back in a more alpine but still southwest environment. It meanders through towns climbing higher approaching Bryce Canyon National Park. The road goes through the park for a short time where you can see a waterfall as well as the Mossy Cave trail. You have now reached the town of Bryce. This provides the main access to Bryce Canyon National Park as well as amenities for staying a night. Be sure to visit our Bryce Canyon page for more information. Further up the road is Red Canyon State Park with short tunnels of orange hoodoo like formations carved into them. Red Canyon State Park. If you need to get away from the crowds of Bryce Canyon be sure to stop here and take a hike or two at this beautiful state park. Just pass Red Canyon and you reach US-89. Take a right to Cedar Breaks National Monument or a left to Zion National Park. I hope you enjoyed your journey along one of the most scenic highways in America.
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