Utah Scenic Byway 12, Bryce to Capitol Reef

Driving

by Plot Along: Southwest

Utah State Route 12 between Bryce Canyon National Park and the eastern edge of Capitol Reef National Park, roughly 122 miles. Designated an All-American Road. Often ranked among the most scenic drives in the country.

The road passes through six distinct landscapes. It runs from Bryce's pink hoodoo amphitheaters through the ponderosa highlands of Dixie National Forest, the slickrock canyon of the Escalante River, the narrow ridge-top "Hogback" between Escalante and Boulder, and Boulder Mountain's 11,000-foot aspen plateau before ending in the red sandstone basin of Capitol Reef.

The byway is open year-round but snow can close Boulder Mountain in winter. The full traversal is best done with at least one overnight given the volume of side trips (Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument trailheads, Anasazi State Park, Calf Creek Falls).

Learn more: scenicbyway12.com

1
Sunset Point (Bryce)
The classic Bryce Canyon overlook and the start of this drive, with the densest view into the amphitheater of orange hoodoos and the famous Thor's Hammer below. The top of the Navajo Loop and its Wall Street switchbacks drop from here into the spires.
2
Powell Point Vista
Overlook of Powell Point, the southernmost prow of the Aquarius Plateau (the highest plateau in North America). Named for explorer John Wesley Powell, who mapped the surrounding canyon country in the 1870s.
3
Head of the Rocks Overlook
Pullout at the top of SR-12's steep climb out of Escalante, with a sweeping view east over the slickrock canyon country that drops into the Escalante River.
4
Calf Creek Viewpoint
Drive-up overlook above Calf Creek Canyon, looking down on the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail corridor. The 126-ft falls themselves are a 6-mile round-trip hike from the trailhead at the base.
5
The Hogback
The narrowest section of SR-12, where the road runs along a knife-edge slickrock ridge between Escalante and Boulder with steep drops on both sides. Pullouts on either end of the ridge let you stop and take it in.
6
Steep Creek Overlook
Overlook of the Steep Creek drainage where SR-12 begins its climb of Boulder Mountain into the aspen highlands.
7
Overlook Capitol Reef NP
High overlook on Boulder Mountain looking east toward the red sandstone basin of Capitol Reef, the last big view before the descent into Torrey.

Sunset Point (Bryce)

Powell Point Vista

Head of the Rocks Overlook

Calf Creek Viewpoint

The Hogback

Steep Creek Overlook

Overlook Capitol Reef NP