Scenic Byway 12:
This is one of the top ten Scenic Highways in America. It passes by or through two national parks (Bryce Canyon & Capitol Reef), three state parks, a national monument and the Dixie National Forest. The entire highway is approximately 120 miles in length and is definitely a full day drive if you choose to go its full length and back. This highway begins just 40 minutes north of Zion Mountain Ranch at the junction of Scenic Highway 89 and Scenic Highway 12. To get to this byway - go east from Zion Mountain Ranch (10 minutes) and then go north on highway 89 (30 minutes) until you come to the junction. Immediately you will pass through Red Canyon which is often mistaken for being Bryce Canyon. You will be driving through the bottom of the canyon and looking up at large limestone formations that have the same look (Hoodoos) as you will see in Bryce Canyon National Park. There is a visitor information center here and is worth a short photo stop.
From here continue up onto the Paunsaugunt Plateau where you will come to the junction of Byway 12 and 63 (the turn to Bryce Canyon ). You may venture three miles south on 63 to the gate of Bryce Canyon or continue along Scenic Byway 12. The towns of Tropic, Cannonville and Henrieville are just off the plateau (11-16 miles) and all are quaint places to view as you pass-through. Tropic offers the most in fuel and food services. Cannonville is the town where you can turn-off and go to see Kodachrome Basin State Park (7 miles). Scenic Byway 12 begins to turn north just past Tropic, Cannonville and Henrieville and then heads up onto another plateau and to the town of Escalante. As you follow this course - keep an eye on Powell Point to the left side of the car - your route will take you nearly 180 degrees around this mountain which is over 10,000 feet in elevation. In Escalante you will find a few small shops and restaurants and just outside of town is the Petrified Forest State Park. Worth a short visit if you want to see some large petrified logs. Just outside of town you may wish to turn down the Hole-in-the-rock road (10 minutes - dirt road) and visit Devils Garden. These formations are incredibly unique. Just past Escalante is Calf Creek Falls where you can pull into the campground area and splash your feet in the creek or take a walk to see the fall (2.5 miles each direction - mostly flat). As you drive past Calf Creek Falls you will go up onto a ridge-line kindly referred to as the Hogback. The road follows the spine of a rock ridge that drops about 1,000 feet on both sides of the car. The views are spectacular. Continuing on up the road you will soon come to the town of Boulder. Another scenic back way drops off into the canyons here - called the Burr Trail (this is worth a short drive for a few miles). From Boulder you will rise in elevation in the forest to over 9,000 feet. There are several view points here so take some time to stop and look off into the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and into Capitol Reef National Monument. Most days you will be able to see over 90 miles to Navajo Mountain on the other side of Lake Powell and to the Henry Mountains (due east).
From the top you will wander down through the curving roads and aspens to the town of Torrey. Just outside of Torrey is Capitol Reef National Park. You can venture into Capitol Reef for a minute and then either return the way you came or circle west on highway 24 - drop down on 62 to Kingston and Marysvale - through Circleville and Panguitch and then head south until you come to Mt. Carmel and then turn right to come back to us. Is this a good long day-trip? Absolutely - but it is one that will leave you spell-bound with what you have seen. You don't have to go all the way up highway 12 to enjoy it. Just going to Bryce Canyon and Kodachrome Basin is great and will make for a shorter drive.