Scenic Byway 12
Utah's All-American Road through red-rock canyon country, from Panguitch past Bryce Canyon and over the Hogback ridge to Torrey near Capitol Reef.
Also known as Utah State Route 12
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length124 miles[1]Visit Utah gives about 123 miles.
- Drive timeAbout three hours of driving, or three days to experience it[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsUtah State Route 12[2]
- Start and endUS 89 near Panguitch to SR 24 near Torrey[2]
- Fees and passesNo fee to drive; parks along the way charge entry.[1]
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesBetween Calf Creek and Boulder the road climbs about three miles along the narrow Hogback ridge, with drop-offs on both sides.[3]
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
Scenic Byway 12 runs about 124 miles from US 89 near Panguitch to Torrey, near Capitol Reef National Park. It passes through Red Canyon's arches, climbs to Bryce Canyon City, and crosses the canyon country of south-central Utah.
Kodachrome Basin State Park is a short paved detour, and the Calf Creek trailhead leads to Lower Calf Creek Falls. Past Calf Creek, the road runs along the Hogback, a narrow ridge with drop-offs on both sides, before descending into Boulder.
FHWA suggests three hours of driving, or three days to see it properly.
Stops along the way
-
Red Canyon
Red rock arches beside the road near the west end.
Official information · 37.74388, -112.33543 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Bryce Canyon City
Gateway to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Official information · 37.67389, -112.15696 · about 1.3 mi from the route line
-
Kodachrome Basin State Park
Park with dozens of stone spires, a short paved detour.
Official information · 37.51578, -111.99743 · about 3.2 mi from the route line
-
Boulder
Small town past the Hogback.
Official information · 37.90824, -111.42306 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
-
Torrey
East end, eight miles from Capitol Reef National Park.
Official information · 38.29887, -111.41908 · about 1.1 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Escalante Farmers' MarketEscalante, UT · about 0.0 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Scenic Byway 12 (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Scenic Byway 12 (Visit Utah, Utah Office of Tourism) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Hidden Gems Along Scenic Byway 12 (Visit Utah) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).