Scenic Byway 143 - Utah's Patchwork Parkway
SR 143 from Parowan up past Brian Head and Cedar Breaks, across high meadows and Panguitch Lake, down to historic Panguitch on US 89.
Also known as Utah's Patchwork Parkway; SR 143
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length51 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout two hours[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsSR 143[2]
- Start and endParowan (I-15 Exit 75) to Panguitch at the junction with US 89[2]
- Fees and passesNo fees to drive the byway; campgrounds and attractions may charge fees.[1]
- Best seasonSummer, when the whole route is open; fall brings color around Cedar Breaks[4]
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesSteep climb: the route climbs 4,400 feet in less than 10 miles through Parowan Canyon.[2]
- Seasonal closuresThrough Cedar Breaks, SR 143 stays open almost year-round, with temporary closures during heavy snow and strong winds until it is plowed.[3]
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 29, 2026.
About the drive
Utah's Patchwork Parkway follows SR 143 from Parowan, off I-15, across the high plateau to Panguitch on US 89. The name recalls settlers who crossed the plateau in midwinter by laying quilts on the deep snow.
Out of Parowan the road climbs about 4,400 feet in under 10 miles to Brian Head, then passes Cedar Breaks National Monument and its deep amphitheater of colored rock. East of the monument it crosses open alpine meadows, skirts young lava flows, passes Panguitch Lake and drops through South Canyon to Panguitch.
Both end towns keep a lot of 19th-century pioneer architecture. The drive takes about two hours. Through Cedar Breaks, SR 143 usually stays open in winter but can close for a while in heavy storms.
Stops along the way
-
Parowan
Pioneer town with 19th-century buildings at the west end.
-
Brian Head
Utah's highest-elevation community and a ski resort at the top of the canyon.
-
Cedar Breaks National Monument
A 2,000-foot-deep amphitheater of colored rock; North View Overlook is reachable from SR 143.
-
Panguitch Lake
Large mountain lake known for fishing.
-
Panguitch
East end; the whole original townsite is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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
- Year-Round Cedar City Farmers' MarketCedar City, UT · about 12.4 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.
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- AlmondsAug, Sep, Oct
- Asian pearsAug, Sep, Oct
- BasilJun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- BlackberriesJun, Jul, Aug
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Zion Scenic BywayUT · about 43 mi away
- Scenic Byway 12UT · about 62 mi away
- Kaibab Plateau-North Rim ParkwayAZ · about 95 mi away
- The Energy Loop: Huntington/Eccles Canyons Scenic BywayUT
- Nebo Loop Scenic BywayUT
- Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric HighwayCO, UT
More scenic drives in Utah
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- America's Byways: Scenic Byway 143 - Utah's Patchwork Parkway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Scenic Byway 143 - Utah's Patchwork Parkway (Recreation.gov) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Current Conditions (Cedar Breaks National Monument, NPS) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Scenic Byway 143 - Utah's Patchwork Parkway: Visitor Services (byways.org, FHWA National Scenic Byways Program) (archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.
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).