Utah State Route 12 cutting through red-rock country

Grand Staircase-Escalante, Utah

Scenic Byway 12

An All-American Road through red canyons, pine forests, pioneer towns, and the Hogback.

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Photo: Christian Mehlführer · Wikimedia Commons

Distance123 miles

Wheel time4 hr 15 min

Road demandEngaging

ShapePoint to point

Why this road

The drive in one breath.

This is the long, full-day drive in the collection: nearly 123 miles connecting Panguitch and Torrey. The landscape changes so dramatically that every hour feels like a different route.

Route outline

Panguitch, UT to Torrey, UT

Directions to start

Panguitch, UT

Start

Red Canyon

Red-rock tunnels announce the beginning of the route.

Head of the Rocks

A wide overlook across slickrock folds and distant mesas.

The Hogback

A narrow ridgeline section with steep drop-offs and expansive views.

Torrey, UT

Finish

Built with no more than three route anchors so the Google Maps handoff works reliably on mobile.

When to go

Good light and low traffic are not the same thing.

Best views

Morning through golden hour

Spring and fall are mildest; high sections can see winter weather.

Quietest window

Weekdays outside holiday weekends

Generally light, with clusters near Bryce Canyon and Escalante.

Worth pulling over for

3 stops, chosen on purpose.

Red Canyon

Red-rock tunnels announce the beginning of the route.

Head of the Rocks

A wide overlook across slickrock folds and distant mesas.

The Hogback

A narrow ridgeline section with steep drop-offs and expansive views.

Community road notes

What the drive felt like lately.

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