Scenic Byway 12 — officially designated an All-American Road and sometimes called the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway — runs 124 miles across some of the most geologically varied terrain in the American West. It connects US-89 near Panguitch on the west with SR-24 near Torrey on the northeast, passing through elevation swings from about 4,000 to over 9,000 feet. For travelers based in Bryce Canyon City, this is the road that opens up the entire southern Utah plateau.
What You Pass Through
Heading east from Panguitch, the road enters Red Canyon almost immediately — a free drive-through area of vivid red hoodoos that provides a preview of Bryce in miniature. Past Bryce Canyon City, Byway 12 descends into the Tropic Valley before climbing through the towns of Cannonville and Escalante. Beyond Escalante, it crosses the Hogsback — a narrow ridgeline section where the road runs along a spine with canyon drop-offs on both sides — then climbs onto Boulder Mountain through dense spruce and aspen forest. The route ends near Capitol Reef National Park at Torrey.
Key Access Points
- Red Canyon — tunnels and short hiking trails, no fee
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument — slot canyons, arches, and backcountry routes accessible from Escalante
- Calf Creek Recreation Area — 5.5-mile round-trip hike to a 126-foot waterfall
- Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder — Ancestral Puebloan artifacts and ruins
Practical Notes
The road is open year-round, but winter storms can close or ice over the Boulder Mountain section without warning. There is no fee to drive Byway 12 itself, though individual stops like Calf Creek and Bryce Canyon carry their own entrance fees. Fill your gas tank in Escalante or Boulder — services are sparse between the two towns and beyond.
