Taking a scenic road trip is a must for any classic American summer – but so many of the long trips that are available today have been turned into boring highways filled with billboards and not much else. If you want to enjoy the ride along the way, your best bet is to turn off the main roads and enjoy the byways. These are smaller roads that are less crowded, winding their way through stunning scenery in some of America’s most beautiful wilderness. In Utah, a trip along the byways means seeing gorgeous limestone cliffs, red rock canyons, and more. Here are 10 of the most beautiful byways in Utah that you can’t miss.
If you only have time for one road trip this year, Scenic Byway 12 is the perfect route. Cover 119 miles from Panguitch, Utah, to Torrey, Utah, it includes views of the canyons, the rock towers, the pine forests, and the mountains, along with sleepy pioneer towns, national parks, and recreational areas for stops. You can get a view of literally everything on this one trip, and it’s all absolutely breathtaking. One of the highlights of this trip is getting to see stunning panoramas of the wilderness that stretches in all directions. You’ll also go through Boulder on this trip, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity for food and refueling.
Beginning in Logan, Utah, and stretching 41 miles to Garden City at the Idaho border, the road known as U.S. 89 – better known to the locals as the Logan Canyon Byway – is a gorgeous trip that follows the Logan River. Along the way, you’ll see the limestone cliffs’ craggy faces watching you as you head towards the crystal clear Bear Lake. Once you pass the lake, it’s all winding mountain roads till you reach Garden City. This trip is beautiful in the autumn when the leaves are changing colors, or during the summer when the lake is a tropical turquoise under the sun.
Want a longer road trip that is just as scenic? The Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway is a 512-mile long byway that connects to Interstate 170 starting in Moab, Utah. It heads north through Utah, and then continues back all the way to Colorado, so you’ll see a huge portion of the Utah countryside as you drive. This byway gets its name from all the dinosaur museums and active dig sites that are located along the way, but the real treat for passers-by is all the rock art you’ll see along the highway. If canyons and rock formations are what you love, this byway is a must.
Starting at Parowan, Utah, and stretching for 51 miles to Panguitch, Utah, S.R. 143 (called the Patchwork Parkway by locals), is a stunning mountain road with a unique history. In the late 1800s, the road was a path forged by pioneers during a deadly snowstorm. In order to make it through without sinking, the pioneers threw patchwork quilts down on the ground, walked over the quilts, and then repeated…all the way across the entire trip. There are multiple educational plaques along the road to stop and learn more about Utah’s pioneer heritage.
If you want a scenic route that offers multiple ways to experience the view, try Utah’s Trail of the Ancients. You can take a 480-mile trip side-style, or drive counter-clockwise for a trip that spans 300 miles. The route starts in either Monticello, Blanding, or Bluff, Utah, and goes all the way into both Colorado and Arizona depending on the direction you travel. It’s filled to the brim with important cultural and archaeological sights, but you’ll also see amazing views of the mountains and canyons. It also goes through the Navajo Tribal park and takes you over a few gravel switchbacks – not for the faint of heart!
The Nebo Loop is a short 38-mile trip, perfect for an afternoon of sight-seeing while you visit Utah. It starts in Payson, Utah, and winds its way along the Grotto Falls Trail past the Payson Lakes until you reach Nephi, Utah. Along the way, you’ll see canyons and the historic Payson Guard Station. There’s also a stop where you can look out over the gorgeous view of Mount Nebo.
Drive through the breathtaking foliage of Wasatch-Cache National Forest on your way to Mirror Lake on this beautiful byway. It starts in Kamas, Utah, and you’ll see roaming wildlife, beautiful mountain views, and some very pretty trees and rolling hills along the way. It’s pretty common to see bison sharing the road with you on this 78-mile trip.
This scenic byway is a 133-mile long trip, starting in Hanksville, Utah, and going all the way to Blanding. You’ll start off surrounded by the view of the Henry Mountains, till you get to canyon country, where red rocks and cliff faces will offer stunning sights. Once you cross Lake Powell, you’ll see more trees and wildlife, along with the beautiful water. This road tends to be less traveled, making it perfect for a leisurely drive, and the route does take you right by the Natural Bridges National Monument and some ancient Puebloan ruins that you can get out and explore. By the time you reach the end of the trip, you’ll get to see some of the beautifully colored cliffs that rise up over the valley.
Bear Lake is a very short, 10-mile drive that is totally worth the extra 15 minutes out of your day for a quick soul refresher. It is along Highway 30, starting in Laketown, Utah, and extending to Garden City, and follows Bear Lake. The water is known for being tropically turquoise, and it’s a great drive in the summer with the top down! Garden City offers plenty of ways to cool down including legendary milkshakes, making this an ideal addition to your summer road trip plans.
The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway is a 26-mile trip along S.R. 9, which winds through the canyons and rock formations of the Zion National Park. You do have to pay a small toll to get to the byway, but the amazing up-close view of the red rocks and limestone formations are well worth it. You’ll see wildlife and jaw-dropping cliff faces on this short road trip, perfect for filling in some time between other activities in the area.
Whether you want to get out for a fun afternoon soaking up the sights of Utah, or you’re planning a long summer road trip with multiple stops and days of breathtaking views, there are many byways that offer the perfect scenery. Utah is filled with every type of view you could want, from sparkling waters and mountains to lush forests and craggy canyons. Plan out your trip to hit some of the most interesting historical sights along the way, or simply go where the road takes you. Finally, make sure you’re ready for this next road trip by getting your cheap car insurance in Utah here.
For More Info:
https://www.visitutah.com/plan-your-trip/getting-around-utah/scenic-byways/