Scenic Byway 12

A nearly 2-million acre expanse of outdoor lover’s paradise. The forest includes peaks and plateaus, lakes and valleys.

Located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles.

Explore an Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) village that was likely occupied from A.D. 1050 to 1200, and one of the largest communities west of the Colorado River. Outside the museum, tour a life-sized, six-room replica of an ancient dwelling and view a portion of the original site. Inside, view artifacts excavated from this site and learn the lifeways of these people.

Calf Creek is a perennial stream located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. There are two waterfalls which you can visit, the upper falls and the lower falls. Though both hikes are enjoyable, the lower falls is more accessible, an easier hike, a bigger drop, and much more popular. The 6-mile out-and-back hike is relatively flat, and the trailhead is located just off of Utah Scenic Byway 12, the highway between Escalante and Boulder. There is a sign for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Calf Creek Recreation Area

From its spectacular Grand Staircase of cliffs and terraces, across the rugged Kaiparowits Plateau to the wonders of the Escalante River Canyons, the Monument is a diverse geologic treasure speckled with monoliths, slot canyons, natural bridges, and arches. The lands along the Grand Staircase Escalante are managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

If you're a hiker, camper, or like to drive through the mountains, you'll like the beauty of the Henrys. You can drive the Bull Creek Pass Back Country Byway and see dramatically titled rock layers in the Waterpocker Fold or view the Pink Cliffs. The Bull Creek Pass Back Country Byway is managed by the Burearu of Land Management

Activities include backcountry touring, hiking, or camping. The Henry Mountains Field Station maintains small, developed campgrounds at Lonesome Beaver, McMillan Springs, and Starr Springs. The campgrounds have pit toilets, picnic tables, fire grills, parking spaces, and water.

Day 1

Starting in Panguitch, enjoy a hearty breakfast in town before heading out on the byway. Drive southeast for 23 miles to reach Bryce Canyon National Park. Head to the Sunset Campground, and set up camp. Be certain to make reservations in advance. Pack a lunch and follow the Calf Creek Falls trail three miles to the 130-foot waterfall oasis amid red rocks. Return to camp before dark. After dinner, enjoy the dark sky with an astronomy program or a ranger-guided full moon hike. Settle into a deep slumber in this international dark sky park.

Day 2

Make a camp breakfast, then head out for another hike or hire a guide for a day of canyoneering in the slot canyons. After you pack up your campsite, visit the Bryce Wildlife Museum. Follow the byway back to Panguitch or continue on the route for another adventure.