Scenic Highway 12, Utah

At elevations ranging from 5,000 to over 9,000 feet above sea level, Scenic Highway 12 curves 124 miles throughout the rugged landscape of southwestern Utah. The highway took nearly four decades to build and spans the area between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks. If visitors plan on traveling this way, they can access the highway from either US 89 or Highway 12. As they drive along, take some time to check out popular tourist destinations along the way, such as the Dixie National Forest, the Kodachrome Basin State Park, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and the Anasazi State Park Museum. With national parks, historic towns, state parks, and a national monument along this route, there’s a new experience around every bend in the road.

Scenic Highway 12 is one of the most scenic roads in the United States, and also one of the most beautiful highways in the world. There are two major National Parks that travelers will come across on this road. Highway 12 cuts through some of the most stunning and rough terrain in Southern Utah. Along the route, visitors will get a great view of jagged red-rock formations, deep slot canyons, green alpine forests, and rolling meadows. Some travelers drive it all in one go, while others take time to make stops along the way to check out some of the unique sites.