As you travel Scenic Byway 12, take time to explore the designated scenic backways. A scenic backway is a paved or dirt road that reaches less traveled, but breathtaking areas. Check with the nearest visitor center or any local business for road and weather conditions. Be sure to have plenty of gasoline, food and water as there are usually no facilities along these beautiful corridors.

Some of the Scenic Backways are gateways to Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument. Stop at the Interagency Visitor Center in Escalante or at the Cannonville Visitor Center in Cannonville for information and maps of the area. When driving in the back country, please remember that driving off road is not permitted. * Indicates the road is inside Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument


A
 East Fork of the Sevier Scenic Backway
Double and single lane gravel road / passenger cars / fair weather only
Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities for seeing pronghorn, deer, prairie dogs, and elk. Features: East Fork of the Sevier River, Tropic Reservoir, Great Western Trail, Dixie National Forest and King Creek Campground. Distance 17 miles one way (1-1/2 hours).

B
 Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Backway*
Graded dry-weather road. Do not travel this route if storms are threatening. Passenger car in good weather.
A photographer’s dream. Features: Kodachrome Basin State Park (camping and picnicking facilities), Grosvenor Arch, Cockscomb and Paria River. Paved to Kodachrome State Park, dirt thereafter. Distance 49 miles (2 hrs).

C
 Griffin Top Scenic Backway
Narrow single lane dirt and gravel road (closed in winter) / passenger cars
This 32-mile gravel road crosses the Table Cliffs Plateau on the Dixie National Forest. Features: secluded lakes, excellent wildlife viewing, and vistas from the high plateau. The road is closed in winter and open to snowmobiles. Distance 32 miles (1 hour).

D
 Smoky Mountain Scenic Backway*
Dirt and gravel / impassable in bad weather / high clearance vehicles
This rugged corridor between Scenic Byway 12 and US 89 requires a high clearance vehicle. Spectacular views of the top of the Kaiparowits Plateau, Navajo Mountain, and Lake Powell can be seen while traveling this backway. Distance 78 miles (5 hours).

E
 Posey Lake Scenic Backway
Double and single lane dirt and gravel road (closed in winter)
Camping, fishing, hiking, hunting and mountain biking opportunities abound on the road through the Dixie National Forest. This backway provides access to Posey Lake and campground with beautiful scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. The backway starts in Escalante and ends on Highway 24 at Bicknell. Distance 40 miles (2 hours).
F
 Hole-in-the-Rock Scenic Backway*
Gravel & graded dirt rd / passenger cars; 4-wheel required for last 7 miles.
Step back in time and travel the route that Mormon pioneers took on their historic journey to San Juan country. Access to Devils Garden, Dance Hall Rock, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Hole-in-the-Rock and several hiking trailheads. Last seven miles requires a high clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle. Distance 57 miles one way (8 hours round trip).

G
 Burr Trail Scenic Backway*
Hard surfaced, dirt & gravel road / passenger car in good weather; high clearance vehicle recommended.
Beautiful scenery can be found around every turn! Access to Deer Creek Campground, Long Canyon, Capitol Reef National Park, Lake Powell and Bullfrog Marina. May be impassable when wet. Distance 66 miles (3 hrs).

H
 Hell’s Backbone Road
Gravel and dirt road (closed in winter) / high clearance vehicles recommended
Although this is not a designated scenic backway, Hell’s Backbone is one of the most dramatic roads in the area. The road makes a loop connecting Escalante with Scenic Byway 12, three miles west of Boulder. From the Posey Lake Scenic Backway, Hell’s Backbone heads east, passes Blue Spruce Campground and circles Box-Death Hollow Wilderness Area. Hell’s Backbone Bridge is an engineering feat. Distance 44 miles (2 hours).

I
 Notom Road Scenic Backway
Dry weather road (open all year) / passenger cars in good weather
Notom Road parallels the Waterpocket Fold of Capitol Reef National Park. It passes through the eastern section of Capitol Reef between Highway 24 and the Burr Trail. Views of the Henry Mountains and Waterpocket Fold Monocline are among the highlights. May be impassable when wet. Distance 35 miles (2 hours).

J
 Bull Mountain Road Scenic Backway
Single lane dry weather road / 4-wheel drive vehicles recommended
Vistas of the Colorado Plateau can be seen along the Bull Mountain Road. It climbs from the desert floor to 10,500 feet as it crosses the Henry Mountains. Splendid scenery includes beautiful canyons, red cliffs, forests and mountains. Impassable in winter and when wet. Distance 68 miles (6 to 7 hours).

AREA CODE IS 435
CONTACT INFORMATION
UTAH IS ON MOUNTAIN TIME

Dixie National Forest
Dixie Nat’l Forest Supervisor’s Office ........ 865-3200
  1789 N. Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City, UT 84721
Powell Ranger District .............................. 676-9300
  225 E Center St, PO Box 80, Panguitch, UT 84759
Escalante Ranger District ......................... 826-5400
  755 W Main St, PO Box 246, Escalante, UT 84726
Teasdale Ranger District ........................... 425-9500
  138 E Main St, PO Box 99, Teasdale, UT 84773

National Park Service
Bryce Canyon National Park ...................... 834-5322
  Bryce Canyon, UT 84717
Capitol Reef National Park ......................... 425-3791
  HC-70, Box 15, Torrey, UT 84775-9602
Glen Canyon Nat'l Rec Area ....................... 826-5499
  Escalante Ranger Station
  755 W Main St, PO Box 511, Escalante, UT 84726

Bureau of Land Management
GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NAT’L MONUMENT
Escalante Interagency Visitor Center .......... 826-5499
  755 W Main St, PO Box 246, Escalante, UT 84726
Cannonville Visitor Center ......................... 679-8981
  10 Center St, Cannonville, UT 84718

Visitor Centers
• Red Canyon Hwy 12 (USFS-seasonal)
• Bryce Canyon National Park Hwy 63
• Cannonville Visitor Center 10 Center St (GSENM)
• Escalante Interagency Visitor Center (GSENM)
755 W Main (Hwy 12)
• Boulder Anasazi State Park Museum, Hwy 12
• Wildcat/Boulder Mountain Hwy 12 (USFS-seasonal)
• Torrey Jct Hwy 12 & 24
• Capitol Reef National Park Hwy 24

Utah State Parks
Kodachrome Basin State Park .................... 679-8562
  PO Box 238, Cannonville, UT 84718-0238
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park .......... 826-4466
  Hwy 12, PO Box 350, Escalante, UT 84726-0350
Anasazi State Park Museum ....................... 335-7308
  Hwy 12, PO Box 1329, Boulder, UT 84716-1329

Travel Councils
Garfield County Travel Council .......... 1-800-444-6689
  PO Box 200, Panguitch, UT 84759
  www.brycecanyoncountry.com
Wayne County Travel Council ........... 1-800-858-7951
  PO Box 7, Teasdale, UT 84773
  www.capitolreef.org