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Home > Trip Reports > Utah Highway 12
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Highway 12 from near Escalante
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Burr Trail near Boulder
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Utah Highway 12
April 2007
UT
posted by Explorer49
There is a section of road in south central Utah that runs aprox. 150 miles from near Panguitch NE to Torrey, UT. On its way it crosses back and forth between the Dixie National Forest and the Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument, it is the only route to Bryce Canyon NP, passes through the community of Escalante and tops out at 9200 ft near the North end. It hangs on ridgelines with 1000 ft drops on either side and then switchbacks down into the canyons below. Along its route there are numerous hiking trail heads, FS roads and alternate scenic routes, I highly recommend traveling at least the first 20 miles up and back on the Burr Trail rd (near Boulder, UT) for an amazingly up close look at the geology of the area as you wind through canyons and under red rock cliffs. The community of Escalante lies just about midway and there you will find the Escalante Outfitters with all the gear and supplies you will need, the operators are also a wealth of information on the backcountry of the area should you want to get off of the highway and onto a trail. Camping is limited in the area however any time you are in the GS-E Monument you are on BLM land and primitive camping is allowed just about anywhere you can find a flat spot. There is a small state campground at Calf Cr that fills up fast however is well worth staying at and hiking the 6 mile RT trail north along the creek for a history lesson. The 10 mile section at the W end of the highway just outside of Bryce runs through the Red Canyon area complete with a couple campgrounds and a dozen trailheads right off of the road.
Whether you just zip through in a few hours or spend a couple days in this area I am sure its one you wont forget, its one of them rare gems nestled in a pile of jewels.
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