We recently took 12 south from Torrey, towing our small trailer. One of the most beautiful rides we've ever taken. Be sure to stop at all of the signed overlooks, especially if it is a nice clear day -- you can see for more than a hundred miles.The infamous "hogback" was no big deal -- there were several pullouts available, and the drivers were going nice and slow.My point, I guess, is that folks really should not miss this great road if at all possible -- it is worth the extra time that it takes. Yes, it is twisty and narrow. But it is not unsafe (except, I'm sure, in snowy weather).

TY. Headed that way in two weeks.

I can't understand why some people are worried about sharp drop offs and twisty roads. My truck and TT have never jumped off the road into a ditch or cliff. Hiway 12 is a great drive. My wife says I look at maps to find the steepest, crookedest, crazy roads and plan my trips to hit them all.

SingleTree NFS CG about 12 miles south of Torrey is a nice overnight on 12. Several years ago the brakes on my trailer picked that strip of road to short out on the southbound run. Yikes. Finally found the short inside the axle tube after much searching.

BarabooBob, you are right that sharp drop-offs on narrow twisty roads are not "show stoppers," as long as you don't blow a tire or skid on black ice.Sliding off the road into a ditch is not the same as sliding off the road and over a thousand foot cliff. To put it another way, the likelihood of the triggering event (the skid or whatever) is exactly the same in both cases, but the magnitude of the consequences may not be the same.But really, Highway 12 is just not that tricky. My wife has a fear of heights and was not bothered a bit. She enjoyed the ride.

Hwy 12 in Utah between Torrey and Bryce -- amazing!

profdant139
Explorer II
May 05, 2021
Just to give you some idea of what the views were like, this was taken (not by me!) at Larb Hollow Overlook, south of Torrey. The red rock is the Waterpocket Fold (Capitol Reef), and the snowy mountains are the Henry Mountains to the east. When we were there three weeks ago, it looked just like this photo:

Click For Full-Size Image.
hotpepperkid
Explorer
May 03, 2021
morley wrote:
Before we went to Utah in 2013 we had heard about the hog back and how perilous it was. We drove over it going from Bryce to Torrey and enjoyed it immensely, beautiful scenery and not frightening at all. Glad that we could see it one of the highlites of the trip.

The time we took 12 from Bryce it was my wifes turn to drive. I ask her if she wanted me to drive but she said she was ok so on to Torrey we went. I got to do the sight seeing this time
morley
Explorer
May 03, 2021
Before we went to Utah in 2013 we had heard about the hog back and how perilous it was. We drove over it going from Bryce to Torrey and enjoyed it immensely, beautiful scenery and not frightening at all. Glad that we could see it one of the highlites of the trip.
agesilaus
Explorer III
May 03, 2021
We've driven it a number of times, towing or not. The one comment is to let you diesel idle after that steep pull if you enter the viewpoint. Great drive.

Current news, we are in the area right now, boondocking in the NF. Hwy 12 starting at Bryce and for 18 miles (as per the sign) is totally ripped up down to the dirt. No real delay coming in to Bryce from the west, going beyond Bryce or coming east expect serious delays. We haven't driven much past BCNP so no personal experience there.
lbrjet
Explorer
May 02, 2021
The most spectacular drive the US.
rexlion
Explorer
May 02, 2021
I drove that highway (emphasis on 'high') about 15 years ago. Stopped at the little ranger station near the top and he advised me on boondock sites up there. I wound up spending the rest of the afternoon and night less than 100 yards from the dropoff, and with a clear trail to the edge I of course walked and sat out there enjoying the view for quite a while.
profdant139
Explorer II
May 02, 2021
BarabooBob, you are right that sharp drop-offs on narrow twisty roads are not "show stoppers," as long as you don't blow a tire or skid on black ice.

Sliding off the road into a ditch is not the same as sliding off the road and over a thousand foot cliff. To put it another way, the likelihood of the triggering event (the skid or whatever) is exactly the same in both cases, but the magnitude of the consequences may not be the same.

But really, Highway 12 is just not that tricky. My wife has a fear of heights and was not bothered a bit. She enjoyed the ride.
voodoo101
Explorer
May 02, 2021
SingleTree NFS CG about 12 miles south of Torrey is a nice overnight on 12. Several years ago the brakes on my trailer picked that strip of road to short out on the southbound run. Yikes. Finally found the short inside the axle tube after much searching.
Darklock
Explorer
May 02, 2021
One of my favorite roads.
BarabooBob
Explorer III
May 02, 2021
I can't understand why some people are worried about sharp drop offs and twisty roads. My truck and TT have never jumped off the road into a ditch or cliff. Hiway 12 is a great drive. My wife says I look at maps to find the steepest, crookedest, crazy roads and plan my trips to hit them all.