UTAH Hwy 89, 12 and 24

We towed our 34' fifth-wheel from Bryce to Torry on Utah 12 a few years ago and still remember it as one of our favorite drives--a highlight of the trip, and we never thought of it as being in any way difficult.

Here is one of our photos of that winding road (other views may be seen by using the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons:

Utah 12 Scenic Drive

Hi all,

I'll be doing a summer trip to Utah starting in Moab then to Torrey followed by Escalante and ending in Zion NP. I've been through here before several years ago but was not towing. One concern I have is from Torrey to Escalante on Hwy 12 has some steep elevation gains topping out at 9600 ft. The worst being 2400 ft gain within 15 miles. Not sure if that's considered extreme, moderate or what. My fiver is 36' and will weigh in around 13,500 lbs.

Like to hear from anyone who has similar length/weight and done this particular route in the summer. I'm more concerned with elevation vice going over the cliff. Aside from keeping all wheels on pavement am I crazy or nothing to stress over?

If you'll be there in the summer, try to camp somewhere a little higher up. It's pretty hot down by Boulder town and environs. Of course it does generally cool off at night. We often stay up at Singletree NFS CG. It's at 8000' so cooler. Flush toilets but no hookups. Does have a dump station. I read now that wireless internet is available for $5.

Capitol Reef NP is of course high on the list. The CG there has no hookups, but is in a cool setting in an old orchard. Many of the campsites are double wide, so you should be able to fit in one.

Bryce Canyon NP is also worth the visit. Nice CG's in the park, or stay at Ruby's just outside the gate.

Calf Creek Falls is worth the hike. Don't take your rig in there, I don't know if you'd get turned around.

There are also a number of slot canyons in that area. Scenic, interesting, and photogenic. Check out this link for descriptions. Spooky and Peekaboo are among our favorites and not to long. But not for those who are a little too wide or claustrophobic. (I wore holes in the rear pockets of some brand new pants easing my way through one place. I know to pay more attention now i.e. take the wallet out!) Dirt road out to the trail head, though, so if you're on bikes . . .

Someone replied with Gooseneck State Park. Talk about the middle of no where! It is so cool!!!! Oh yeah, full cel service and 18 (yep eighteen) channels of T.V. The moon was so bright and it was soooo quiet, with miles of view.

if you can find more time you won't be disappointed as it is a long ways between
destinations and all are worth the time to discover.
12 is a great road nothing like ore.3/129

Thank you kindly for the detailed replies.

Utah 12 remains one of our favorite scenic drives in the entire country. We towed a 34' fifth-wheel from Bryce Canyon to Torrey and never really thought about the road as being a problem. We just took it easy and enjoyed it greatly.

We stayed in Panguitch for our base. A little better availability and prices on food and gas than Ruby's. We rode 12 on our Harley last year and when I ask the Wife if she wanted to ride it in the reverse direction she said "not only NO, but H*LL NO". Those drop offs on both sides really scared her. We have a 32' rig with a trailer and I'm not really sure I would drive it over some of 12 either. X2 on Red Canyon and Bryce. Zion not so much for us. Too many people and too much traffic, no where to park.

Dave

Here are some links to places in Utah that we liked:

UT-12/24 area:

Ut-12 Scenic Byway
Scenic Backways off UT-12
Burr Trail
Hiking
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Kodachrome Basin State Park
Anasazi State Park
Calf Creek Falls
Hells Backbone
Capitol Reef National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Goblin Valley State Park

Moab area:
Kane Creek Road
Potash Lower Colorado Byway
Upper Colorado River UT-128 Scenic Byway
Sago Canyon
Dead Horse Point State Park
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Needles District

US-89 area:
Zion National Park
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

Monument Valley, Bluff, Blanding Area:
Monument Valley
UT-261 theMoki Dugway
Goosenecks State Park
Hovenweep National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument
Bluff Fort
South Fork of Mule Canyon
The Valley of The Gods
Edge of the Cedars State Park
Dinosaur Museum

We did that trip from Torey to Bryce and you shouldn't have any problems with that route. We based out of Cannonville KOA for Bryce area, and then out of Page AZ (Wahwep campground at Lake Powell). It's a beautiful facility and I really enjoyed hiking the slot canyons in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument area. Also don't forget about the slot canyons east of Page in the Navajo reservation area.

One of the unsung routes in that area is when you visit Horseshoe bend of Co. River, further south is the Navajo Bridge & the Marble Canyon, and further south still will take you on 89A through Kaibab National Forest, as you begin to come down out of the forest, stop at LaFevere Lookout Point you will look out north and you can see 5 of the 6 steps of the Grand Staircase. You can't see all 6 for the curvature of the earth....starting with Bryce the Pink Steps, Grey Steps, White Steps, Vermillion Steps, Chocolate Steps with the 6th being the Grand Canyon. It makes a great photograph.

That and the drive from Mt. Carmel Junction to Zion and traveling through the tunnel (with your big rig, you will have to wait, but the rangers have this down to a fine art and the wait isn't long and the view is spectacular). It's worth the trip there. We based out of Zion River Resort Park and were very pleased with the accommodations.