Overall Route Rating
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4.77 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.77
35 Reviews

Motorcycle Route Author

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Jan 31, 2007

Rider Reviews

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steben53
15 McR Points
April 27, 2012
I've ridden the Blue Ridge Pkwy, the Dragon,…
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Guest
May 31, 2010
Excellent technical road!!!!! I had a blast even…
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Written Directions

Start in Panguitch, Utah and head south on US-89 and in about 8-10 miles you'll want to take the turn towards Bryce Canyon on Rte 12. Then just head east on Rte 12 the whole way to Torrey, UT which will be over 100 miles. I suggest you make sure you first enjoy Red Canyon with brilliant red cliffs then continue another 25 miles before turning right onto Bryce Canyon road and be sure to get lunch at Ruby's Inn. Get back onto Rte 12 and continue east for an about 3 hours through Dixie National Forest to Torrey, Utah. There are a few hotels there and you will be near Capital Reef National Park. It's a must do in the west.

Scenery

Unbelievable views of Red Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The Staircase is an incredible collection of multicolored cliffs, buttes, plateaus, mesas, and canyons. Bring a camera with plenty of memory space/film for this one!!! You'll also be passing through the Dixie National Forest.

Overall, it's a fantastic ride with many opportunities to stop hike and enjoy panoramic views. You need to plan a day of this trip to have enough time to take in all the great views which you really need to stop at!

Additional input from "hunnerbunner" (Sep 08): Red canyon, Bryce canyon, Hell's Backbone, Calf Creek and Boulder Mtn. give you a little taste of every type of scenery Utah has to offer, from red rock to slickrock to pine and aspen covered mountains.

Drive Enjoyment

Plenty of open road with hills, woods and canyons.

Additional input from "hunnerbunner" (Sep 08): A few miles of straights on either side of Escalante leave the rest of the road to writhe and twist over the landscape. Little heavy truck traffic keeps the surface in good shape, and I don't recall a whole lot of tar snakes.

Tourism Opportunities

A few small town along the way to enjoy and fill up at. I particularly recommend checking out Red Canyon and getting lunch at Ruby's Inn (see directions below).

Additional input from "hunnerbunner" (Sep 08): Hiking in Red Canyon, camping/lodging in Bryce Canyon, hiking at Calf Creek Falls, quaint restaurants in Escalante and Boulder, more camping on Boulder Mtn. A short detour in Cannonville takes you to Kodachrome Basin for more hiking and camping.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .
 

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Guest
October 29, 2012
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
One of if not the best ride in Utah. For a side trip take the Burr Trail, paved for a few miles, at Boulder just north of Escalante on HWY 12.
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Greg DuVal
February 8, 2020
20 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
This is one of the most scenic riders you will take. From Escalante to Boulder, you ride through many curves and a highway built on the boulders. There are many scenic turn outs to view the scenery. From Boulder to Torrey, you travel through the mountains so do this in the summer. Again, there are many scenic turn outs. Your sidewalls will get a work out on the mostly curved road.
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Guest
April 3, 2011
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Other
As we drove through this area on a longer trip, we decided it was worth a return visit dedicated to this route alone. We came back later that summer and camped in Escalante for 4 nights. Two days we rode back north towards Capitol Reef and did various hikes and activities along the way. Two days we rode south and west towards Bryce Canyon for other hikes and attractions.The views from the roads are amazing and there's even better scenery to be seen a light walk off the highway. Some of the best views we've enjoyed on a bike tour. Campground in Escalante was affordable and comfortable, not to mention an extremely convenient base location to spend a few days in the area. Everyone in our group loved this trip!
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