Scenic Byway 12's Epic Driving Tour

Estimated Time

Distance

Works Offline

Tours & Maps Included

Tour Highlights

Mossy Cave and Tropic Ditch Falls

Start near Bryce Canyon with a waterfall made by pioneers who dug a ditch through the mountain in the 1890s.

Powell Point Vista

See the pink cliffs named for John Wesley Powell, the one-armed explorer of the Colorado River.

Upper Valley Granaries

Spot ancient stone storage rooms built into the cliffs by the Fremont people.

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

Learn how a lush forest from long ago turned to colorful stone.

Hole-in-the-Rock Wayside

Hear how 250 pioneers blasted a notch in a cliff and lowered 83 wagons down to the Colorado River.

Lower Calf Creek Falls

Find the trailhead to a 126-foot waterfall, with ancient rock art along the way.

The Hogback

Drive one of America's most thrilling roads, perched on a narrow ridge with no guardrails.

Anasazi State Park Museum

Visit a village where Ancestral Puebloans lived and farmed nearly 900 years ago.

Boulder Mountain

Climb through aspen forests to overlooks with views that stretch for dozens of miles.

Is This Tour Right for You?

Perfect if you:

Love history and fascinating stories

What To explore at your own pace

prefer a private experience

What to avoid expensive group tours

Maybe not if you:

Don't have a phone

Like to follow the tour guide

Don't like stories

Don't like to go at your own pace

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Scenic Byway 12 driving tour take?

About three hours of driving without stopping. Most people take a full day, or split it over two days, to enjoy the hikes and overlooks.

Does the tour work without cell service?

Yes. Download the tour before you go, and it runs completely offline using your phone's GPS. Cell service is spotty along much of the byway.

Can I pause the tour or explore at my own pace?

Yes. This is a fully self-guided tour—pause anytime to hike, take photos, or grab a coffee, and press play when you're ready to keep going.

Are there admission fees along the way?

The drive itself is free. Some stops charge fees. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park was $10 per vehicle at the time this tour was made, and Anasazi State Park Museum and the Calf Creek day-use area also charge small fees. Check current prices before you go.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Bryce Canyon Resort on Highway 12, just outside Bryce Canyon National Park, and ends at the Wayne County Tourism office in Torrey, near Capitol Reef National Park.

Is the Hogback scary to drive?

It can feel that way. The road sits on a narrow ridge with steep drops and no guardrails. Drive slowly, stay in your lane, and don't stop on the ridge.