Stunning views on the drive
This is the jaw-dropping view that greeted us when we started driving on the Highway 12 scenic byway making our way from Bryce Canyon National Park to Capitol Reef National Park. Highway 12 is Utah’s first All-American road, making it a top destination by itself. It’s easy to see why! Rocky mountains as far as the eye can see, lofty snow-capped peaks, freshly fallen brilliant white snow contrasting with red rocks creating a unique landscape which would be hard to replicate anywhere else in the world.
All set to hike in Kodachrome Basin State Park
The scenic byway is home to many spectacular attractions, but I will highlight three main ones here – (1) Kodachrome Basin State Park (2) Anasazi State Park Museum (3) Hogback and Hell’s Backbone roads. Just a short drive from Bryce Canyon, our first stop on Highway 12 was Kodachrome Basin State Park. The park got its name from a National Geographic Expedition group who passed through the park in 1948 and were mesmerized by its varied golden-hued tones. They named the park after the color film of their time – Kodachrome.
Hiking the Panorama Trail in Kodachrome Basin State Park
The park has a number of trails which weave through the desert, badlands, geysers and rocky scenery. The fossilized geysers are particularly interesting; they are also called sedimentary sand pipes. There are 67 of these pipe formations which dominate the landscape. Panorama Trail (3-4 miles roundtrip) is a great hike that covers all the highlights and is easy to do even in the snow. It’s exciting to get close to the tall sand pipes (some are 170+ feet tall!) and imagine them as they were a long time ago – spouting steam, water and vapor like those that make Yellowstone National Park famous.
The golden orangish-red hues of Kodachrome State Park for which the park owes its name
This park is a great spot to stretch your legs after driving on Highway 12. Plan for a couple hours to explore the park, more if you want to go off on the side trails. After wandering around Kodachrome to our heart’s content, we got back onto the highway. We were looking forward to driving a popular section of the Scenic Byway called the Hogback where the road twists and turns sinuously on high mountain ridges with sheer drop-offs on either side!
Incredible views, but keep your eyes on the road!
Driving on the Hogback in Utah definitely commands your full attention! The narrow two-lane road is barely wide enough to accommodate two cars, and the ridge dramatically drops away on either side, opening up to 360 degree panoramic views of the entire landscape. Without doubt, the Hogback was our favorite part to drive on Highway 12.
Driving on the Hogback on Highway 12!
Just before the city of Boulder on Highway 12, is a fork that leads to Hell’s Backbone Road. We drove on this a bit but it was all gravel, so we turned back after getting a taste of “hell”. For the truly adventurous who don’t mind a bone-shaking ride, check out Hell’s Backbone Road which bridges high mountains in Boulder to deep canyons in Escalante.
Watch out – Hell’s Backbone Bridge ahead!
We were eager to check out the Anasazi State Park Museum which is near the tiny town of Boulder. The museum is located on the actual ancient site of the Anasazi. Archaeologists have found that the area was inhabited between A.D 1050 – 1175. The park has taken great care in excavating and restoring the ruins of the Ancient Puebloans, along with reconstruction of what a typical dwelling would have looked like.
Arrowheads made of different materials including petrified wood at the Anasazi State Park Museum
The museum houses many interesting artifacts, including arrowheads made of obsidian and petrified wood. The replica dwelling is a short walk away. The entrances looked big, but the Anasazi were on average less than ~5 ft tall, so the entrances are not more than 3-4 ft high. We were able to go in and take a look around. It was a fascinating if somewhat claustrophobic experience.
Lifesize replica of an Anasazi dwelling
The ancient Puebloan site is known as Coombs site and archaeologists have found nearly 100 structures and assess that nearly 200 people used to live here. There are short trails leading off to the excavated sites which are a great way to explore the area and learn more about the Anasazi way of life.
Mule deer look on cautiously as we stop for a break on Highway 12
Highway 12 in Utah is a truly spectacular drive. Internationally famous and rightly so, this scenic All-American road is bound to take your breath away as you drive and hike in a landscape which has been a million years in the making. This brings us to the end of our winter hiking adventures in Utah. We hiked at Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park and more on our spectacular “Grand Circle” road-trip through Utah’s red-rock landscapes. I hope these posts help you with planning your next trip to Utah’s winter wonderland!
Approaching Capitol Reef National Park at dusk, Henry Mountains in the backdrop
If you go: – Plan to spend at least half a day or more when driving the Highway 12, especially if you want to hit up all the scenic stops and do some hiking in the state parks. – Click here for a complete route guide with full details on Scenic Byway 12.Happy Hiking!
~ Trupti