A legendary 66-mile backway from Boulder through Long Canyon's red narrows, across the Circle Cliffs, and down the famous Burr Trail Switchbacks — a dramatic set of dirt hairpins dropping 800 feet through Capitol Reef's Waterpocket Fold. The first 30 miles from Boulder are paved and jaw-dropping in any car.
| Category | Scenic Drive |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Boulder |
| Top activities | Driving Long Canyon's sheer red walls, Singing Canyon slot (a short walk from the road), Descending or photographing the Burr Trail Switchbacks, Connecting to Notom-Bullfrog Road for a Capitol Reef loop, Deer Creek camping |
| Best time to visit | April through October; spring and fall are ideal. The unpaved switchback section can be slick after storms and snowy in winter. |
| Entrance fee | Free (no fee for the Burr Trail itself; Capitol Reef fee area is limited to its Scenic Drive corridor) |
| Permits | None. Paved Boulder to the Capitol Reef boundary; switchbacks and Notom-Bullfrog Road are dirt — check weather, impassable sections when wet. |
Visitor tip: In a passenger car, drive the paved 30 miles from Boulder to the switchback overlook and back — you get the best scenery without committing to the dirt descent, which needs dry weather and ideally high clearance.
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