A 124-mile All-American Road linking Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, widely ranked among the most beautiful drives in America. Highlights include Red Canyon's hoodoo-lined tunnels, the slickrock expanse around Escalante, the knife-edge Hogback ridge near Boulder, and a 9,000-foot forested summit over Boulder Mountain. Allow a full day with stops.
| Category | Scenic Drive |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Escalante (runs Panguitch/Bryce area to Torrey) |
| Top activities | Scenic driving, Calf Creek Falls hike, Slot canyons off Hole-in-the-Rock Road, Kiva Koffeehouse and Boulder's Hell's Backbone Grill, Anasazi State Park Museum |
| Best time to visit | May-October; the Boulder Mountain section can see snow in late fall through spring, and fall aspen color in late September is spectacular. |
| Entrance fee | None to drive the byway; some sites along it (Calf Creek $5 day use, state parks, Bryce Canyon) charge separately. |
| Permits | None for the drive; free permits required for overnight backpacking in Grand Staircase-Escalante. |
Visitor tip: Don't rush the Hogback between Escalante and Boulder - use the pullouts; the road drops off steeply on both sides and the views deserve a stop.
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