Hell’s Back Bone Road off Utah Hwy 12

Hell’s Backbone, and the bridge over Hell’s Canyon offer incredible rock colors, rugged grandeur and great beauty. You will find it on only a few maps. You must be willing to drive in remote areas on gravel.

Escalante Staircase National Monument BLM (Bureau of Land Management)

Parts of the road are in Dixie National Forest

Long Canyon on Burr Trail, off Utah Hwy 12

Burr Trail starts off Utah Hwy 12 as a  paved road then becomes gravel after going through fabulous Long Canyon and becomes a gravel back entry to Capital Reef National Park with an incredible descent with sharp switchback. Our BAT (bad ass truck) had to back up to make the turns. This portion of the road is not for anything larger than a pickup and not for the faint of heart.

 

The pictures on this page are from Long Canyon, which, judging by its scenery , really should be a national park or part of Capital Reef National Park.

Box Canyon

Bureau of Land Management and

Utah Highway 12

Calf Creek Falls Overlook

There is a canyon leading to a beautiful water fall.
We were unable to take the hike, but the view from above is fabulous in its own right

Breathtaking and awe-inspiring

Phenomenal colors on Highway 12

Grosvner's Arch

From Hwy 12,  turn south on Cottonwood Road (Gravel), south of Kodachrome Basin State Park. Escalante Staircase National Monument  — BLM (Bureau of Land Management)

 

Window at Grosvner's Arch

Devils Garden on Hole-in-the-Rock Road off Utah Hwy 12

Devils Garden may be the remnants of an ancient sea coast.
You reach it from a “washboard” gravel road.

Escalante Staircase National Monument BLM (Bureau of Land Management)

Utah Highway 12 is arguably the most scenic highway in America. We have captured a little of its beauty and of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) back-roads, most of which connect to highway 12.

Page Last Revised Date:

8/09/2008

Traveling MOrgans.com

Our Home is Where We Park It

Paria Movie Set, off US Hwy 89 in Southern Utah

Okay,  this section is a long way from Utah Highway 12.

It is in US Highway 89 in Southern Utah, east of the town of Kanab. A few movies were made using the rather modest buildings (at right), which are not quite in their original location (moved due to flooding).  We believe these included “Sergeants Three” and the Clint Eastwood film “The Outlaw Josey Wales”. Some episodes of “Gunsmoke” and “Death Valley Days” were also filmed near here. The set is not great, but the beauty of the area is tremendous. The colors of the rock are striking, and really not matched anywhere else we have been. It is well worth driving the bumpy gravel & dirt road to see the area. Like most Utah gravel & dirt back roads, go only when it is dry. Click here to see why.

Cottonwood Road