| UTAH'S roads less traveled—and most scenic |
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By Minal Gandhi
T
ravelers often embrace the vacation but weary of the drive there. Expect something different in Utah. Home to six of America's Scenic Byways, the Beehive State makes getting there a joy. In hours or days, visitors can travel along Utah's red sandstone, near forested mountain, or in areas once a haven for Mormon pioneers. Spring and summer offer the best weather. Information: www.byways.org.
Utah Highway 12 — 124 miles
- Time to allow—1 to 3 days
- Start/end points—Panguitch, near Bryce Canyon, and Torrey, near Capitol Reef
- Highlights—Winds through three national parks
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway — 512 miles
- Time to allow—10 hours to 10 days
- Start/end points—This loop through Utah and Colorado takes in Vernal and Dinosaur
- Highlights—Runs along land that boasts a trove of fossils from the Mesozoic era
Logan Canyon Scenic Byway — 41 miles
- Time to allow—1 hour
- Start/end points—Logan and Garden City
- Highlights—Lush gardens, forest, mountains, and great outdoor recreation
The Energy Loop: Huntington and Eccles Canyons Scenic Byways
- Time to allow— 1½ to 4 hours
- Start/end points—Huntington/Fairview and near Colton
- Highlights—Views from 10,000-foot elevation; Mormom pioneer settlements.
Flaming Gorge—Uintas Scenic Byway
- Time to allow—2¾ hours
- Start/end points—Vernal and Manila
- Highlights—Flaming Gorge Reservoir; passes near Dinosaur National Monument
Nebo Loop Scenic Byway — 37 miles
- Time to allow—1 hour
- Start/end points—Payson and Highway 132, Uinta National Forest
- Highlights—11,877-foot Mount Nebo; spectacular view of Utah Valley
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