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Utah is taking off its blanket of snow and coming to life. Now is the best time to go on a scenic drive to see the beauty unfolding. Here are seven scenic routes to help you fully experience the beauty of Utah in the spring, so jump in your car to go see some of the most beautiful things in the West.
1. Highway 12
Highway 12 is a 124-mile road that runs through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument between Bryce Canyon National Park and Capitol Reef National Park. It is perfect in spring before it gets too hot. When calculating your trip, it’s good to point out that the average speed along the road is 40 mph, and you may be making stops to enjoy the amazing scenery of pink, red and yellow sandstone and so much more. For tourists coming to Utah, this is a must see.
2. Logan Canyon
Logan Canyon is 39 miles of gorgeousness. Going through the canyon, the road winds along the Logan River and through the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. As you descend, you see Bear Lake's sparkling water. In spring, the canyon will be a vibrant green with flowers blooming.
3. Ogden Canyon
Ogden Canyon starts off with sharp, rugged walls of rock, but it soon turns into a canvas of lush green mountains complemented by shimmering waters. The route is only 15 miles long, but the journey can turn into an hour drive or more if you stop and enjoy all the scenes.
Guardsman Pass winds through beautiful mountains with rivers and lakes. It has picnic areas and campground sites along the way. It is just a 14-mile route from Park City and is paved for most of the way, but the gravel road is nothing too rough to worry about. In springtime you will see wildlife and their newborns.
5. Provo Canyon
Provo Canyon is 28 miles of everything. You can experience the Provo River, Bridal Veil Falls, cliffs of limestone, huge mountain peaks, Deer Creek Reservoir, the Sundance Resort, then the Alpine Scenic Loop for a return trip to Park City, all by way of Provo Canyon. You can even get out and walk along the Provo Canyon Trail. This place is well known by fishermen, and the hikes are gorgeous, but a simple drive can fill your senses.
6. Zion Canyon
Sandstone comes in every color on the Zion Canyon Loop. It is a magnificent desert scene with cliffs, rough stones, cracked canyons and blue water to add the perfect touch. It is 145 miles long, taking more than three hours to travel, but it is well worth the time. From April until October there is a free bus shuttle that takes you through, as private cars are not permitted all throughout.
As you drive along the Flaming Gorge scenic byway, you will see the 1 billion-year-old core of the Uintas. The 67-mile route from Vernal to Manila has so much wildlife to see. Plan on making stops, because you will want to take pictures with the beautiful background.
For more information on any of these scenic byways visit Utah.com.
