Utah Route 12 !

[Tinman]

My wife and I did this trip last year in our Palazzo 36.1 with a toad. I was a little nervous about it going into the trip but we had no trouble either. There are two 12% downgrades going West but they are short and you just take them slow. We stopped at Bryce Canyon NP at the end. What a gorgeous piece of road Hwy 12 is!

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by Tinman

My wife and I did this trip last year in our Palazzo 36.1 with a toad. I was a little nervous about it going into the trip but we had no trouble either. There are two 12% downgrades going West but they are short and you just take them slow. We stopped at Bryce Canyon NP at the end. What a gorgeous piece of road Hwy 12 is!

and

We also took Utah Route 12 south from Torrey a year a half ago. Did not want to drive I 70 on the way from Arches NP to Bryce Canyon so we went south on 191 and then north and west to Torrey. Yes the pass does get you up to 9200' but I do not recall any particularly difficult ascents, descents, or unmanageable corners.
Not sure on our OAL but Moho is 35' and the toad is a Cherokee.
Not a high speed trip but absolutely worth the views.
I hate freeways when there are reasonable secondary roads to get there.

Steve

Thank you both for this feedback. I'll be headed north. Hope she can pull those 12% grades.

Safe travels

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by The_Breeze

Disregard. Only one place, unless you're an Elk.

Looks awesome. Is there any place to stay or did you just hit it on your way somewhere?

One place where?

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by rynosback

One place where?

Bryce Canyon. I think it was on All Stays.

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by The_Breeze

Bryce Canyon. I think it was on All Stays.

I’m not showing an Elks Lodge in Bryce Canyon.

[The_Breeze]

Got my canyons crossed. I meant to reference Antelope Canyon.

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by Tinman

My wife and I did this trip last year in our Palazzo 36.1 with a toad. I was a little nervous about it going into the trip but we had no trouble either. There are two 12% downgrades going West but they are short and you just take them slow. We stopped at Bryce Canyon NP at the end. What a gorgeous piece of road Hwy 12 is!

Wait, 12% down grade? Isn't that insanely steep?

[Tinman]

Yes, but they are very short sections. I just dropped to 3rd gear and barely needed to touch the brakes. We were also lucky to have almost no westbound traffic through these areas so I could take it slow.

[Tinman]

My mistake, one of those grades is actually 14%!

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by Tinman

My mistake, one of those grades is actually 14%!

Thank you for this. Seriously. I'll take another route. This is not what I'd call 4 miles of fun. I think I know what SueTac meant by 'scary' now.

Pulled this from the web: "This scenic byway is not for the faint of heart. We took it pulling a 5th wheel camper trailer and it was scary. There are several 14% grades and I think one that was 16%. That will test the brakes on your truck and camper. I was very glad to be through that part. The views were good and the road was well kept".

[The_Breeze]

For anyone considering this, here is some solid info on UT 12 the scenic byway. I can vouch for it's accuracy, having driven it in the toad. You did do what you want but this kid isn't even considering it in the RV.

Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 - Hogback Road, Bryce Canyon, Red Canyon, Utah Hotels.

[TurnerFam]

While Utah 12 is beautiful, I'm going to have to vote for RIMROCK Drive, in the COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT, between Fruita and Grand Junction...

try it sometime! WOW!! (there's even a campground there!)

[The_Breeze]

I just wanted to quickly resurrect this thread to include info that might be of use to someone. I accidentally missed my turn onto Rt 12 and went down 29. Why, I was so taken with the scenery, I completely forgot to look for the sign. Yup, blew right past it. I'm so glad I did. Go down 29 about 20-30mi. I was running out of daylight and didn't want to press my luck, especially after I discovered I missed my turn.

Got ahead of myself. Bryce Canyon was due to open in a day or two. In the mean time I had a very pleasant chat with a wonderful young lady, a Park Ranger. Very pleasant and very helpful. She suggested I make 'The Loop' if I was looking for something to do.

Look for 29 near Torrey Canal. Follow the signs to Capitol Reef. I went from left to right and glad I did. The views just kept getting better and better the more I drove. If I'd went the other way, the thrill would have been gone after Torrey.

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by The_Breeze

I just wanted to quickly resurrect this thread to include info that might be of use to someone. I accidentally missed my turn onto Rt 12 and went down 29. Why, I was so taken with the scenery, I completely forgot to look for the sign. Yup, blew right past it. I'm so glad I did. Go down 29 about 20-30mi. I was running out of daylight and didn't want to press my luck, especially after I discovered I missed my turn.

Got ahead of myself. Bryce Canyon was due to open in a day or two. In the mean time I had a very pleasant chat with a wonderful young lady, a Park Ranger. Very pleasant and very helpful. She suggested I make 'The Loop' if I was looking for something to do.

Look for 29 near Torrey Canal. Follow the signs to Capitol Reef. I went from left to right and glad I did. The views just kept getting better and better the more I drove. If I'd went the other way, the thrill would have been gone after Torrey.

I can not find 29? 12 dead ends at 89 between Hatch and Panguitch and ends at Tori at 24. 12 is great between Escalante and Boulder. I have not gone past Boulder yet. I’m camped in Panguitch right now. There are some great hikes off of 12 if you are willing to go 5-20 miles off road.

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by ducksface

I'm sure you've looked at what to do in page, which is horseshoe or big bend or whatever they call it. There's not much else in page that'll consume more than an hour if you like dams.

If you're going to the grand canyon take the 64 at Cameron and stop at the little grand canyon. It's a quick stop at a spectacular gorge.
Food and stops are few and far in the area you're headed, be full of fuel and prepared to drive twice as far as you'd expect.
If you're headed east from page, canyon de chelle is the best thing in this whole state. The four corners Monument is the schmaltziest, most shameful spectacle of concrete and poverty I've ever encountered.
If you're headed sout to the 40,
Flagstaff is closed up except food take out. Black barts is an odd, clean rv park with an absolutely great(ish) steakhouse with singing waitstaff, but probably no food served now.

Keep us informed from there.
I don't know where you're headed but I suggest
Payson, greer, lunch or dinner at LA posada, a restored Harvey house in winslow(Winslow is otherwise depressing enough to make you cry).

We were there on a rainy and cloudy day and it was beautiful.

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by ArrrV

Antelope Canyon outside Page was one of the highlights of our last trip--if it is still open.

Still closed. 😂

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by The_Breeze

Got my canyons crossed. I meant to reference Antelope Canyon.

Yes, I see that one. Very bare bones if I remember correctly.

[SueTac]

Route 12 from Torrey to Escalante is phenomenal... exquisite beauty, not for really large rigs, and for the faint hearted !

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by SueTac

Route 12 from Torrey to Escalante is phenomenal... exquisite beauty, not for really large rigs, and for the faint hearted !

I see where 12 is, it’s 29 that I can not find that you mentioned.

This was my first reply to you.
I can not find 29? 12 dead ends at 89 between Hatch and Panguitch and ends at Tori at 24. 12 is great between Escalante and Boulder. I have not gone past Boulder yet. I’m camped in Panguitch right now. There are some great hikes off of 12 if you are willing to go 5-20 miles off road.

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by rynosback

I see where 12 is, it’s 29 that I can not find that you mentioned.

This was my first reply to you.
I can not find 29? 12 dead ends at 89 between Hatch and Panguitch and ends at Tori at 24. 12 is great between Escalante and Boulder. I have not gone past Boulder yet. I’m camped in Panguitch right now. There are some great hikes off of 12 if you are willing to go 5-20 miles off road.

Apology. 24. Watch for the pull outs and take them, if just for a while.