Utahns love taking a drive to take in the views on beautiful Utah roads. Scenic drives in Utah are the perfect way to welcome the new seasons. Get a front-row seat to the colors of spring, summer, or fall—or winter, depending on the conditions! Utah landscapes make everything better—whether you’re just passing through, stopping at overlooks or hikes, or going on a road trip in Utah.
Here are the best scenic drives in Utah!
The Alpine Loop Scenic Byway is one of the most popular drives in Utah. It’s glorious in the fall and spectacular in the warmer seasons. The road is only open from late May to October, and it has plenty of exciting stops along the 20-mile path, including Timpanogus Cave, Sundance Resort, and Cascade Springs Boardwalk. One thing to be aware of—the road is a bit narrow and twisty so you’ll want to drive carefully. You can enter the loop in either Provo Canyon or American Fork Canyon.
Provo Canyon Scenic Drive will take you from Provo to Heber between epic mountain cliffs and along the Provo River. It’s a fantastic place to see the colors of fall and summer and to see the colors of sunset or sunrise along the canyon walls. There are also plenty of great locations for overlooks, hikes, or day trips, including Bridal Veil, Deer Creek State Park, Provo River Parkway, and Khyv Peak.
You’ll start your drive on Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway in the suburbs of Salt Lake City and end up at Brighton Ski Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort. Along the way, you’ll be surrounded by beautiful scenery with Mount Olympus and Lone Peak Wilderness Area. The area also has recreation opportunities with four picnic areas, plenty of hiking trails including Donut Falls, Silver Lake, and Lakes Mary, Catherine, and Martha, two rock climbing areas, and a biking trail. The 14.3-mile drive is open year-round!
Little Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway is just south of Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway. The two drives are similar in landscape and both start in Salt Lake Valley and end at ski resorts. Little Cottonwood leads to Alta Ski Resort and Snowbird Ski Resort. It’s a bit shorter and narrower at 7 miles and features granite cliffs, rock climbing spots, and the beautiful Albion Basin wildflowers.
Did you know you can see all the sights at Bryce Canyon National Park without having to leave your car? No strenuous hiking required. How does it work? Take Utah’s All American Road Hwy 12 onto Hwy 63 which will take you right to the visitor center, campgrounds, and an overlook of the canyon. You can also take the Southern Scenic Drive for more views!
Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 is also known as “A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway.” This epic drive takes you along roads surrounded by red rock and expansive skies. The 122-mile drive could be done in three hours without stopping, but there are many beautiful sights worth stopping for! The route passes Kodachrome Basin, Escalante Petrified Forest, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capital Reef National Park, and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
Driving Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway takes you all the way up 9,000 ft of elevation gain where you’ll catch views of Utah Valley, the Wasatch Mountains, Mount Nebo, and more. The road is 35 miles long and is mostly green with some wildflowers in the summer and a bit of orange with hoo-doos in Devil’s Kitchen. You can enter the loop through Nephi or Payson.
Mirror Lake Scenic Byway starts in Kamas in farmland areas and goes all the way up to 10,000 ft mountain peaks until the Wyoming border. You’ll pass areas like Mirror Lake itself, Bald Mountain Pass, Provo River Falls, and beautiful hiking and camping areas.
Fish Lake Scenic Byway takes visitors right into the Pando—the largest living organism on Earth! Pando refers to an area of interconnected aspen trees that weigh 6,600 tons! The best part is the golden color in the fall and the light green in the spring and summer. After the Pando, the drive leads to Fish Lake National Forest, a beautiful 2,500-acre mountain lake. Another plus is the heart of Fish Lake, which is a heart-shaped group of trees that turn bright red in the fall.
Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway features one of the most iconic viewpoints in Utah. At Dead Hores Point State Park you’ll be treated to epic views of the Colorado River winding around a plateau of red rocks. The area is perfect for a sunrise or sunset viewing. You may also catch a glimpse of the La Sal Mountains, Abajo Mountains, Henry Mountains, or the San Rafael Reef.
Utah landscapes can’t be beat! Live near beautiful Utah nature with EDGEHomes. You’ll greet the seasons in style with a drive up the canyon in your backyard!
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03/25/2024
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