Scenic Backways By Region
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Central Utah
In the central part of the state, drivers of four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicles can take on rugged dirt roads traversing ridges and plateaus (White River/Strawberry Road, Skyline Drive) while more casual tourers can explore landscapes of ancient culture and astonishing geology (Nine Mile Canyon, Wedge Overlook/Buckhorn Draw and Temple Mountain/Goblin Valley Road).
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Northern Utah
In the west and north of Utah, some backways rise and fall with the isolated mountains of the Basin and Range in Utah’s west desert (Silver Island Mountain Loop, Notch Creek) while others climb high into seemingly remote pockets of the mountains of the Wasatch Front, yet offer occasional glimpses back into the populous valley below (Bountiful/Farmington Loop, Willard Peak, Alpine Loop). Other backways push further away from civilization, uncovering hidden oases (Cascade Springs), allowing close glimpses of wildlife (Hardware Ranch, Red Cloud/Dry Fork, and Sheep Creek) or tracking historical routes through valleys and mountain passes (Central Pacific Railroad Trail, Pioneer Memorial and Pony Express Trail).
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Southern Utah
While many visitors know Southern Utah for The Mighty 5® national parks, as accessed from the stunning scenic byways, well-prepared travelers can seek out more remote areas of the region, uncovering solitude within some of Utah’s most popular destinations. Some backways carve paths within or near the national parks themselves (Cathedral Valley Road and Notom Road/Burr Trail, Needles/Anticline Overlook and Kolob Reservoir). Other backways access unexpected beauty in unique ecosystems or monumental landscapes (Mojave Desert/Joshua Tree Road, Elk Ridge Road) while others still are the best and only ways to see deeply hidden pockets of wild and rugged red rock beauty (Hole in the Rock, Cottonwood Canyon and Johnson Canyon), some of which can only be attempted in specially equipped 4WD vehicles (Lockhart Basin Road).
Road Difficulty Ratings
Utah’s scenic backways vary widely in their degrees of difficulty, and generally include three types of travel routes:
Type 1: Roads that can accommodate normal touring cars.
Type 2: Roads that require high-clearance type vehicles.
Type 3: Roads that require 4-wheel drive vehicles or other specialized vehicles such as dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s), etc.
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Type 1 Backways
Alpine Scenic Loop
Brown's Park Road Scenic Backway
Dinosaur/Cedar Overlook Scenic Backway
East Fork of the Sevier Scenic Backway
Johnson Canyon/Alton Amphitheater Scenic Backway
Jones Hole Road Scenic Backway
La Sal Mountain Loop Road Scenic Backway
Mayfield-Ferron Scenic Backway
Needles/Anticline Overlook Road Scenic Backway
Nine Mile Canyon Scenic Backway
Notch Peak Loop Scenic Backway
Pioneer Memorial Backway
Ponderosa/Coral Pink Sand Dunes Scenic Backway
Pony Express Trail Scenic Backway
Smithsonian Butte Scenic Backway
Snow Canyon Road Scenic Backway
The Trail of the Ancients Scenic Backway
Trappers Loop Road Scenic Backway
Wedge Overlook/Buckhorn Draw Scenic Backway -
Type 2 Backways
Abajo Loop Scenic Backway
Bountiful/Farmington Loop Scenic Backway
Bull Creek Pass Road Scenic Backway
Burr Trail Scenic Backway
Cascade Springs Scenic Backway
Cathedral Valley Road Scenic Backway
Central Pacific Railroad Trail Scenic Backway
Cottonwood Canyon Road Scenic Backway
Cove Mountain Road
Deep Creek Mountains Scenic Backway
Dry Lakes/Summit Canyon Scenic Backway
Elk Ridge Road Scenic Backway
Gooseberry/Fremont Road Scenic Backway
Griffin Top Road Scenic Backway
Guardsman Pass Road Scenic Backway
Hardware Ranch Road Scenic Backway
Kimberly/Big John Flat Road Scenic Backway
Kolob Reservoir Road Scenic Backway
Middle Canyon Road Scenic Backway
Mojave Desert/Joshua Tree Road Scenic Backway
North Slope Road Scenic Backway
Notom Road Scenic Backway
Paria River Valley Scenic Backway
Posey Lake Road Scenic Backway
Red Cloud/Dry Fork Loop Scenic Backway
Sheep Creek/Spirit Lake Loop Scenic Backway
Skyline Drive Scenic Backway
Smoky Mountain Road Scenic Backway
South Willow Road Scenic Backway
Temple Mountain/Goblin Valley Road Scenic Backway
White River/Strawberry Road Scenic Backway
Willard Peak Road Scenic Backway
Silver Island Mountain Loop Scenic Backway -
Type 3 Backways
Broadhead Meadow Road Scenic Backway
Chicken Creek Road Scenic Backway
Hole in the Rock Scenic Backway
Lockhart Basin Road Scenic Backway
Reservation Ridge Scenic Backway
Thousand Lake Mountain Road Scenic Backway
Top 10 Undiscovered Utah Roads
Whether you scour Utah's All-American Road or check out the scenic drives leading into our national parks and mountain canyons, the drive to your destination is typically just as beautiful as the destination.
Start Planning
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Road Trips
Utah is a hard state to beat when it comes to scenic road trips. Find breathtaking routes and gorgeous backroads in this guide to Utah road trips.
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Transportation
View information for transportation in Utah such as rail, bus, car and flight. Also, find maps, weather details, and road conditions for the state.
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Travel Guides & Maps
Let resources such as the Utah Travel Guide and scenic byways maps help you plan your travels to Utah.
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Utah's Scenic Byways
In total, Utah’s distinct topography provides the surface for 28 scenic byways, which add up to hundreds of miles of vivid travel experiences wherein the road trip is as memorable as the destination.