Once on the road, it was not hard to see why Route 12 in southern Utah is designated as Scenic Byway 12 – A Journey Through Time. The byway is considered one of the most beautiful and geologically diverse scenic drives in the United States. Winding 123 miles through southern Utah’s most awe-inspiring landscapes, Scenic Byway 12 is more than a road—it’s a journey through history, geology, and raw natural beauty. Along the way you see a landscape that has been shaped by millions of years of erosion, sediment deposition, frost wedging and uplift.

Scenic Byway 12 links US 89 near Panguitch with SR 24 near Torrey serves as a gateway to Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The route takes you through red rock canyons, sandstone cliffs, desert, and high alpine forest at an elevation of 9,600 feet.

I took the drive in May. It was a great time of year; not too hot, not too cold, and not too crowded. As I passed the turn off for Bryce Canyon National Park heading for Panguitch, I noticed the storm clearing and light on the red rocks where there had been none a few minutes earlier. The sky was dark, but the sun was bright. And a rainbow appeared making for the perfect end to a wonderful day.