Best Scenic Backcountry Drive Near Bryce Canyon National Park

23 hours ago
5 min read

Overlooking a sunlit orange canyon and cliffs under a clear blue sky near Bryce Canyon National Park at crawford pass.

Most visitors experience Bryce Canyon National Park from the paved overlooks along the main scenic drive. While those viewpoints are spectacular, some of Southern Utah’s most unforgettable scenery lies beyond the crowds, hidden along remote forest roads, high mountain plateaus, and colorful canyon backroads.

If you are staying in our top-rated vacation home, Zion Adventure Home, in Kanab, Utah, and are looking to experience a quieter and more adventurous side of Bryce Canyon Country, a scenic drive across the Paunsaugunt Plateau and through Red Canyon offers one of the best hidden-road experiences in Utah.

This route combines towering ponderosa pine forests, sweeping mountain vistas, dramatic red rock formations, open meadows, and some of the most unique geology in the American Southwest. In autumn, the drive becomes even more remarkable as golden aspens cover the high elevations of the plateau.

Starting in Red Canyon

Smiling couple takes a selfie before red sandstone cliffs and rock spires along the birds eye trail in the Dixie national forest in red canyon. Pondarosa trees in the background.

The journey begins in Red Canyon, located just west of Bryce Canyon National Park along Scenic Byway 12, located a scenic 63 miles from Kanab or about an hour. Often overlooked by visitors rushing toward Bryce, Red Canyon features vibrant red cliffs, hoodoos, tunnels carved through sandstone, and beautiful desert forest scenery.

The road winds beneath towering red rock walls and through stands of pine and juniper. Several pullouts and short walking trails make it easy to stop and explore the area. You will even drive through an arch.

Unlike Bryce Canyon’s larger amphitheaters, Red Canyon feels more intimate and peaceful. The scenery changes constantly as the road climbs higher into the Dixie National Forest. My favorite hike in this area is Birdseye Trail, located at the Red Canyon Visitor Center. Though not as vast as some of the trails in the National Park, the trail is just the right length, and there is little elevation change, especially compared to the trails in Bryce Canyon, making this trail great for families.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Don't miss Bryce Canyon National Park. Even if your focus is on the quieter backcountry, it is worth it to visit the park, especially if you have never seen it. The park or Bryce Canyon City makes for a great lunch stop. In my opinion, the best overlooks are located near the visitor center. I would recommend visiting about two overlooks, as they all look about the same and it is not necessary to visit all of them. The Bryce Canyon Visitor Center is located only 14 miles from the Red Canyon Visitor Center, and the route is clearly marked.

Climbing onto the Paunsaugunt Plateau

A woman enjoying lunch along FS105 in the Dixie NF among red hills and pink hoodos. A polaris RZR in the background.

Next, backtrack out of Bryce Canyon and head west on Hwy 12 for 3 miles until you reach paved East Fork Road FR87 on your left. This is where the true backcounty experience begins. The route leaves the crowd from Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon behind, the landscape begins transitioning from desert terrain into alpine forest. The Paunsaugunt Plateau rises thousands of feet above the surrounding valleys and provides a completely different environment from the lower elevations back near Kanab.

Three mule deer with large racks stand in the Dixie national forest with yellow fall undergrowth, one facing away among dark evergreens. on the Paunsaugunt Plateau.

The drive becomes quieter and more remote as the forest roads pass along the edge of ponderosa pine forests on the left and expansive meadows on the right. Wildlife sightings are common in this area, especially during early morning and evening hours. Deer, wild turkey, and even occasional elk are often seen near the roadside. Though the entire drive is scenic, the true scenery doesn't start until you pass Tropic Reservoir after about 7 miles.

After the lake, the scenery becomes breathtaking. You will be driving along a smooth dirtroad in an open valley surounded by red hills and hoodos. Plan ahead and pack a lunch, relaxing in the cool valleys while enjoying lunch is an epic experience.

Endless Scenic Overlooks

Two smiling cyclists in helmets pose on a red-rock canyon trail under a clear blue sky at Alton Ampitheater Overlook.

There are numerous overlooks along the edge of Pansaugunt Plataue. The quickest one to reach by truck or SUV is the overlook at Alton Amphitheater. The turn off for this overlook is about 3 miles past the lake on the right. Turn onto FS 105. A passenger car could reach the overlook with extreme caution. The last few miles become increasingly rocky. This viewpoint feels surprisingly undiscovered compared to the heavily visited overlooks inside Bryce Canyon itself. Take time to explore this expansive area. If you walk along the cliff's edge to the right, you will be able to spot several huge arches. Use extreme caution with children and pets; there is no fencing, and the gravel is slippery. From this viewpoint, you can see most of the valley you drove through between Kanab and Red Canyon.

Exploring the Backcountry Roads

Part of what makes this drive so memorable is the network of remote backroads connecting the plateau. These roads pass through sections of Dixie National Forest and remote canyon terrain that many visitors never see.

Conditions vary depending on weather, and some roads may require higher-clearance vehicles after rain or snow. In dry conditions, however, many of the routes are accessible to standard SUVs and trucks.

Creek winding through grassy meadow toward Podunk Guard Station, split-rail fence, pine-covered hills and blue sky of a large meadow in the Dixie National Forest.

The backcountry atmosphere creates a completely different experience from the paved national park roads. There are long stretches where the only sounds are the wind through the pines and distant birds overhead.

One of the highlights of this area is the scenic PoDunk Guard Station. This historic cabin is the old ranger station for the area and is available for rent. It is best viewed from afar as a camping permit is required to actually visit the cabin.

For photographers, this region provides endless opportunities. Red rock cliffs, forest roads, dramatic skies, hoodoos, meadows, and colorful canyon layers create a constantly changing scenery throughout the drive.

A Different Route Home

Dirt road curves through a pine forest under a blue sky, with a sign reading Loop Road, Pink Cliffs, Crawford Pass on the Paunsaugunt Plateau in the Dixie National Forest

After you have explored the many overlooks. The main gravel road will eventually arrive at Crawford Pass. From here, you can retrace your steps back to Hwy 12, or you can take a remote shortcut back to Kanab by descending from Crawford Pass. The route beyond Crawford Pass is not recommended for cars, but would pose no problems to a truck or SUV. You will make a steep descent back to gravel Skutumpah Road and eventually take Johnson Canyon Road back to Kanab. I prefer this loop route over the long out and back via Hwy 12 and Hwy 89.

Best Time to Visit

Dirt road winding through autumn aspen trees with bright orange leaves under a blue sky and scattered clouds. on the paunsaugunt plateau

This scenic drive is beautiful throughout the year, but late summer and fall are especially spectacular.

From late September through early October, the aspens on the Paunsaugunt Plateau turn brilliant shades of gold and fiery red, creating one of Utah’s best fall-color displays. Cooler temperatures and fewer crowds also make autumn an ideal time for exploring the region. The roads will also typically be drier in the fall.

Summer offers warm days, cool mountain temperatures at higher elevations, and excellent conditions for exploring forest roads and scenic pullouts.

Because portions of the plateau sit at high elevation, roads become inaccessible during winter due to heavy snowfall.

A Different Side of Bryce Canyon

Most Bryce Canyon visitors never venture beyond the main paved roads. But the surrounding backcountry holds some of Southern Utah’s most peaceful and scenic landscapes.

Driving through Red Canyon, climbing onto the Paunsaugunt Plateau, and exploring the remote forest roads beyond Bryce Canyon reveals a side of Utah that feels quieter, wilder, and far more expansive.

For travelers looking to experience Bryce Canyon Country beyond the crowded overlooks, this scenic backcountry drive delivers an unforgettable journey through some of the Southwest’s most diverse terrain.