Last summer, we took a trip in partnership with Bryce Canyon Country. They sent us on the most epic Utah road trip itinerary to explore some well-known Utah gems and discover some remote regions that would blow our minds! We love escaping the crowds and this is the perfect trip to do so. You’ll visit Bryce Canyon National Park, drive an otherworldly scenic road, and end at a small little town called Ticaboo that is home to some of the best outdoor adventures. We’ll sharing everything you need to know to replicate this Utah road trip itinerary!
For this road trip, you’ll start in Bryce Canyon National Park and end in Ticaboo, Utah. To get to Bryce Canyon National Park, we drove from Denver, but you can fly into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City if you aren’t within driving distance.
Responsible Recreation on your Utah Road Trip
In order to recreate responsibly in these remote areas, follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles:
- plan ahead and prepare: research current weather and trail conditions, bring enough food and water, bring/download an offline map, prepare for crowds in certain areas
- travel and camp on durable surfaces: be sure not to hike off trail or use social trails! Camp at designated areas only
- dispose of waste properly: even an orange peel or cherry pit can disturb the ecosystem and take years to decompose. Be sure to pack out absolutely everything!
- leave what you find: do not take rocks or build cairns of rocks, do not carve into trees, rocks, or other natural objects
- minimize campfire impacts: know current fire restrictions, keep fires small and only use established fire rings
- respect wildlife: be sure to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and 25 yards away from all other animals
- be considerate of other visitors: do not play music on the trail, give the right of way to uphill hikers
Utah Road Trip: Day 1
Check into Ruby’s Inn
Ruby’s Inn a family-owned business that was founded in 1916. The resort offers hotel rooms, cabins, and RV sites. It also has a great restaurant, large gift shop, and pool. Ruby Syrett founded this lodge and helped promote Bryce Canyon to a national park. We got to meet Ruby’s grandson to learn the incredible story behind this historic inn!
Hike and Explore Bryce Canyon National Park
Visit the overlooks:
- Sunrise Point
- Sunset Point
- Inspiration Point
- Bryce Viewpoint
Hike options:
- Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop (2.3 mi, 625 ft elevation gain)
- Sunset to Sunrise Point (1 mi, 40 ft elevation gain)
- Peekaboo Loop (5.5 mi, 1560 ft elevation gain)
Other activities at Bryce Canyon National Park:
- stargazing! Due to minimal light pollution, this park has some of the best night skies in the country and maybe even the world.
- horse back riding
- mountain biking
- Soaring Southern Utah Virtual Reality Experience
- Take a scenic helicopter flight
Sunset at Inspiration Point
This overlook was our favorite and absolutely magical for sunset. It’s somehow less crowded than the other overlooks and there’s space to spread out. We brought chairs and had the best time enjoying the sunset.
Utah Road Trip: Day 2
Sunrise at Wall Street
Wall Street is one of Bryce Canyon’s most iconic spots! This series of switchbacks is a photographer’s dream, but this spot does get very crowded during the day. We recommend visiting at sunrise to have it to yourself.
Breakfast at Ruby’s Inn
We loved the large breakfast buffet at Ruby’s Inn. They had more than enough options to fuel us for the days’ adventures.
Mossy Cave Hike
This short, family friendly hike is definitely worth adding to your Utah road trip itinerary.
The hike is only 1 mile round trip and the reward for this short walk is huge.
It winds through a narrow canyon, past a small waterfall, and ends at a natural alcove called Mossy Cave.
We actually didn’t hike all the way to the cave and only went to the waterfall and the views were incredible.
Scenic Byway 12
This beautiful 124 mile scenic drive is known has been named one of the most beautiful highways in the world! This fully paved road travels from Bryce Canyon National Park to Torrey, Utah, but we stopped in Boulder where it connects to the Burr Trail. The road is full of hiking trails and beautiful overlooks. We didn’t have too much time to hike, but you could spend a whole day dedicated to this byway if you’d like!
Scenic Stops on Scenic Byway 12:
- Powell Point Vista
- Upper Valley Graineries
- Lower Calf Creek Falls hike
- Escalante Natural Bridge
- Hole in the Rock Wayside
- Pascaline’s Rock
- Head of the Rocks Overlook
- The Hogback
Lunch at Kiva Koffeehouse
This may be the most scenic restaurant we’ve ever eaten at! The restaurant is situated in the middle of the red cliffs with no other buildings in sight. You feel like you’re eating on another planet. Not only are the views breathtaking, but the pastries, lunch items, and coffee are all delicious. Don’t miss this bucket list dining experience!
Burr Trail
The Burr Trail was the highlight of our trip! The Burr Trail is a scenic 67 mile backway that starts in Boulder, Utah and ends in Ticaboo, Utah. We barely saw any other people on the entire trail.
It felt crazy to have these epic landscapes to ourselves! The trail goes through part of Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. 4 wheel drive is required for this trail.
Scenic stops on the Burr Trail:
- drive through Long Canyon
- Singing Canyon: see information below
- the Circle Cliffs
- Surprise Canyon
- Burr Trail Switchbacks
- Waterpocket Fold
Click here for our complete guide to the Burr Trail.
Singing Slot Canyon
Our favorite stop on the Burr Trail is located about 11 miles east of Boulder, Utah. There is an unmarked parking turnout that leads to this stunning slot canyon!
The canyon is a 0.3 mile flat walk and should only take about 15 minutes round trip from the parking lot, but you’ll likely want to spend more time taking photos and enjoying the canyon!
You’ll see beautiful bright green cottonwood trees as you enter the canyon and feel the coolness as the temperature drops significantly inspire the canyon.
It was a hot July day when we went and the cool temperature felt amazing inside the canyon.
Check into Ticaboo Lodge
Ticaboo Lodge will be your accommodation for the next two nights. The cozy lodge is situated near North Lake Powell and is an affordable and comfortable option for travelers visiting the area. There is an on site restaurant as well as the adjacent Ticaboo Adventure Center. The Ticaboo Adventure Center offers ATV rentals, boat/kayak/paddleboard rentals, and guides for just about any outdoor adventure including rock climbing, canyoneering, mountain biking, and more!
Dinner and sunset at Anasazi Restaurant
The sunset views here are amazing! You get a great view of North Lake Powell and can sit out on the patio if it’s not too hot. We had delicious grilled salmon and moscow mules which was the perfect ending to the day. Anasazi is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers a variety of dishes, including burgers, sandwiches, salads, and Southwest-inspired entrees. The restaurant also has a full bar.
Utah Road Trip: Day 3
Breakfast at the Bistro
A quick and easy grab and go option on-site at Ticaboo Lodge.
ATV self guided tour
This was so much fun! We rented a ATV from the Ticaboo Adventure Center and they set us up with recommended trails and gave us trail maps. We had so much fun exploring the area!
Lunch at the Grill at the Offshore Marina
Don’t be fooled by this gas station/grill combination. They had great food and a large variety! We had veggie burgers and lots of snacks.
Paddleboarding at Stanton Creek
We again conveniently rented paddleboards from our accommodation, Ticaboo Adventure Center, strapped them to our Jeep and headed to North Lake Powell! The water level is scarce in areas, so be sure to research current conditions or ask at the Lodge what area is currently best suited for paddleboarding.
Bryce Canyon Country is the perfect region for outdoor adventure to escape the crowds. We had the most incredible time on this road trip and would consider it a must to add to your bucket list!
