Been to Yosemite, Beartooth, Nevada, all those places in Colorado, Wyoming, etc. Sure there's plenty of places I haven't been to.

But hands down UT 12 from Tropic to Torrey (through Escalante and Boulder) is the most amazing road I've ever driven. I cried tears of joy.

Just wish I had more time to explore the area

I thought this was going to be about a the new Titleist 12 iron, but I see there is no "r" at the end of Drive.

I suppose given all the arizona golf courses that could be a relevant topic in the SW forum as well

Castlereagh wrote:But hands down UT 12 from Tropic to Torrey (through Escalante and Boulder) is the most amazing road I've ever driven.

Wait 'til you drive the Icefields Parkway.

UT-12 is a nice drive, though it depends on what you like (alpine versus desert, etc).

There's a nice cafe along that stretch of road, on the left just before a hard right turn (when heading south). Wish I could remember the name, but I had a memorable pizza and bottle of wine there one night several years ago listening to good jazz music.

cp0915 wrote:

Castlereagh wrote:But hands down UT 12 from Tropic to Torrey (through Escalante and Boulder) is the most amazing road I've ever driven.

Wait 'til you drive the Icefields Parkway.

+1

And Going-to-the-Sun Road

But UT 12 is definitely in the top 5 (paved) for me.

But hands down UT 12 from Tropic to Torrey (through Escalante and Boulder) is the most amazing road I've ever driven.

I agree. As far as paved roads go, it is the most spectacular I have seen in the world.

I've never done the Karakoram highway yet though.

Well, I guess I'd be a loner here, I like U.S. 395 from Alturas to Ridgecrest. Wild and lonely high country on both sides. And it is now going to be safer, in parts, with divided highway and four lanes!

I've only driven UT 12 twice, once at about dusk, and dawn, too. Aside from the views along the Hogsback, I might say that I prefer U.S. 191 south of Moab, for the fall colors in the La Sals, Wilson Arch (free to see), and more red rock formations. Bluff, nearby Mexican Hat, and other items make it all appeal to me.

Then I like Interstate 80 and also I-70 through the Swell. If not for the SLT traffic, U.S. 50 would be good, too, esp. in winter. There's some CA desert 4WD roads that I've enjoyed, really nice scenery and views, pretty obscure if not for climbing desert peaks.

1000Pks wrote:I-70 through the Swell

+1

Very impressive stretch of highway, and my favorite Interstate anywhere. I still remember the euphoria of driving it for the first time in the summer of 1992, coming from Michigan. I made a point of being there again, driving it dozens of times since. Now, it's only 5 hours from my house; it used to be 25.

The traffic is unbearable too . . .

There's lots of very scenic roads and I'd definitely include UT-12 among the best of them. I'd also agree with I-70 through the swell and add I-15 through the Virgin river Gorge and the Burr Trail. I'd also have to add the million dollar highway in Colorado, NC-12 (Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands), and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Of course there are a few roads down in Peru and over in Europe that I've also found to be very scenic. I guess if I had to pick the top one though, I'd have to go with UT-12.

For people like me from far away who have no idea what you're talking about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_State_Route_12

Anyway, thanks for bringing it to my attention! I did the Icefields Parkway two years ago, when I was in Banff and had only a few days for sightseeing, and this was just perfect. This year I will probably be in a similar situation but then in the Southwest US.

Highway 12 is indeed a great paved road, it just keeps getting better as you head south from
Torrey to Escalante. I did this last summer but I knew I'd be heading back there again this year. My wife needs to see this stretch of road and have lunch in Boulder before we go down the Burr Trail (a road) to the backdoor entrance of Capitol Reef). Utah is now my favorite state (it used to be Washington).