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UT 12 - Most amazing drive in the world?

PostPosted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:52 am
by Castlereagh
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

PostPosted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 3:55 am
by Castlereagh
I suppose given all the arizona golf courses that could be a relevant topic in the SW forum as well

Re: UT 12 - Most amazing drive in the world?

PostPosted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:18 pm
by cp0915
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.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:28 am
by builttospill
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.

Re: UT 12 - Most amazing drive in the world?

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:10 am
by Bob Sihler
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.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:42 am
by Scott
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. :wink:

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:39 am
by Day Hiker
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 :D . . .

Image

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:01 pm
by Buz Groshong
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.

PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:00 pm
by Rick B
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.

PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 3:09 pm
by Dean
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). :?