Burr Trail Scenic Byway
The Burr Trail Scenic Byway is one of the best roads in all of the American Southwest. It doesn’t require 4WD for its 67 miles one-way length, although High Clearance is a good idea. You can reach the exciting drive from either Boulder, Utah or by going down the Notom-Bullfrog Road in Capital Reef National Park. The road is a beautiful trial through sandstone with red cliffs, towering mountains, exciting switchbacks, slot canyons, hoodoos, breath taking views, and more.
The start of the Burr Trail from the east (Notom-Bullfrog Road) really is an adventure as you ascend the Burr Trail Switchbacks up the steep side of the water pocket fold with the Henry Mountains behind you.
Shortly after the breathtaking switchbacks you approach the 4WD High Clearance Road for the Upper Muley Twist Canyon. It is a rough 3 miles which occasionally called for 4WD low in my Tacoma but it was worth it. It’s a beautiful drive through the deep canyon but be warned, it’s a jaw breaker.
Along the drive though, you pass the amazing Double Arch! Don’t miss it! You’ll need to be on the lookout on the western half of the canyon. Once you reach the parking lot and pit toilet, you can hop out, grab your camera, and head up to the Strike Valley Overlook where you’ll get an amazing view of the Strike Valley, the Henry Mountains, Capitol Reef National Park, and the San Rafael Swell in both directions for as long as the eye can see. It’s amazing.
Once back on the main Burr Trail Road and heading west towards Boulder, you follow the gravel road until it turns into pavement but very importantly, LOOK BEHIND YOU! The view east of the sandstone and mountains is incredible. Spot the window!
The entire drive is beautiful in all directions. Bring your camera, binoculars, and a good map so you can identify all the geological features.
After you pass the end of the Wolverine Loop Road, you climb up to an amazing viewpoint of bentonite hills, the Henrys, and the Burr Trail. You then drive down and through Long Canyon, one of the prettiest and most special places on earth for me. The steep red desert varnish cliff walls are breathtaking. There’s hoodoos, boulders, slot canyons, long hikes, all the colors you need, and the most perfect winding desert road.
The road winds through the Long Canyon past hikes, canyons, sand dunes, those amazing Colorado Plateau Red, Yellow, and White Rocks, viewpoints, and amazing unforgettable spots before ending in Boulder, a wonderful little town which houses plenty of cabins and the Anasazi State Park Museum.
The Burr Trail is one of the coolest roads in all of the American Southwest and I thought it was so freakin’ awesome that I got married on it (well in a slot canyon, Singing Canyon, right off of it). Part of the Burr Trail is in Capital Reef, but most of it is indeed in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
