Since this magnificient road comes up often in posts, I'd like to give you our views, having just driven it once again, after multiple visits. We have a 40' motorhome to use as a reference. First, I would recommend purchasing the Mountain Directory - Western Ed. for accurate info. on the grades. We began on this 130-mile highway near Panguitch. It is 2-lane in very good condition with 1-3' shoulders. There are ample campgrounds along the way including national parks, national forests, state parks and private. We stayed at Red Canyon F.S. c.g. for visiting Bryce. Kodachrome St. Pk is very nice 8 paved miles off Hwy 12, as is Escalante Petrified Forest St. Pk. The highway speeds are 25-60mph. The grades are 6-12% and the steepest are very short - 2 miles or less. Traffic is very light most of the way. There are many good gravel side roads for back-country touring and not all require 4-wheel drive. We got Verizon in Red Canyon, Bryce, Escalante and sporadic in other areas. No one drives fast on Hwy 12 so you won't be rushed from behind. There are plenty of pull-offs. RVs of all sizes are seen on this road. Boulder is smaller than Escalante and Escalante has restaurants, a bank and fuel. The most scenic part is between Escalante and Boulder. Therefore, there will be a lot of congestion here and that is why I think folks get apprehensive driving in this area. The lane size is the same the whole way but in this area it seems to close in on you because of people pulling over to take in the views. You just have to be more alert in this area. The highway doesn't change, the traffic does. The pull-offs are very doable with an RV. NE of Boulder you'll be heading into a aspen/pine forest and you probably won't even see another car. South of Boulder is open desert. To us, it's not a road to be afraid of driving. Just take your time. Stopping at the Red Mountain area, Escalante and Torrey would be good base camps to tour the whole road. I can't imagine touring the whole thing from one end. Near Torrey is a great forest service c.g. for big rigs - Singletree and of course, the campground in Capitol Reef is gorgeous. Hope this helps someone out there! Have a great summer!!
Extremely Happy Full-Timers for 16 years
.... now trying to adjust to 3-season traveling - and it isn't easy!
2004 40' Newmar Dutch Star Diesel Pusher
2004 Jeep Liberty
This is a very good report IMHO. I would add a caution, however, is that there are areas like the hogback that have no guardrails and severe dropoffs with that narrow shoulder in addition to the grades and switchbacks. And those people, including RV's, that need to take their half out of the middle. And lots of rental vehicles (mainly class C) which tends to raise my nervous level some!
This becomes a personal decision as to comfort level with that in mind with your rv; certainly do it with a tv or toad if you can.
We have done it with a tv several times. Have had a couple of "iffy" situations on the hogback when we had the dooley truck but am here writing about it! :-)
DW of 50 great years, Barbara
2nd Best Friend-"Aussie" Terrier, Sadie
2006 Mobile Suites 32TK3
2006.5 Chev 3500 3LT XCab 4x4 Dmax Allie
We drove that route last year and the year before. Rivals anything in the Pac NW for sheer gorgeousness and beauty. In the old days I would caution you to take lots of film. Now I just say, "Make sure your camera has fresh batteries and plenty of backups."
2003 Ford 150 Supercrew, 4x4, 5.4L, 3.73 rear 2005 27' Trail Bay with pop-out
jamesu wrote: We drove that route last year and the year before. Rivals anything in the Pac NW for sheer gorgeousness and beauty. In the old days I would caution you to take lots of film. Now I just say, "Make sure your camera has fresh batteries and plenty of backups."
Take lots of film? Do they still make that stuff??
jamesu wrote: We drove that route last year and the year before. Rivals anything in the Pac NW for sheer gorgeousness and beauty. In the old days I would caution you to take lots of film. Now I just say, "Make sure your camera has fresh batteries and plenty of backups."
Take lots of film? Do they still make that stuff??
My comparison was meant as irony, hotpepperkid. I guess you did not get it. And yes, they still make film, but it's not as easy to find.
Great report. DW drove it with our 35' MH and toad both ways between Escalante & Boulder. We didn't think it was any worse than a lot of roads throughout the west. And yes, the scenery is drop-dead gorgeous.
Temporarily afoot, but lookin' to get back into the game
Nice report. 2Gypsies. I agree with most of your report except the so-called Hogsback does NOT have a shoulder, so a lot of caution is required in that area. Here's my trip report for this scenic route:
2011 Wolf Creek 850N/Polar Cub/240w Solar/2-6v Lifeline AGMs/Morningstar Sunsaver w/RM-1 & SureSine-300 Inverter 2011 Ford F-250/6.2L/3.73/Bilsteins/Air Bags/Torklift TD w/Fastguns 2004 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/5-spd US Navy Ret.
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