Scenic Byway 143 - Utah's Patchwork Parkway
Utah's Patchwork Parkway

Departure: Parowan, Utah
Destination: Panguitch City Historic District, Utah
Time to allow: 1 day

Utah’s Patchwork Parkway serves as the western gateway to a breathtaking route across Utah’s High Plateaus. The route connects travelers to Heritage Highway 89, the backbone of the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area, Scenic Byway 12, Utah’s first All American Road, and Capitol Reef Scenic Byway (State Route 24); creating a nationally-renowned passage between I-15 and I-70.

This 51-mile route begins at Parowan, the “mother town” of southern Utah, settled in 1851. Brian Head, Utah’s highest elevation community, hosts year-round recreational activities including the state’s southernmost ski resort. Panguitch Lake is a renowned sport fishery that draws crowds from throughout the west. Panguitch City’s entire original townsite has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Day 1

  • Start: Parowan

    Suggested time at this stop: 2 hours

    Parowan City was the first pioneer settlement in southern Utah. The original town square houses the Old Rock Church constructed in 1863 and home to a Daughters of the Utah Pioneers museum and a war memorial and rose garden. Many historic structures are scattered across the town.

  • Stop 2: Parowan Gap Petroglyphs

    From previous stop: 15 minutes / 10.5 mi (16.8 km)
    Directions:

    Go north on Main to 400 North. Turn west (left) for 10.5 miles on paved county road (near Milepost 19).
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    Although it is not on the byway, Parowan Gap is well worth the ten-mile detour. It has two features of distinction - one natural, one man-made. The pass near Parowan is a classic example of a wind gap, an unusual geological landform marking where an ancient river has cut a 600-foot-deep notch through the Red Hills.

    Secondly, the gap is a nationally recognized extravaganza of petroglyphs—a superb “gallery” of Native American work. Here one can witness what is at least a 1,000 year accumulation of art work pecked into the rock. Geometric designs, images of lizards, snakes, mountain sheep, bear claws and human figures adorn the smooth canyon walls of the pass.

    These features, set amidst the vast panoramas of the Escalante Desert make for a fascinating getaway located just a few miles off the mainstream interstate.

  • Stop 3: Hidden Haven

    From previous stop: 10 minutes / 8.5 mi (13.6 km)
    Directions:

    Return to Parowan and resume your drive on SR-143. Proceed to mile markers 8 and 9 along the byway. The trailhead is on the east side of the road. Look for the wood fence.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour 30 minutes

    The Hidden Haven trail that winds through an interpretive natural area then traverses a granite rock fall to a waterfall. Use care the last 100 feet due to the uneven surface where the trail is not established.

  • Stop 4: Brian Head Ski and Summer Resorts

    From previous stop: 15 minutes / 5 mi (8.0 km)
    Directions:

    Continue eastward up SR-143 toward Brian Head Resort.
    Suggested time at this stop: 2 hours

    Brian Head Resort boasts plenty of excellent powder skiing. State-of-the-art snowmaking equipment guarantees early season openings, but Brian Head’s high altitude gets abundant snowfall of its own from Mother Nature. Rising from 9,600 to 11,307 feet above sea level, Brian Head is the highest ski resort in Utah.

    The ski area has eight lifts that can accommodate more than 10,000 skiers per hour so you won’t spend your ski vacation standing in lift lines. The resort’s 53 trails, chutes and bowls offer terrain for all skiing abilities.

    Snowboarders are welcome at Brian Head and the snowboard park features a variety of pipes, jumps and slides. Skiers and snowboarders who want to enjoy the highest elevations can take a snow cat to the top of Brian Head.

    A tubing hill and night skiing are offered; ski lessons and child care services are available. You can don a pair of cross-country skis or rent a snowmobile to take you to the scenic overlooks of nearby Cedar Breaks National Monument.

    The resort area has several fine restaurants and complete lodging facilities. Additional accommodations are available in nearby Parowan and Cedar City on I-15, in Panguitch on US 89 and in Panguitch Lake on Hwy 143.

    During the summer, the town of Brian Head hosts a variety of weekend events. Summer is also mountain biking season. The area’s extensive trail system offers thrilling and scenic rides through forests and red rock country. You can ride a chairlift to a mountain peak and bike down. Shuttles, tours, rentals and repairs are also available in the area.

  • Stop 5: Brian Head Peak

    From previous stop: 5 minutes / 2 mi (3.2 km)
    Directions:

    Drive about 1 mile southward along State Highway 143. Turn left at the Forest Service directional sign that reads, "National Forest Vista Point, Brian Head Peak 3" to Brian Head Overlook. From the turnoff at the paved road, a 2.5 mile dirt road winds up the east side of Brian Head Peak.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    From the summit of Brian Head Peak, one can look out at Nevada’s Wheeler and Highland peaks, Arizona’s Mount Trumbull and Navajo Mountain, Beaver County’s Tushar Range and the Paunsagunt, Table Cliffs, and Aquarius plateaus. Then, turning west, little-known ranges with mysterious names such as the Never Summer Mountains and the Wah Wahs become visible.

  • Stop 6: Cedar Breaks National Monument North View Overlook

    From previous stop: 10 minutes / 3.5 mi (5.6 km)
    Directions:

    Follow the gravel road 2.5 miles down the mountainside to Highway 143. Turn left and proceed about one mile. The overlook is on the right.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    About two miles south of the town of Brian Head lies Cedar Breaks National Monument, a giant amphitheater high atop the Markagunt Plateau, over 2,500 feet deep and more than three miles across. With spectacular colors formed by an abundance of mineral deposits, Cedar Breaks National Monument is spectacular to behold.

    The formations in Cedar Breaks consist of ridges, pinnacles and buttresses carved from the steep cliffs by wind and water erosion over more than 30 million years. From the highest point of 10,662 feet to the lowest at 8,100 feet, guests are treated to spectacular views of dense forests of subalpine fir, Engleman spruce and quaking aspen, plus meadows containing more than 150 species of wildflowers. Bristlecone pine, one of nature’s oldest living trees, grows along the rim of the amphitheater and can be seen in abundance throughout the area.

    A six-mile scenic drive (SR-148) leads past four overlooks, each offering a different perspective of the amphitheater. A log cabin constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937 still serves as the visitors’ center. Cedar Breaks offers three trails ranging from short “leg-stretcher” walks to moderate or difficult walks. Ranger campfire programs are offered each night in a nearby campground.

  • Stop 7: Panguitch Lake Resorts

    From previous stop: 20 minutes / 13 mi (20.8 km)
    Directions:

    Drive eastward along Highway 143 about 13 miles, past Mammoth Creek and lava flows.
    Suggested time at this stop: 2 hours

    Panguitch Lake sits at an elevation of 8,400 feet. The word “Panguitch” comes from the Paiute word which means “Big Fish”. The lake has approximately 10 miles of shoreline and is ideal for year-round fishing. In the summer you'll find excellent fishing for some of the largest rainbow trout in Utah. Boats are available for rent. There are plenty of activities to enjoy in the area, including mountain biking, ATV riding, and horseback riding. In winter, ice fishing is a popular sport and easily accessible from local lodges. You can also enjoy snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

    Panguitch Lake sits in the Dixie National Forest and is adjacent to Scenic Byway 143 between the towns of Panguitch and Brian Head, Utah.

  • End: Panguitch City Historic District

    From previous stop: 30 minutes / 18 mi (28.8 km)
    Directions:

    Proceed eastward on SR-143 through the Dixie National Forest for 18 miles.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    The largest and most historic town in Bryce Canyon country, Panguitch is located near Bryce Canyon National Park. Panguitch sits at an elevation of 6,660 feet, offering the traveler a mild climate. Whether you are escaping from the summer heat, enjoying the spring fishing, or experiencing one of Utah’s best displays of fall colors, Panguitch can make an ideal home base for your vacation getaway. Panguitch offers a range of services from a hospital, bank, and post office to accommodations including motels, bed and breakfasts, and campgrounds. In the city’s Historic District you can explore unique stores, museums and the area’s largest variety of restaurants and eating establishments.

Totals for Day 1

Total Distance Traveled: 60.5 miles / 96.8 km
Total Travel Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Stopping Time: 10 hours 30 minutes