Echoes of an Odyssey

There will come a time when your spirit of adventure will demand to be noticed. A time when you realize that the roads less traveled possess secrets and worlds of wonder. For they are journeys of the spirit and offer a soulful reminder of our place within the universe.

This is especially true of the roads that thread the backbone of central and southeastern Utah. The scenic highways and byways of 12, 24, 95 and 275 traverse through grand ecological diversities connecting Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Glen Canyon and Natural Bridges National Monument. They lead to a world of fun and a lifetime’s worth of stunning natural beauty.

Heading northeast from Bryce Canyon, Hwy. 12 meanders through the high plateau desert where the faint fragrance of sage is in the air. You are welcomed into the gullies of Calf Creek Recreation Area and the Escalante Canyons where colorful sheer-faced rock monoliths will take your breath away and leave you spellbound.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Up ahead the Dixie National Forest awaits with many scenic overlooks that offers bird’s eye views of vast majestic beauty. You see sparse clouds drifting toward the horizon and so you follow. When arriving at the junction of Hwys. 12 and 24, follow 24 east into Capitol Reef National Park. Its deep and twisting canyons, intricately dissected colored rock and cliff dwellings, natural arches and slickrock wilderness is like no other. Stop. Take a look around. Stretch your muscles and relax your mind. You have just entered a doorway leading into a world of realistic imagination. It is a place where anything seems possible and where life’s natural magnificence cannot be ignored.  

Capital Reef National Park

Continue east on Hwy. 24 into what seems like extraterrestrial terrain. This area of beautifully strange rock and sand formations look like colonies of fossilized space aliens frozen in time. As you begin to follow the signs leading to Scenic Byway 95, look back down the road from where you came and think of the many beautiful places you have just seen. Then cast your eyes over the long stretch of asphalt laid out in front. Like a plush red carpet it leads in a straight line over the horizon. Then it hits you. Those who choose to be defined by the actions of the roads they have traveled possess the true essence of an adventurer.

As you make your way into Glen Canyon along Byway 95 it is easy to understand why visitors in search of a word to describe this area, more often than not, settle on “paradise”.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Its clear blue waters set against soaring red cliffs and rock canopies is a sight to behold. There are scores of canyon tributaries to discover each offering it’s own unique beauty.

During the early and late hours of the day, the cliffs glow like embers above placid sapphire colored shores. At night, the universe explodes with an infinite amount of stars that set the skies afire. And as you begin to fall asleep, you hear the echoes of your odyssey as it was played out during the day and you begin to anticipate the wonders of a new tomorrow.

Natural Bridges National Monument

It is an exquisite example of water, terra and time coming together to create delicate forms of nature. The bridges can be seen from viewing platforms near the road and offer overhead views of the intricate effects the elements have had over millenniums. The park also offers a glimpse into the past when early Puebloan people inhabited the canyons. It is a reflection of our own fragile existence. A poignant reminder that we will forever be meshed within the fabric of nature.

When traveling these roads you are witnessing a geological masterpiece. The land is the canvas upon which vibrant colors have been painted. The skies sing and have the voice of a chorus. And the flora and fauna act as the players upon this vast, grandiose stage. These are just some of the many rewards one gets from visiting America’s Hidden Treasures. 

Come and allow it to light the fireworks within your soul.

For More Information

Bryce Canyon National Park

P.O. Box 170001

Bryce Canyon, UT 84717-0001

(435) 834-5322

Capitol Reef National Park

HC 70 Box 15

Torrey, UT 84775-9602

(435) 425-3791

Capitol Reef Country

P.O. Box 7

Teasdale, UT 84773

(800) 858-7951

(435) 425-3365

www.capitolreef.org

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

P.O. Box 1507

Page, AZ 86040

(520) 608-6404

Natural Bridges National Monument

P.O. Box 1

Lake Powell, UT 84533-0101

(435) 692-1234