Highway 12

 Dave and I visited St. George during the weekend of October 30, 2020, and then took the long way home, along Highway 12.  Highway 12 is ranked as one of the most beautiful roads in the country, and was glorious.  We drove east to Bryce and then north through Escalante, Boulder, and Torrey, and then north again through Sanpete County.  There was red rock at Zions, Bryce, and Capitol Reef, gorgeous mountain views north and south of Boulder, and the quaint Utah towns of Springdale and Orderville.

Zions Park is virtually in the backyard of our St. George home, but we never tire of its red rock cliffs. 

We always stop at the Forscher German bakery, in Orderville.  My favorite pastries there are made with marzipan, or almond paste.

The south end of Highway 12 is lined with antique stores and rock shops.

We always stop at Ruby's Inn, at the entrance to Bryce National Park.  Sometimes we hike Bryce's red rock trails, sometimes we buy an ice cream cone, and sometimes we just browse through the large collection of books and art featuring the Southwest.

Near Escalante, the road climbs and climbs, with views across stark gray buttes and canyons.

It is hard to capture in a photo just how steep the drop-offs are on either side of the road.  There is virtually no shoulder.

After riding ever higher over Boulder Mountain, we arrived in Torrey, the town outside Capitol Reef National Park.  Over the years, I have handled many land disputes for residents of Torrey and Boulder, and I am very fond of the beautiful, artsy town.  I once did the legal work for an art gallery in Torrey, and there have been a series of excellent restaurants in the town.  

Although Torrey is predominantly non-LDS now, it has many historical buildings from its LDS years, such as a pioneer tithing storehouse and old schools and stores.  We have visited Torrey and Capitol Reef many times, but three is always something new to explore.