The Long Way
Iron and Garfield counties County
A person sits on a rocky cliff overlooking a vast landscape under a cloudy sky.
Plate I. Scenic view along Utah's Patchwork Parkway Scenic Byway. From visitcedarcity.com
Two people kayaking on a calm body of water during a scenic sunset.
Plate II. Panguitch Lake, Utah's Patchwork Parkway Scenic Byway. From visitutah.com
A scenic view of a vast canyon landscape at sunset.
Plate III. Scenic landscape, Utah's Patchwork Parkway Scenic Byway. From visitutah.com
A winding road runs through a grassy valley beneath a blue sky.
Plate IV. Utah's Patchwork Parkway Scenic Byway. Photograph by A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A winding asphalt road curves past a steep forested hillside with rock cliffs above.
Plate V. Parowan Canyon along Patchwork Parkway Scenic Byway. Photograph by A. E. Crane, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A scenic view of a rocky canyon with colorful strata and evergreen forests.
Plate VI. Cedar Breaks view from Utah's Patchwork Parkway. Photograph by Original uploader was Averette at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Utah's Patchwork Parkway Scenic Byway

Parowan to Panguitch, Iron and Garfield counties County, Utah. National Scenic Byway (S.R. 143).

Details

Where
Parowan to Panguitch, Iron and Garfield counties County, UT. No street address stated. Directions
When
51 miles, about 90 minutes to travel.
Season
Yes, but check road conditions in the winter. The portion between Brian Head and Panguitch is subject to closure in bad weather.
Getting there
From Parowan I-15 Exit #78, go south on Parowan's Main Street, turn left at Center St/SR-143 and head east.
Fees
No fees to drive the byway; campgrounds and attractions may charge fees.
Website
visitutah.com
Managed by
Dixie National Forest 435-865-3700 Parowan Visitor Center 1-888-PAROWAN, ext. 1851.
Established
1933.

Every bend in the road brings into vision a new patch of scenery from colorful rocky cliffs and spires, alpine forests, lush meadows with rambling streams, crystal blue lakes and an unexpected splash of lava fields amidst the towering aspen trees.

Notable Events

  1. 1864After the first Panguitch crops failed, seven men bound for Parowan crossed deep snow by laying quilts on it; the trek became known as the Quilt Walk. travel.utah.gov
  2. 2006The Utah's Patchwork Parkway Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan was adopted. travel.utah.gov
  3. 2009The designation recognized the historic value of the road. deseret.com

People

  • Nancy Dalton, Byway 143 coordinator at the time of the National Scenic Byway designation.
  • Alex Matheson, One of the seven men on the Quilt Walk and recorder of its story.
  • Jens Neilson, Led the fifty-four pioneer families that crossed from Parowan to settle Panguitch (1864).

Sources

  1. visitutah.com/things-to-do/road-trips/scenic-byways
  2. visitutah.com/things-to-do/road-trips/scenic-byways/utahs-patchwork-parkway-national-scenic-byway
  3. travel.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/Patchwork-Parkway-CMP_Amended_11-6-2008.pdf
  4. fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/bywaysp/byway/2023
  5. visitutah.com/things-to-do/road-trips/scenic-byways/utahs-patchwork-parkway-national-scenic-byway
  6. deseret.com/2009/10/17/20346707/utah-s-route-143-is-named-a-national-scenic-byway