Burr Trail by motorcycle
The best paved side trip off Scenic Byway 12. From the town of Boulder the Burr Trail runs east through the red walls of Long Canyon and across the Circle Cliffs to the edge of the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef. For a road bike it is an out-and-back: the pavement stops where the switchbacks start.
The route at a glance
- Start: Boulder, on Utah Highway 12 (NPS Capitol Reef)
- Paved: from Boulder to the west boundary of Capitol Reef National Park (NPS Capitol Reef; Visit Utah)
- Inside the park: 8.5 miles of graded dirt, including switchbacks that drop about 800 ft in half a mile (NPS Capitol Reef)
- Whole road: Boulder to Bullfrog Marina on Lake Powell, 66 miles (Bryce Canyon Country). Only the paved western part is in this guide.
- Fee: none to drive it (Visit Utah)
Boulder to the switchbacks
Long Canyon. Soon after leaving Boulder the road drops into Long Canyon, with tall red cliffs on both sides (Visit Utah).
Deer Creek and The Gulch. Deer Creek Campground comes soon after the descent, with trailheads nearby for The Gulch, the Circle Cliffs and Singing Canyon (Visit Utah). A good place to stretch your legs.
The Circle Cliffs. The road crosses the Circle Cliffs on its way to Capitol Reef (NPS Capitol Reef).
The overlook above the switchbacks. At the park boundary there is a viewpoint at the top of the switchbacks, looking down over the Waterpocket Fold. Just past it the road turns to dirt and gravel (Visit Utah). On a road bike, this is where you turn around.
Why road bikes turn back
- The switchbacks and the road beyond are graded dirt, and the park says conditions change with the weather (NPS Capitol Reef).
- After a storm the clay can make the road impassable, even for four-wheel drive (Visit Utah).
- To reach Capitol Reef's Fruita area on pavement, go back to Boulder and ride Highway 12 north over Boulder Mountain to Torrey. See the Capitol Reef page.
Before you ride
- Fuel and supplies: there are no services along the Burr Trail; start with a full tank (Bryce Canyon Country). Bring plenty of water, and don't count on cell signal (Visit Utah).
- Season: Visit Utah says passenger vehicles can use the road from spring to fall in dry weather (Visit Utah). Check the forecast first.
- Road conditions: Capitol Reef's line is (435) 425-3791, option 4 (NPS Capitol Reef).
- Time: Boulder to the overlook and back, about 2 to 3 hours with stops (estimate).
- Rules for visiting riders (helmets, eye protection, lane filtering): Riding in Utah.
Keep going
- The road that gets you to Boulder: Scenic Byway 12, from Bryce over the Hogback.
- North over Boulder Mountain: Capitol Reef. West: Bryce Canyon.
Rent a bike
Booking opens soon. Until then, use the ride guides to plan your trip.