Utah's Heritage Highway by motorcycle
The two-lane alternative to I-15. US-89 leaves US-6 at Thistle in Spanish Fork Canyon and runs south down the Sanpete Valley to Salina and I-70, a town every few miles (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah). This is the Little Denmark and Sevier Valley stretch of Utah's Heritage Highway, which Visit Utah describes as following US-89 from Spanish Fork to Kanab (Visit Utah).
The route at a glance
- Start: the US-6 junction near Thistle. End: I-70 at Salina (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah).
- Length: about 87 miles by the mileposts, 312.8 at the US-6 junction to 225.4 at I-70 in Salina (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah). Fairview to Salina alone is about 59 miles.
- Road: a paved US highway through farm towns. Main streets have lower limits; watch for school zones and farm equipment.
- Time: about two hours without stops (estimate; check your map app). Allow half a day with the towns.
- Fees: none for the road.
Mileposts, north to south
| Milepost | Place | What's there |
|---|---|---|
| 312.8 | US-6 junction near Thistle | Start of the US-89 run south |
| 284.1 | Fairview | SR-31 east over the mountains |
| 277.9 | Mount Pleasant | SR-116 |
| 276.3 | Spring City turn | SR-117 south into Spring City |
| 267.3 | Pigeon Hollow Junction | SR-132 west toward Nephi |
| 262.7 | Ephraim | SR-290 |
| 241.4 | Gunnison | SR-28 |
| 225.4 | Salina | I-70 and US-50 east |
All mileposts from Wikipedia US-89 in Utah.
Thistle to Salina
Thistle. US-89 meets US-6 near the ghost town of Thistle, which a landslide flooded in 1983 (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah).
Fairview. The Fairview Museum of History and Art is at 55 North 100 East, with a mammoth display, work by Avard Fairbanks and other Utah artists, and early farm equipment, wagons and a pioneer cabin outside (Fairview Museum). Check its hours before you go.
Mount Pleasant. The Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area office is at 115 West Main Street (Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area). Wasatch Academy is one of the heritage tour's historic sites (Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area).
Spring City. A short turn east off US-89 (Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area). The whole town is on the National Register of Historic Places, and its old limestone city hall with a bell tower is the stop to look for (Visit Utah).
Ephraim. The largest town in the Sanpete Valley (Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area).
Manti. The county seat (Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area). Its temple was finished in 1877, 16 years before the Salt Lake temple (Visit Utah).
South of Manti. Palisade State Park and Gunnison Reservoir are near this stretch (Visit Utah). Sterling is on the heritage tour's museum list (Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area).
Gunnison to Salina. The road leaves Sanpete for the Sevier Valley and meets I-70 at Salina (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah). Richfield, the largest town on this part of US-89, is about 17 miles on by the mileposts (Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area; Wikipedia US-89 in Utah).
Before you ride
- Towns: none of our sources list fuel stops by name; the towns are close together, so top up in Fairview, Ephraim or Gunnison rather than run low.
- Wildlife and farm traffic: slow down at dawn and dusk and behind tractors on the open stretches.
- Weather: Thistle to Fairview climbs out of Spanish Fork Canyon; spring and fall can be cold. Check UDOT road conditions.
- Rules for visiting riders (helmets, eye protection, lane filtering): Riding in Utah.
Join it up
- From the Nebo Loop: the loop ends on SR-132 at Nephi; SR-132 east meets US-89 at Pigeon Hollow Junction between Mount Pleasant and Ephraim (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah). Nebo Loop.
- On to Fish Lake and Capitol Reef: from Salina and Richfield, ride on to the Fishlake Scenic Byway and Capitol Reef.
- On south to Bryce: US-89 keeps going past Richfield, Marysvale and Circleville to Panguitch. US-89 Sevier Valley.
- East over the plateau: SR-31 leaves US-89 in Fairview for Huntington and Eccles Canyons. The Energy Loop.
- Back north: Salt Lake City rides, or I-15 from Nephi.
Rent a bike
Booking opens soon. Until then, use the ride guides to plan your trip.