US-89 through the Sevier Valley by motorcycle
The way south to Bryce without I-15. From Salina, US-89 follows the Sevier River up its valley past Richfield, through Marysvale Canyon and Circleville Canyon, to Panguitch and the Scenic Byway 12 turn for Bryce Canyon (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah). It picks up where Utah's Heritage Highway guide ends.
The route at a glance
- Start: Salina, where US-89 meets I-70 (milepost 225.4). End: Bryce Canyon Junction, SR-12 east (milepost 124.2) (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah).
- Length: about 101 miles by the mileposts.
- Road: from Salina to Sevier, US-89 runs on the I-70 freeway. The old two-lane road through Richfield, Elsinore and Joseph is still there as state routes SR-120, SR-258 and SR-118 if you'd rather stay off the interstate (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah). From Sevier south it is a two-lane US highway.
- Time: about two hours without stops (estimate; check your map app). Allow half a day with stops.
- Fees: none for the road. Bryce Canyon charges at its own gate: see Bryce Canyon by motorcycle.
Mileposts, north to south
| Milepost | Place | What's there |
|---|---|---|
| 225.4 | Salina | I-70 exit 56; US-89 joins I-70 west |
| 217 | Sigurd | Exit 48, SR-24 toward Capitol Reef |
| 209 to 206 | Richfield | Exits 40 and 37 |
| 200 | Elsinore | Exit 31 |
| 194 | Joseph | Exit 25 |
| 191.7 | Sevier | Exit 23; US-89 leaves I-70 and heads south |
| 164.3 | Junction | SR-153 |
| 162.4 | Near Kingston | SR-62 |
| 141.1 | Bear Valley Junction | SR-20 west to I-15 |
| 131.1 | Panguitch | SR-143 |
| 124.2 | Bryce Canyon Junction | SR-12 east to Bryce Canyon |
All mileposts from Wikipedia US-89 in Utah. Marysvale and Circleville are on the road between these junctions.
Salina to Panguitch
Salina to Sevier. On I-70 this is a quick freeway run; on the old road you ride through Richfield's main street and the farm towns of Elsinore and Joseph (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah).
Marysvale Canyon. South of Sevier the Sevier River valley narrows into a canyon that runs to Marysvale (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah). Big Rock Candy Mountain is a few miles north of Marysvale; its yellow, orange, red and white colors are altered volcanic rock (Utah Geological Survey).
Marysvale to Circleville. The highway runs on through Junction. South of there the Sevier River is dammed to form Piute Reservoir, and the road goes through Circleville Canyon, which narrows before opening out near Circleville (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah).
Butch Cassidy's boyhood home. Near Circleville, just off US-89. It became a Utah State Monument in October 2026, and KSL reported no admission cost (KSL, Oct 2026).
Circleville to Panguitch. The road continues south past Bear Valley Junction to Panguitch and on to the SR-12 turn (Wikipedia US-89 in Utah).
Before you ride
- Fuel: none of our sources list fuel stops by name. Top up in Richfield, and again in Panguitch before Bryce.
- Wildlife and farm traffic: slow down at dawn and dusk and behind tractors in the valleys.
- Weather: check UDOT road conditions, especially in spring and fall.
- Rules for visiting riders (helmets, eye protection, lane filtering): Riding in Utah.
Join it up
- From the north: Utah's Heritage Highway brings US-89 down the Sanpete Valley to Salina.
- East to Capitol Reef: at Sigurd, SR-24 heads toward the Fishlake Scenic Byway and Capitol Reef.
- On to Bryce: turn east on SR-12 at Bryce Canyon Junction. Bryce Canyon and Scenic Byway 12.
- Over the mountain to I-15: from Panguitch, SR-143 past Brian Head. Patchwork Parkway.
- South to Zion: keep on US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Zion to Bryce, ridden in reverse.
Rent a bike
Booking opens soon. Until then, use the ride guides to plan your trip.