USA Burr Trail

Burr Trail Road starts (or ends) in the small town of Boulder, Utah about 38 miles south of Torrey, Utah. En route to this spot from Boulder, you’ll almost immediately pass though several miles of bright yellow sandstone hills that are very photogenic. You’ll also drive through the brilliantly varnished walls of Long Canyon which stretch for approximately 6 miles (9.6 km). There’s a very short but pretty slot canyon called Singing Canyon just a mile or so inside Long Canyon that is absolutely worth spending 15-20 minutes exploring. It’s a nice spot for photography and is a good place to escape the summer heat. There’s room for several vehicles to park on the left side of the road.

Autumn colors add another dimension to the drive to this spot when the cottonwood trees found throughout the region have turned yellow. Views from the parking area offer nice compositions but I walked about 150 yards further down the road to this spot.

From Utah State Highway 12 (Scenic Byway) in Boulder, Utah, turn east on Burr Trail Road and drive 17 miles (27.4 km) to a pullout on the right side of the road overlooking the bentonite hills. There are no facilities at this spot. There are two highly regarded restaurants/grills at the intersection of highway 12 and Burr Trail Road. From that intersection, a 38 mile drive north on highway 12 will take you to Torrey, Utah which is a gateway community to Capitol Reef National Park. There are various restaurants, lodging, and market options in Torrey. Once you turn east on Burr Trail Road, there are no facilities at all for three to five hours depending on your destination. There is extraordinary scenery no matter which direction you drive.