Drive the Burr Trail Scenic Backway

The Burr Trail is a 66 miles mostly-paved road connecting Boulder, Utah / Highway 12 with the Notom-Bullfrog road that passes through some of the most scenic (and largely untouched) painted-rock backcountry in three of our national parks/monuments including Grand Staircase-Escalante, Capitol Reef, and Glen Canyon with endless epic hikes and backpacking trips like Hiking the Upper Muley Twist, the Henry Mountains, Waterpocket Fold, Red Circle Cliffs, and Long Canyon.

The trail itself was created by John Atlantic Burr, born in 1846 aboard the SS Brooklyn somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. He and his family lived in Salt Lake City, then later moved south and established the town of Burrville, Utah, in 1876. John Burr soon developed the trail later to be given his name to move cattle back and forth between winter and summer ranges and to market. 

To get there you can either take the turnoff near Boulder / Highway 12 for 66 miles till it reaches Notom-Bullfrog Road, or you can take Notom-Bullfrog Road north out of Bullfrog or south from Utah State Route 24. 

Most of the road is paved, though certain sections such as the switchbacks remain dirt and are often impassible to passenger and even 4WD vehicles in wet weather. RVs are not recommended on any portion of the road.

There are many dispersed camping areas along the road. Please observer all posted rules and regulations including the principles of Leave No Trace.

Call the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center at 435-826-5499 for latest road conditions and travel information. 

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Detailed Guide