Indian Creek Scenic Byway

Wind through one of Utah’s most striking red rock landscapes on the Indian Creek Scenic Byway, a state-designated route that delivers canyon country at its most dramatic. The drive follows Indian Creek as it cuts through towering sandstone walls, passing beneath the iconic Sixshooter Peaks and skirting the eastern edge of the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park.

Travelers will encounter sweeping views of rust-colored cliffs, ancient cottonwood groves lining the creek bed, and some of the finest crack climbing terrain on Earth — drawing rock climbers from around the globe. Keep an eye out for desert bighorn sheep, golden eagles, and remnants of ancestral Puebloan rock art panels tucked into alcoves along the route.

Key stops include the Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument, where thousands of petroglyphs span 2,000 years of human history on a single sandstone panel, and the turnoff to the Needles District, one of Canyonlands’ most rewarding sections for hiking.

The best time to drive is spring or fall, when temperatures are mild and the desert light paints the canyon walls in deep golds and reds. Allow one to two hours for the drive, longer if you plan to stop and explore.

Explore Nearby

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