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STORIES -> Success Stories - Partnerships with Forest Service

Utah's Highway 12 Receives All American Road Designation

Considered one of the most spectacular scenic drives in the country, Scenic Byway 12's recent designation as an All American Road is well deserved. The byway stretches 124 miles through Utah's richly varied landscape, providing access to a wide range of recreational trails for hiking, horseback riding, and off-road travel. It traverses the south central portion of the state of Utah, between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks, through the Dixie National Forest and the northern part of the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument. Dubbed "A Journey Through Time," the byway also describes cultural and historic events in the area: interpretive signs along the byway are located near key historic sites, ancient ruins and artwork. For the traveler, Scenic Byway 12 is a destination unto itself, providing the way into this remote region.

For the residents of the small towns that dot the area, the byway is their way of life.

Scenic Byway 12 is the only principal through highway that runs east of Panguitch and links US 89 with SR 24. It is the lifeblood of the region. For many, this byway supports their very livelihood, bringing tourists dollars to their shops and restaurants. To those residents who work outside the area, it is the only way to and from home.

Scenic Byway 12 partners feel that the real success of this designation is the hidden story of how past adversaries (local rural communities and government agencies in Wayne and Garfield counties) overcame animosity and bitter sentiments to achieve a plan for the highway's success and strengthened relationships that will positively effect the results of this project and future ones.

The highway was designated in 1988 as a National Forest Scenic Byway, followed by a State Scenic byway designation in 1990. Then in early 2001, local stakeholders decided to take the project one step further in order to increase funding and tourist dollars. They joined together and began planning for the future of this valuable resource, pursuing an All-American Road Designation from the Federal Highways Administration.

Over a nine-month period, a coalition of local, state and federal partners worked diligently to develop a corridor management plan (CMP) for the highway as well as generate the application for the "All- American Road" designation. The highway's CMP establishes the road map for future strategies and management actions for the byway. Two rounds of town hall meetings were conducted in the communities along the highway to provide information, gather feedback, and discuss concerns on the designation. Maggie Dowd, the Partnership Specialist on the Dixie National Forest used a collaborative stewardship approach, serving as a committee member facilitating leadership through the planning and collaborative process.

There were moments during the collaborative process that this endeavor might not have gone forward. Through the strong support of local citizens and elected officials the committee achieved a positive outcome, and in June 2002 Scenic Byway 12 was officially designated an All American Road. Since its completion, the Byway has already received two awards recognizing excellence in landscape and design. Further improvements include construction of a new visitor center, which should be completed by autumn of 2003. The Utah Department of Transportation is providing $500,000 for construction, and the Forest Service is providing $160,000. Other major partners in the project are the Eccles Foundation and Garfield County. The Utah Department of Transportation is also funding the visitor center exhibits at a cost of $200,000. The entire byway project serves as an example of what a community can achieve through a collaborative stewardship approach and a powerful vision.

Partners Involved

Success of the project hinged on the hard work and collaboration of a wide range of partners. These included: Garfield and Wayne County; Commissions, Travel Councils and Economic Development Councils, Utah Farm Bureau, Color Country and Panoramaland Resource Conservation &Development Councils Anasazi State Park, Utah Department of Transportation, Merchant Associations and private business owners along Highway12, Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon National Parks, BLM/Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Dixie National Forest, Utah Travel Council, Federal Highways Administration, Towns of: Panguitch, Bryce Valley, Escalante, Boulder and Torrey.

Funds Made Available to Project

Financial partners included: Dixie National Forest, Wayne and Garfield County Commissions and Travel Councils, Wayne County Economic Development Council, Utah Travel Council, Dixie Interpretive Association.

In-kind Contributions

Bureau of Land Management/Grand Staircase National Monument, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks, Anasazi State Park, Utah Department of Transportation, private business owners along Highway 12, Utah Farm Bureau , Dixie National Forest, Five County Association of Government.

Maggie Dowd
Partnership Specialist
Dixie National Forest
1789 N. Wedgewood Lane
Cedar City, Utah 84720
E-mail: mdowd@fs.fed.us
Phone: (435) 691-3735