Basics
- Length:
- 38 miles (61 km)
- Time:
- 45 minutes
- Fees:
- There is no fee to drive the byway.
Description
Welcome to Eccles Canyon Scenic Byway. As a result of the area's natural beauty, remoteness, and low population density, Eccles Canyon Scenic Byway offers respite and refreshment to every visitor. The byway stretches across the Wasatch Plateau, rising high through steep canyons and down into pristine valleys. As you follow the byway route, notice the constantly changing landscapes, which make the drive pleasurable year-round. These landscapes, along with an occasional town, conceal a rich history. Streams, lakes, and reservoirs abound, providing a myriad of diversions for those who can stay awhile.
After a winding incline to the summit of a mountain, you enter Sanpete County. From an overlook, notice Burnout Canyon, which doesn't seem burned out at all. Forests of aspen and pine cascade down and stop at the bottom of the canyon where a mountain stream with grassy banks meanders next to the byway. As if to copy the stream, the road through Burnout Canyon begins to wind too.
Few areas in the United States can boast the precedence of untouched and diverse historical resources as the Eccles Canyon Scenic Byway. See a variety of important historical landmarks including Native American history, Spanish exploration routes, and early Mormon and coal mining settlements that have grown into towns. Of special interest is the historic town of Scofield. Once the largest town in Carbon County, Scofield was the site of the worst mining accident in Utah history on May 1, 1900. Today only about 26 residents stay year-round in Scofield although the population grows with the influx of summer residents. Feel free to take a look around the historic buildings of the little town and don't miss the country cemetery where the miners killed in the fateful accident over a hundred years ago are buried. Here the reality of the loss is obvious, in the collection of headstones on the side of the hill-- all marked with the same date.
North of Scofield, stop at scenic Scofield Reservoir and State Park for boating, swimming and fishing. The reservoir has some of the best fishing in the state and is a popular destination for anglers. Fishing and water skiing are also great at deep-blue Electric Lake.
The Eccles Canyon Scenic Byway makes its way over mountainous terrain nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. The views are spectacular, the fun plentiful, and the history rich, especially in the little lake town of Scofield. This byway makes up part of the Energy Loop, a National Scenic Byway, and provides travelers with glimpses into the past and glorious views of the present.
