Cottonwood Canyons Scenic Backway

Facility · Utah ·

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management

Kanab Field Office (Bureau of Land Management UT) · Open Access

6,213 ft
Elevation
The scenic Backway runs for 46 miles traversing southward thround Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument from Cannonville to Highway 89. The road is paved for 9 miles between Cannonville and the turnoff to Kodachrome Basin State Park.

Getting there

South entrance of Cottonwood Canyons Scenic Backway is 64 miles east of Kanab UT on Highway 89. North entrance for the Cottonwood Canyons Scenic Backway turn at the gas station in Canonville UT on Highway 12 follow signs for Kodachrome Basin, the road will turn into dirt after the turn off for Kodachrome State park.

37.48378, -111.91360 · 37°29'1.6"N 111°54'49.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 91°F in Jul, down to 44°F in Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F454958657486918881685544
Low °F161924293643525142312115
Precip in1.11.20.90.60.70.31.11.71.21.30.60.9

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 4.6 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Member photos

Common questions about Cottonwood Canyons Scenic Backway

Can you reserve a site at Cottonwood Canyons Scenic Backway?
No. Cottonwood Canyons Scenic Backway is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Cottonwood Canyons Scenic Backway

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Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.