Cannonville

Cannonville combines its location on Utah Scenic Byway 12 with the southern stretch of the Cottonwood Canyons Scenic Backway. It also has a history of settlement and picnic facilities in the town park. This gives you more to consider when planning your trip than just road directions: you can weigh whether the route itself, the destinations mentioned, or a stay in town should set the tone for your trip. When looking for a vacation rental in Cannonville, this is a good starting point, as it draws your attention to the kind of trip you have in mind for your stay.

The Cottonwood Canyons Scenic Backway

The Cottonwood Canyons Scenic Backway runs 46 miles south from Cannonville to Highway 89, passing through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. From UT 12 in Cannonville, the turnoff to Cottonwood Canyon Road, also called Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Backway, heads south. Cannonville is therefore the starting point of the route described here, while Highway 89 marks its end. The route provides a clear framework if you want to plan your trip not only around individual destination names but also around the road itself.

Two distances are important for context because they describe different stretches: the Backway is 46 miles long overall, while nine miles between Cannonville and the turnoff for Kodachrome Basin State Park are paved. The figures therefore address different questions: the total route length on the one hand, and the length of the paved section on the other. Comparing the distances with your destinations helps you distinguish the full route from the section leading to the turnoff.

Destinations and local history

Cannonville’s location on Utah Scenic Byway 12 made it a waypoint for travelers heading to Bryce Canyon, Kodachrome Basin State Park, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Separately, one route connects travelers with Bryce Canyon, Escalante, and Capitol Reef. Bryce Canyon appears in both travel contexts; the other destinations differ. This overlap is useful for planning: it shows that the choice is not limited to a single road name, but also depends on which destinations you want to focus on.

Cannonville’s early settlers developed irrigation systems and grew crops including corn and wheat. Irrigation and farming are two concrete aspects of the same settlement history. Alongside roads and destinations, the work of the early residents is also part of the town’s character. This agricultural history gives a stay in Cannonville a different point of reference from the route itself, so the town is not just a starting point for a drive.

Cannonville’s town park offers picnic facilities. This is a tangible local activity alongside the road connections: a break in town offers a different focus from a plan centered mainly on the Backway. That way, you can make room in your stay for Cannonville itself, not just for the onward drive.

Start planning your trip

When looking for a vacation rental in Cannonville, you can sort out your priorities by considering these differences. Which routes and destinations would you like to include in your trip, and would you also like to make time for the town’s settlement history or a picnic in town? Your answers can help you decide what kind of trip you want before choosing accommodation: one focused more on the road connections or one that includes time to explore Cannonville itself. This way, planning starts with the experiences that interest you and how you would like to divide your days between the route and the town.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Boulder, Escalante, Bryce Canyon, Panguitch, Ticaboo, Henrieville, Hatch, Tropic.

For the broader travel overview: Garfield.