Scenic Driving Utah

by Christy Karras

Discover Utah with over 25 recommended drives. Scenic Driving Utah provides indispensable information, including directions and a map for each itinerary, in-depth descriptions of attractions and points of interest, travel tips, and more. In addition to the text being fully revised and updated, the 3rd edition features a new cover treatment.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

The first thing to know about Christy Karras: she is deeply grateful to everyone who reads her books. Writing is a crazy business, and it helps to be reminded that readers just might be out there enjoying books.

Christy Karras is the author or co-author of four books: Motorcycle Touring in the Pacific Northwest, Motorcycle Touring in the Southwest; More than Petticoats: Remarkable Utah Women, and Scenic Driving: Utah. She is a regular contributor to the Seattle Times and has written for publications ranging from Salt Lake City Weekly to the New York Times. She writes about subject ranging from arts and entertainment to outdoors and travel.

Christy is also an editor with experience in magazines, books (fiction and nonfiction), and websites. She presents classes and workshops on writing, editing, and publishing. She hopes to someday teach Football 101.

Her life has been more interesting than she ever intended. She was a White House intern; won $64,000 on the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" game show; and met the Queen of England in a scene later portrayed in the movie "The Queen" (filmmakers did not consult her).

When she is not on the road, she lives with her husband, Bill, and rambunctious pets.

Reviews

[Clayton Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having played extensively throughout every part of Utah, I was surprised how many other gems are left to explore, and I have already started following some of the routes. Kudos to my classmate that put this together - go get it!

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled with scenic drives to take in Utah. Each individual route is shown on a full page map, and inserted into them are mini maps showing you which area of Utah is covered by this particular route. So it's easy to choose which route to discover by the clear, easy to see maps. Whether you pick a nearby route for an evening out, or take the family on vacation and want to discover some scenic backways that are close to camp, this map-filled book can be your guide. While I didn't read this book cover to cover, I did glance through the whole book. It's an invaluable resource for discovering Utah. It was written several years ago, and the author does suggest looking up the area online before your journey to check for any changes, updates, or current construction to the area. But still, the book is filled with invaluable information on the beautiful back roads of Utah.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been to Utah a few times, and I still have a lot to explore there. In 2019,my husband and I took a road trip to the mighty five in Utah, the five big national parks there. This book brings back good memories of some the drives we took between parks, and along the way of that road trip. Lots of options to take in the future and more exploring awaits. The sections are not overwhelming with too many details, just enough to give you a taste of what to expect and maps to help out too.

[Brain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having traveled a fair amount of Utah, this really does capture some of the best drives. The information is appropiately detailed enough to get you comfortable with time and safety resources needed to get to/from your destination (or is the journey the destination?).

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had this book on the shelves for the last 9 years. Don't use it a ton but have gone on many of the trips described. Good detail and nice to have a physical reference in areas where connections aren't that good.

[Jillian Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information

[Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas gift from Nathan, our youngest (42-year-old) son--a treasured gift because Nathan obviously would like to share more with his dad, which we have already done verbally since Christmas and will continue to do. My wife Maurine and I have already driven most of the paved roads in Southern Utah mentioned in this book--but not all of them. At first reasonable opportunity, we will drive Scenic Drive 18, Huntington & Eccles Canyons--Huntington to Scofield--and take the side trip to the mining village of Clear Creek where we might dream of getting a head start on another "Park City" which could develop in future decades or centuries. Maurine has committed to hiking with me the 2 mile trail to Bald Mountain (11,947 ft--higher than Timpanogos and Mt. Nebo). We rushed by the trailhead in 2017 on the Mirror Lake Highway (Scenic Drive 21). The book mentions and explains numerous attractions that I have always wondered about and wanted to visit--fascinating and educational reading-- and details some very attractive designated Scenic Byways and Backways (not all paved) a few of which we may eventually visit. All in all this book gets to my heart and to the heart of Utah that I love.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most valuable book I packed on a recent trip to visit the National Parks of Utah. The advice people gave me before I left was 'be sure to see Zion', but there is so much more to see if you know where to look. I appreciated reading the history of places we passed. We took detours based on the suggestions in the book, following dirt roads to state parks and national monuments that might have escaped our notice if it weren't for the book's descriptions.

[fri-'net-ik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives some excellent suggestions of routes when travelling around one of the States' most beautiful states. The photos are grainy black-and-white compared to other similar books but this book is an excellent value for those who wish to see the pictured sights for themselves.

[Derek]

I've only skimmed over this book so I cannot yet rate it.

[Vickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am ready to explore scenic Utah!

[Colleen Lahey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reference which will be helpful for our trip.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guidebook of Utah's scenic drives. Nice maps show clearly the areas of interest along each route. Definitely a good resource for trip-planning.