Panguitch, Utah is a charming town smack in the middle of an outdoor adventure seekers dream! I’m talking three of the “Mighty Five” Utah National Parks are all within a 2-hour drive. Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, and Zion National Parks. Not to mention Grand Staircase-Escalante and Cedar Breaks National Monuments, Red Canyon, and the AMAZING Scenic Byway 12. We couldn’t ask for more from a place to use as a basecamp for 2 weeks. Discover all of the must visit places and plan your own visit to Panguitch!
Panguitch is the home of the Quilt Walk Festival, held the second week of June. Quilts can be seen on display throughout Main Street all throughout the year. During the festival, there is a silent auction, quilting classes, a quilt show with vendors, and even a dinner theater. At the end of June, the city hosts the Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally & 5K Race. Don’t miss the balloon glow that happens right on Main Street!
Stroll down historic Main Street and browse quilt shops, bistros, and cafes. Be sure to check out the Smokin’ Hot Antiques shop (located in The Old Firehouse)!
Groceries: Joe’s Main Street Market in town is a well-stocked grocery store, with all the basics that you need to fuel up while you are in the area. The staff were friendly, and the produce and meat were nice and fresh.
Things To Do
National Scenic Byway 12: Hop on this ‘All American Road’ in Panguitch and enjoy the stunning scenery from Bryce Canyon National Park all the way to just outside of Capital Reef National Park. You’ll pass Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Dixie National Forest, Calf Creek Recreation Area, and Boulder Mountain. On your trip, stop at the numerous overlooks, picnic sites, trailheads, and visitor centers along the Byway.
Bryce Canyon National Park: A fun way to visit this amazing national park is by bike! Bryce Canyon has a paved, Shared-Use Path for cyclists and pedestrians. The Shared-Use Path takes you through the first 3 miles into Bryce Canyon, starting from the Visitor Center and leading to three of the most popular overlooks: Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, and Inspiration Point, as well as the Lodge. Find out more on our post about cycling Bryce Canyon!
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument:
National Scenic Byway 143: On the west side of Panguitch, take ‘The Patchwork Parkway’ into the mountains and up to Panguitch Lake for a fabulous scenic drive and day trip. Past Panguitch Lake you will ancient lava flows and stunning overlooks and Cedar Breaks National Monument. We visited Cedar Breaks in late May and the park was still not fully open for the season due to snow pack! While the trails may be closed, the overlooks were still accessible and absolutely still worth a visit.
Cedar Breaks National Monument:
Panguitch: Dining
On your trip along Scenic Byway 143, stop by the Burger Barn at Panguitch Lake for lunch. This awesome local burger joint is owned and operated by the friendliest husband and wife team. The ‘Barn Burger’ is a must try! We enjoyed lunch so much, we stopped back by for a sweet treat after playing in the snow at Cedar Breaks. The huckleberry ice cream was stellar!
Cowboy Smokehouse Cafe: After the third or fourth recommendation from the locals, we made sure to have dinner at Cowboy’s. We arrived for an early dinner and the place was packed! Always a good sign for yummy things to come. The Pig Tails Appetizer- their version of loaded fries- was big enough to feed a family of 4 on its own. That, and the pulled pork were both delicious, but I think my favorite dish may have been the smoked chicken and baked beans!
Panguitch: Lodging
There are multiple campgrounds, inns, and vacation rentals all located right in town. Two Sunsets Hotel, Panguitch Countryside Cabins, and The Panguitch House B&B all receive great reviews. We opted to stay just 10 minutes out of town at the Bear Valley RV & Campground Resort.
The campground was clean and well maintained, and the pull through sites are big rig friendly. There is a delightful general store, laundry, a playground, and propane all on site. The office staff and camp hosts were super friendly. Did I mention there is a gas station? Talk about convenience! Our site was toward the back of the park and there was no noise from the gas station. Occasionally, we could hear a little road noise from Highway 89 but overall, it’s a very quiet park. Don’t have an RV? They also rent wagon-cabins (which are adorable, I might add) and teepee tents. We will definitely stay here again.
If you want to explore more of Panguitch, we have included a list of other popular attractions and restaurants in the area:
Top Rated Attractions Near Panguitch:
- Frontier Homestead State Park Museum
- Parowan Gap Petroglyphs
- Duck Creek Village
- Panguitch Lake
Top Rated Restaurants in Panguitch:
- Backroads Bistro
- Cowboy’s Smokehouse
- Burger Barn at Panguitch Lake
- The Flying Goat
We hope that this article inspires you to visit this charming and historic Utah town and find your own local adventure. You can find more of our small town destinations here. Happy travels!
