The Magic of Highway 89

I hate driving. Driving is dangerous. But, I love roads. Old scenic highways, in particular, have an affable charm that I find spellbinding. Beautiful scenery is great, but when a battered road meanders upwards though a landscape to meet the horizon line — my heart melts a little. In Florida, we have AIA. For the flat and swampy lands of Florida, it’s considered a scenic drive. I also knew of Route 66, but Route 66 is charming for its nostalgic callback to the 1950s rather than its natural beauty. What I never knew existed was Highway 89. My God! What a beautiful stretch of road! And to think I only explored such a small portion of it.

When I recently visited Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, I became acutely aware of Highway 89. The stretch of Highway 9 through Zion National Park might be the most enjoyable 15 minute drive in the United States. While I was already aware I would enjoy driving through Zion, no one told me just how much I would have to pull over on Highway 89 to continue to take pictures and risk getting run over by speeding cars. I’m also late to the party on discovering Highway 89 as National Geographic already named this row of asphalt as the “#1 Driver’s Drive in the world.”

Highway 89 stretches from Mexico to Canada, but I only drove from Zion to Kanab, Kanab to Page, Page to Highway 69, which led me to the Eastern Rim of the Grand Canyon, and finally, back onto 89A to drive south from Flagstaff into Sedona. I can’t even imagine the beauty I’d encounter if I turned north from Zion and continued on 89. Additionally, I badly wanted to take the stretch of 89A that would have led me to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. There are always next times, right? I’m still young since 40 is the new 20 or something like that. Regardless, if you find yourself on any part of Highway 89 in the future take your time and enjoy yourself. This excellent two lane highway is perfect for enjoying the West.

“Those roads provided breath-taking views. There’s something special about an empty road going on and on and on to the horizon where the sun burns the world away into a dancing, shimmering heat haze that reflects the crystal blue sky, literally blurring the line between heaven and earth.” 

-Dave Gorman