State Route 143 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Utah, with the entire highway being designated the Brian Head-Panguitch Lake Scenic Byway as part of the Utah Scenic Byways program. This road has also been designated as Utah’s Patchwork Parkway as part of the National Forest Scenic Byway program.

Length	51 miles
States	1 – Utah
Astronomy Sites	5

Astronomy Sites

Here are a bunch of astronomy sites in the are of Utah’s Patchwork Parkway, which provides great opportunities to view the Milky Way and sky.

Yankee Meadows Reservoir

This reservoir provides a great amount of outdoor opportunities and area for viewing the night sky. The lake shoreline is a great place for viewing the sky and photographing the Milky Way.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Cedar Breaks is a natural amphitheater, which stretches across 3 miles and has a depth of over 2,000 feet. The elevation of the rim of the amphitheater is over 10,000 feet above sea level, which provides great features include timeless bristlecone pines, stand in lush meadows of wildflower, ponder crystal-clear night skies and experience the richness of our subalpine forest. The clear night skies are amazing for stargazing, which is why the activity is highly advertised. This means that these skies are a great place for astronomy.

Panguitch Lake

Panguitch Lake was originally a large natural lake that has now been expanded by the creation of a 24-foot dam to become a reservoir with a maximum surface area of 1,248 acres. The lake, which drains into the Sevier River is located on the Markagunt Plateau, between Panguitch, Utah and Cedar Breaks National Monument. The extensive lake shoreline is a great place for viewing the sky and photographing the Milky Way.

Dixie National Forest

Dixie National Forest is a United States National Forest in Utah with headquarters in Cedar City. It occupies almost two million acres and stretches for about 170 miles across southern Utah. The largest national forest in Utah straddles the divide between the Great Basin and the Colorado River. It has a plethora of outdoor activities and opportunities for stargazing and DSLR Milky Way photography.

Brianhead Peak

Brian Head Peak, at 11,312 feet high, is the highest peak on the Markagunt Plateau and in Iron County in southwestern Utah, United States. Brian Head Peak is located east of Cedar City and just north of Cedar Breaks National Monument in Dixie National Forest. The peak has an amazing view of the surrounding area, which means that it is a great opportunity for stargazing.

Camping/Lodging

Here are a great list of some opportunities along the path of the byway for camping, but not an extensive list.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

With 1 campground, Cedar Breaks National Monument is a great place to camp. The campground at Cedar Breaks National Monument is only open from mid-June to September 30, which depends on the Utah winters to be open. Make sure to reserve your campground spots ahead of time. Please note camping is not permitted in parking lots or at overlooks.

Dixie National Forest

Dixie National Forest by camping at one of the campgrounds, dispersed camping, or staying in a historic guard station.  Several campgrounds are located near lakes and reservoirs and other outdoor activities. These are great places to stay when in the Forest exploring the outdoors and doing astronomy.

Yankee Meadows Reservoir

Yankee Meadows Campground is a little known gem that offers outstanding beauty and recreation. The scenery is fantastic at the lake with towering volcanic cliffs of Sydney Peaks rising in the distance.  Trout fishing and boating are the most popular activities. There are hiking, biking and horseback riding trails in and around Yankee Meadows.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and make sure to view our other unique astronomy roadtrips such as this one for more places to view astronomy when on a roadtrip.