Scenic 38-mile mountain byway featuring panoramic overlooks, alpine forests, red rock formations, and access to lakes, trails, and campgrounds.
General Information
Closed in winter due to snow
Fees apply at campgrounds and recreation sites
How to Get There
From Provo (25 mi): Take I-15 S to Payson, exit onto 800 S, then turn right on 600 E to enter Nebo Loop Scenic Byway.
Overview
The Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway is a 38-mile mountain road on national forest land that runs between Payson and Nephi, passing beneath 11,928-foot Mount Nebo, the highest peak in the Wasatch Range. It is a federally designated National Scenic Byway, recognized in the late 1990s for its scenery, and it climbs above 9,000 feet through oak and maple, aspen groves, conifer forest and alpine meadows. Along the way are broad overlooks of Utah Valley and Utah Lake, the red sandstone hoodoos of Devil’s Kitchen, Payson Lakes and trailheads into the Mount Nebo Wilderness. It is a favorite for fall foliage drives, picnics, fishing, hiking and camping, within easy reach of the Wasatch Front.
Access
The byway is a paved mountain road that can be entered from either end. From the north, leave I-15 at Payson, take 800 South east, and turn right on 600 East, which becomes the Nebo Loop Road. From the south, leave I-15 at Nephi, follow SR-132 east for about five miles, and turn left (north) onto Forest Road 015. The full drive takes about an hour and a half without stops, and Payson Lakes is roughly 12 miles from the Payson end. There are no services along the route, so fill your tank and bring food and water, and note that the road is narrow and winding with steep drop-offs in places. Bears live in the backcountry, so store food properly.
Seasons
The road is open seasonally and closes for winter because of snow, generally from late October or November until late spring or early summer, so check road conditions before heading up. Summer brings cool temperatures at elevation, lake fishing and waterfall hikes, while the upper slopes of Mount Nebo are typically snow-covered into early summer. Fall is the signature season, when maples, oaks and aspens put on color, with peak foliage usually in September and early October. Developed campgrounds generally close around November. In winter, the snowbound road becomes a destination for snowmobiling and snowshoeing, and a snowmobile complex operates from December through March.
Things to Do
Scenic Driving and Overlooks
The main attraction is the drive itself. Pullouts along the road offer views of Mount Nebo, Utah Valley and the Wasatch Mountains, and the Utah Valley Overlook is a popular stop for photographers and sightseers.
Devil’s Kitchen
This geologic interest site features orange-red sandstone hoodoos that stand out against the forest, and it is often compared to a miniature Bryce Canyon. A short paved trail and observation deck make it accessible for most visitors.
Fishing and Picnicking at Payson Lakes
The Payson Lakes area has three lakes stocked with trout, picnic areas and a paved nature path around the lake. Swimming and boating are also possible, and a historic guard station there can be rented as a cabin.
Camping, Biking and Horseback Riding
Developed campgrounds and widespread dispersed camping line the byway, and its trails are popular with mountain bikers and riders on horseback. Cyclists also use the paved road for scenic rides.
Top Trails
Grotto Falls
Length: About 0.6 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
A flat, wide path leads to a small waterfall dropping into a shallow pool, making this one of the easiest and most family-friendly hikes on the byway. The trailhead is several miles up Payson Canyon, and in early season the winter gate may add distance if the road is still closed.
Devil’s Kitchen Trail
Length: About 0.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
A short paved trail leads to an observation deck above the red rock hoodoos of Devil’s Kitchen. It is a quick stop for photos and especially pretty in fall when the surrounding maples change color.
Mount Nebo via the Monument Trailhead
Length: Long full-day hike
Elevation Gain: About 5,500 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
This challenging route climbs into the Mount Nebo Wilderness toward the summit ridge of the Wasatch Range’s highest peak and typically takes most of a day. Start early, carry plenty of water, and watch for afternoon storms and lingering snow into early summer.
Visitor Centers
There is no visitor center on the byway, and no services along the road. The Forest Service’s Spanish Fork Ranger District, which can be reached at (801) 798-3571, provides road conditions, maps and campground information, and the Utah Valley Visitors Bureau in Provo can also help with trip planning. Interpretive signs and the Devil’s Kitchen site along the route share information on geology and forest ecology.
Camping and Lodging
Several Forest Service campgrounds line the byway, including Payson Lakes, which is reservable through Recreation.gov, and Blackhawk, and dispersed camping is allowed in many areas away from streams and lakes. Wilderness camping in the Mount Nebo Wilderness is reserved through Recreation.gov, and the historic Payson Lakes Guard Station can be rented as a cabin. Hotels and motels are available in Payson and Nephi, at either end of the byway, and in Spanish Fork, Springville and Provo within about 30 to 45 minutes. Salt Lake City is roughly an hour and a half north.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Additional information from U.S. Forest Service.
