Coming up 89, take the detour onto 14 to 148/143 and go past Cedar Breaks National Monument. Nice riding, good view when you get there. Good luck

 

Here's some pics from our trip out there last year:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/road-...pic-heavy.html

Hwy 12 and the Zion east entrance were probably the best for me.

 

Late October wife and I did South Rim, Lake Powell, Bryce, Zion by car. North Rim services were closed for winter.
Took boar ride of Lake Powell into Antelope Canyon. Amazing.

 

Mid June - plan for heat and head out on new tires.

 

More Lake Powell

 

Zion Canyon Lodge

 

You may be noticing that nobody is directly answering your question about what they would do if forced to choose between Highway 9 and Highway 12. It's an almost inconceivable choice, and one that most of us who have ridden those roads simply would not make. Rather, we would spend less time somewhere else. Like, I wouldn't spend any time in Globe, AZ if I could help it. Do what you need to do in order to ride both Highway 9 and Highway 12 -- and spend some time in both Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. You will not regret it.

Now, if you decide that you simply must choose between those two roads, I won't make the choice for you, but I will tell you that many people considered Highway 12 to be one of the premier motorcycle roads in the country -- not to be missed. But then, people come from all over the world to experience Zion National Park. Easy decision, right?

Signed,

One of the many Utah mormons who will not be trying to rob you while you're here.

 

Short answer: 89A & 12
Why: 9 into Zion from east side Mt. Carmel Junction to Park is great. But beyond Springdale west to St. George and up I-15 to SLC is not.

Day 1. Flagstaff South Rim Grand Canyon.
South Rim Hwy 64 to Cameron
Hwy 89A to Jacobs Lake (Gateway to North Rim).

Day 2. North Rim Grand Canyon.
89 to Mt. Carmel (East Entrance road to Zion). Thunderbird Lodge good eats and lodging.
Hwy 89 north towards Panguitch. Very scenic ride.
Hwy 12 to Bryce. Stay at Ruby’s Lodge & Campground. Great lodge and restaurant.

Day 3. Bryce Canyon.
Hwy 12 to Escalante &Torrey.
Side trip into Capitol Reef.
Hwy 24 to I-70 Salina
I-25 to SLC.

 

Good point, funny how the direction of these threads wanders.

OP there's a way to do both if you take 389 west out of Fredonia, AZ and loop around to the west side of Zion via UT 59 and 9, then back to UT 89 at Mt Carmel Junction. That adds a few hours certainly, but no backtracking.

Back to the original question, if I had to choose it would be Hwy 12 for length and variety of terrain. Hwy 9 is amazing but relatively short. Hwy 12 gives you an amazing cross section of Utah from red rock desert to alpine meadows and aspens, plus of course some great twisties.

 

I have been reading alot of the responses and went back to your OP. 9 into Zion is pretty amazing, but honestly could be a half day trip, ride to Springdale, get some breakfast, ride back out. And I do recommend you ride it, but could be a quick detour if you do not have the time to venture into the park on foot. But 12 from 89 to Capital Reef is arguably one of the 5 best roads, ever. Truly amazing piece of riding, all different climates, elevations and terrain, stop at Bryce and Capital Reef, you shall not regret taking 12.