 US @-@ 89 enters Utah from the south inside the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area , about 7 miles ( 11 km ) north of the Glen Canyon Dam , where it crosses the Colorado River near Page , Arizona . After leaving the recreation area and passing the small town of Big Water , the highway curves west through the Grand Staircase @-@ Escalante National Monument . US @-@ 89 stays near the monument 's southern boundary , crossing the East Clark Bench and The Cockscomb and passing south of the Vermilion Cliffs of the Grand Staircase . At the city of Kanab , US @-@ 89 meets the north end of US @-@ 89A , an alternate route south into Arizona , and abruptly turns north and begins climbing the staircase . Here the Mount Carmel Scenic Byway begins ; one of the Utah Scenic Byways , it stretches north to SR @-@ 12 at Bryce Canyon Junction . The Vermilion Cliffs are ascended via the canyon carved by Kanab Creek . Near the White Cliffs , US @-@ 89 meets SR @-@ 9 at Mt . Carmel Junction , where travelers can turn to reach Zion National Park . The final " step " is the Pink Cliffs , where the highway follows alongside the Virgin River to the highest point on US @-@ 89 in southern Utah and the east end of SR @-@ 14 , a summit at Long Valley Junction ( elevation <unk> feet / 2300 m ) . 
