Panguitch is a small, tidy Utah town of about fifteen hundred people on the high plateau, and it is the doorway to one of the great motorcycle roads in the American West. Scenic Byway 12 starts nearby, climbs through Red Canyon with its orange spires and tunnels, and then runs on through Bryce Canyon country, Grand Staircase-Escalante and over Boulder Mountain to Capitol Reef. The name Panguitch comes from a Paiute word usually translated as big fish, and the nearby lake does indeed have good trout.
The town sits at about two thousand metres, which means nights are cool even in summer, and winter is properly cold. For riders this matters. May and early June can still bring frost and snow flurries, while July and August have afternoon thunderstorms, and September and early October are often the finest weeks, with crisp air, clear light and golden aspens on the hills. The roads around are broad, well-surfaced and mostly gentle, with long climbs, open views and the odd tight bend, and wildlife such as deer and the occasional cow on the road is a real factor at dusk.
Panguitch has an interesting past. Mormon settlers founded it in the 1860s, abandoned it during conflicts, and then returned. A famous episode in its history, the so-called quilt walk of 1864, tells of settlers who crossed deep snow to fetch food by laying quilts on top of the crust, and the town still celebrates it. The main street is lined with old brick buildings from the late nineteenth century, and a number of historic motels still run with their neon signs, which gives the place a pleasant roadside feel. You will find cafes serving big breakfasts and pie, small shops, and a couple of places to eat steak or burgers in the evening.
On the practical side, Panguitch has fuel stations and basic repairs, and it is the last reliable supply point before the long, thinly populated sections of the byway to the east. Parowan, to the west, is larger, though far enough away that it is better to fill up here. Carry water, a warm layer and sunscreen, because altitude catches people out, and book a room in advance in peak season.