U.S. 89 stretches from Mexico to Canada, offering a non-Interstate route that provides drivers with a good chance to see some of the best the West has to offer.

Starting near Glacier National Park in Montana, leading into Yellowstone, coming close to Zion and Bryce National Parks and providing access to Arizona's Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon National Monuments, Grand Canyon and Saguaro National Parks, and Tumacacori National Historic Park before terminating near Nogales, the road leads to great scenery.

Ann Torrence has written and photographed a new book called U.S. 89 The Scenic Route to Seven Western National Parks , a full-color $29.95 paperback book published by Salt Lake City's Sagebrush Press.

The book traces the stories of trappers, missionaries and homesteaders who settled the areas along U.S. 89. The 1,600-mile road was widened in the Roaring Twenties but was bypassed by modern interstates, allowing many of the towns to retain their original charm.

This is especially true in Utah, where a portion from Big Water to Thistle was recently designated the Mormon Heritage Highway and traces some fascinating pioneer towns along the way. Another chapter details what can be seen on the road from Spanish Fork to Garden City, including State Street as it runs through Salt Lake County.

Other chapters take readers from Nogales to Tucson, Ariz., from Tucson to Route 66 near Flagstaff, Ariz., from Flagstaff to Page, Ariz., from Fish Haven to Geneva, Idaho, from Star Valley, Wyo., to Yellowstone National Park, and from Gardiner to Piegan, Mont.

Torrence's color photographs are evocative and do the route justice by offering insights to both its incredible scenery and colorful characters.

For travelers who want to drive all or part of this route, this book provides good details on places to see as well as a wonderful introduction to an interesting road far from most freeways.

-- Tom Wharton