The Patchwork Parkway, from the bottom of it.

Because of the winter of 1864. The young settlement at Panguitch, on the far side of the plateau, had run out of flour, and a party of seven men set out over the mountain toward Parowan to fetch some. The snow was so deep and soft that they broke through it with every step, so they laid quilts on the surface, walked across them, moved each one forward in turn and crossed the mountain that way. They reached Parowan, got the flour and got it home. The byway is named for those quilts.

It climbs roughly 4,600 feet across eighteen miles and reaches a 13 percent grade, which makes it the steepest paved state route in Utah, with the hardest single mile being the last one below Brian Head. Brian Head itself is at about thirteen miles. Allow more time than the distance suggests, especially in winter, and be aware that the descent in poor conditions is the harder direction rather than the climb.

Yes. UDOT plows and maintains State Route 143 from Parowan through the whole winter, and it is the only vehicle access to Brian Head in that season because the southern approach on State Route 148 through Cedar Breaks closes once the snow is deep enough. Chains or traction devices can be required during storms. Check UDOT's conditions page the morning of a winter drive, because weather in the canyon can be nothing like the weather in Parowan.

Proper tires first, then chains if you are unsure, along with a full tank, warm layers and patience. The route is maintained, but it climbs into serious winter within twenty minutes of town.

Around half an hour to the resort at an unhurried pace, and longer than the mileage suggests because of the grade and the corners. The summer section beyond it adds more.

From Parowan it climbs the canyon to Brian Head at about thirteen miles, then continues over the plateau past the State Route 148 spur into Cedar Breaks National Monument, on past Panguitch Lake and eventually down into Panguitch. The full byway end to end is a half day drive if you stop for anything, and the section above Brian Head sees a great deal less traffic than the section below it.

Late September into early October, when the aspen on the upper half of the road turns and the maple lower in the canyon turns on its own separate schedule. It is spectacular and it is not a secret, so an early morning is worth considerably more than a Saturday afternoon. Summer is the other good answer, particularly if you intend to continue on the State Route 148 spur into Cedar Breaks, which is only open in that season.

Several pullouts on the climb, the reservoir turnoff lower down, and everything the plateau offers once you are on top. The drive rewards stopping more than it rewards making time.

The aspen on the upper half of the climb usually turns from the last week of September into early October, with the maple lower in the canyon coloring a little later on its own schedule. The exact peak shifts a week either way with the weather each year. That stretch is the reason for a lot of the traffic that month, so a weekday morning is the quiet version and a fall Saturday afternoon is the crowded one.