Where is Hole-in-the-Rock Road?
Usa, north-america
89.8 km
N/A
hard
Year-round
Hole-in-the-Rock Road is a scenic dirt road located in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s suitable for passenger cars in good weather but a 4WD vehicle is required the last miles.
Where is Hole-in-the-Rock Road?
The road straddles Garfield and Kane counties, in the southern part of Utah.
When was Hole-in-the-Rock Road built?
It was built in 1879 by early Mormon settlers who were trying to build a route for southward migration.
How long is the Hole in the Rock Jeep Trail?
Tucked away in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument,
Hole in the Rock Road (BLM-200) is totally unpaved. It’s 89.80km (55.8 miles) long, running from UT-12 near Escalante to the Hole-in-the-Rock on the western shore of Lake Powell.
The road (a treacherous, yet typical desert dirt road) brings a sense of adventure and demands a bit of preparation.
Is the Hole-in-the-Rock Road challenging?
It is a dirt road, wide and quite well maintained. Driving down
Hole in the Rock Road isn’t an easy task – this long dirt road is often rutted out, washed out, washboard-like, and very rough. The unpaved sections of the road can be impassable when wet. For most of the way (the first 35 miles), it’s doable for a handy driver even without a high-clearance vehicle, but the last few miles within Glen Canyon, the going gets rough, and a proper 4x4 is absolutely necessary especially with wet conditions.
How to get ready to drive the Hole-in-the-Rock Road?
Persons travelling this road should carry plenty of water (at least one gallon--4 liters--per person per day) and be equipped to get themselves out of any difficulty they might encounter. This road is not routinely patrolled by any agency. Temperatures can range over 100° F (38°C) in summer to near 0° F (-17°C) in winter. Sudden heavy rains, especially in summer months may make this road impassable. If you are caught near the end of the road during a heavy storm, you may not be able to make it back to the paved highway, even with a four-wheel drive. There is limited cell service in this area.
How long does it take to drive the Hole-in-the-Rock Road?
Plan around 3-5 hours to complete the drive. However, due its beauty it can take longer.
It provides access to a number of recreational and historic sites in both Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Devil’s Garden and the Dry Fork slot canyons are popular recreational destinations.
Visitors interested in pioneer history should see Dance Hall Rock and Hole-in the-Rock at the end of the road.
A pleasant gravel road in summers to Old Monarch Pass in Colorado
The Chicken Corners Trail in Moab is a breathtaking road along the Colorado River
Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our
to discover the most spectacular roads of the world
Drive Us to Your Road!
With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click
to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 89.8 km
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in north-america
hardRed Mountain
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! If you're in Chaffee County, Colorado and craving an adventure, Red Mountain is calling your name. This beast of a peak tops out at 12,693 feet, making it one of the highest drives in the state. The road? It's Peek-A-Boo Gulch Road, an old mining route that's now a rough and rocky gravel track winding through the Sawatch Range. Full-size vehicles beware: there are some seriously tight squeezes along the way! You'll need a 4x4 with high clearance to tackle this baby. But trust me, the views are worth it. We're talking jaw-dropping scenery, a taste of Colorado history, and easy access to epic hiking and fishing spots. Just a heads-up: this road is not for the faint of heart (or those with a fear of heights). Keep an eye on the weather; snow can make it impassable, even outside of winter. And after a rainstorm? Expect some extra challenging conditions and loose gravel surprises. So, pack your common sense, prep your ride, and get ready for an unforgettable Colorado adventure!
moderateMount Greylock is the Highest Road of Massachusetts
🇺🇸 Usa
Ready for an epic road trip? Head to Mount Greylock in western Massachusetts, nestled in the Taconic Mountains near the New York border. This beauty tops out at 3,491 feet, making it the highest point in the state! Rockwell Road, your path to the peak, is a smooth, paved climb built way back in the early 1900s. This 9.1-mile route kicks off in Lanesborough and winds through lush alpine forests with a few hairpin turns to keep things interesting. Just a heads up: if you're rolling in something longer than 22 feet, you'll have to sit this one out. Notch Road offers another route to the top if you're approaching from the north. The views? Absolutely stunning! On a clear day, you can see for almost 100 miles and soak up a panorama that includes five states. At the summit, you'll also find the Massachusetts Veterans War Memorial Tower and a radio tower. Keep in mind that this road is only open from late May through November 1st, so plan accordingly!
hardWhere is the South Willow Canyon Road?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! South Willow Canyon Road in Utah's Tooele County is calling your name. Nestled in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, this drive is a wildlife photographer's dream. Keep your eyes peeled! This isn't your average Sunday drive, though. South Willow Canyon Road, or Forest Road 171, clocks in at about 7.1 miles of mixed terrain. Most of it's paved, but those last 4 miles turn to gravel, adding a little off-road flavor. Nothing too crazy, though – most cars should be able to handle it. Just watch out for some potholes if you're towing a trailer. Heads up – this road climbs! You'll start near the Mormon Trail and end up at 7,447 feet, right where the Deseret Peak Trail begins. There's a parking area and restrooms there. Expect snow from November to mid-June up there. It's a fairly steep climb, gaining 2,355 feet with an average gradient of 6.28%, and the road gets pretty narrow. But the views are SO worth it! This is a scenic drive through some interesting narrows you won't forget. Plus, there are five forest service campgrounds along the way if you want to make a weekend of it. Enjoy!
moderateSan Joaquin Road
🇲🇽 Mexico
Alright, adventure seekers, listen up! San Joaquín, a charming mountain town nestled deep within Mexico's Sierra Gorda mountains, is calling your name. Think ancient ruins, mystical caves, and views that'll make your jaw drop – we're talking cascading waterfalls, dramatic cliffs, and maybe even a tunnel or two! But the real star of the show? The road that gets you there. Buckle up as you leave Highway 120 and climb from a desert canyon at 1,470 meters above sea level into a lush, forested wonderland, topping out at 2,450 meters in San Joaquín. That's a whopping 1,000-meter elevation gain in just 43 kilometers! Get ready to witness landscapes morph from arid desert to towering, scenic mountains. This drive is a total feast for the eyes!