On previous trips in this area, we drove only a motorhome, and so did
not attempt to climb the famous Moqui Dugway.
On this day, we were in our car so we had no trepidation about turning
north on State Highway 261 to climb
three
miles of sharp switchbacks on a gravel road that climbs over 1,000 feet
to the top of Cedar Mesa. It matches the first leg of the Red Rock
Relay which Judy ran at 10,000’!Numerous signs warn that the Dugway is not recommended for trucks, motorhomes, or trailers, though we saw a car pulling a speed boat and an RV making the same uphill climb to the top. This section of the highway was constructed in 1958 by a uranium mining company to haul ore from their mine at Fry Canyon to Mexican Hat for processing. It cut their drive time significantly. Their ore trucks must have been well over the 10,000 GVW, limit recommended by the road signs. In any case, the view back down the Valley is worth a stop at viewpoints along the way.
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