Moki Dugway switchbacks, Utah

Pavement ends, then begins again:

Northbound on Utah highway 261, the Bears Ears (another report) is seen for miles. The road climbs onto Cedar Mesa in an unusual way. The highway planners left the "switchbacks" unpaved to make the cars not go too fast. The Benchmark map book for Utah published 2008 has the switchbacks pictured huge on the front cover. This whole area is filled with places to see and hiking trails. Grand Gulch, Kane Gulch, Valley of the Gods, Fish and Owl canyons, and four corners are all here. Mexican Hat rock, Hole in the Rock, and Monument Valley are also here.

Getting there:

If you are ever in Monument Valley and leaving to the north, you arrive in Mexican Hat (rock) neighborhood. The choice is continuing north toward Hanksville, or northeast to Bluff and then Blanding. The switchbacks are on Utah highway 261 on your way to Bears Ears, Natural Bridges, and Hanksville.

Original purpose:

Uranium mines provided ore during the cold war. The road was built to haul ore south to the mill in Mexican Hat.