Cottonwood Clouds

[Michael13]

The Cottonwood Canyon Road in Southern Utah is a 46 mile mostly unpaved backcountry route between HWY 12 in the North and HWY 89 on the South end. Perhaps the most scenic stretch of road in all of Utah and just difficult enough of a route to keep passenger cars off of it. You'll need high clearance to get across the wash crossings, and maybe 4x4 depending on conditions when you are there. This is from the sunrise at the beginning of my trip south to north a week ago.

 

[AlanLichty]

That's a pretty neat road to take providing its dry. There are some serious trouble spots if it gets wet. I like the contrasts between the Kaiparowits Plateau on the east side of the road and the Grand Staircase formations on the west.

 

[Michael13]

Thanks Alan. Only one muddy patch not long enough to be an issue this time. The steepness of the wash crossings was the crux of the route. You can drive this straight through in about 2 hours, I took 4 hours with many stops for photos.

 

[JimFox]

You got a Cotton Ball over Cottonwood! Great capture Michael.

 

[AlanLichty]

Thanks Alan. Only one muddy patch not long enough to be an issue this time. The steepness of the wash crossings was the crux of the route. You can drive this straight through in about 2 hours, I took 4 hours with many stops for photos.

I took longer than 4 hours but I was coming up from Page and went up as far as the road to Kodachrome Basin and then went back down to Page.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

I like Jim’s description.