Manti-La Sal National Forest

Recreational Activities

Sight-Seeing

On the Manti Division of the Manti-La Sal National Forest (the north area of the forest) the The Energy Loop: Huntington and Eccles Canyons National Scenic Byway is a scenic drive through the heart of Utah's Energy-producing country and the Manti-La Sal National Forest. The Energy Loop is a connection of two canyons . It can be accessed from either end - from the north at Colton off Highway 6, or from the south off SR-10 in Huntington. These winding roads begin in the east and western valleys below the Wasatch Plateau and reach elevations of over 10,000 feet. You will see and learn about prehistoric rock art, the hardships of the first generation of the coal mining and railroad industry as well as other features along the road. This Byway is recognized by the Federal Highway Administration as a National Scenic Byway: one of America's premiere driving roads.

The Skyline Drive Scenic Backway, also known as the Utah Adventure Highway travels north and south across the top of the Wasatch Mountain plateau of the Manti Division. This scenic backway has a gravel surface between the Tucker Rest Area US Hwy 6 and Utah Hwy 264, a distance of 24 miles. It then switches to a rough native surface road suitable for high clearance vehicles during the dry season for the next 63 miles south to Interstate 70. The drive affords pleasing views of the valleys below, passing a variety of high mountain settings, including reservoirs, glacial cirques, and spruce-fir and aspen forest.

The Mayfield-Ferron Scenic Backway begins in the town of Mayfield (accessed via SR-137). This 50-mile route climbs from 5,500 feet at its origin to join the Skyline Drive at 10,700 feet in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. After crossing the Skyline Drive, Ferron Reservoir marks the road's descent. The Backway terminates in Ferron.

In the La Sal Division of the forest (the southeast area of the forest near Moab) the La Sal Mountain Loop Road Scenic Backway begins on US 191 six miles south of Moab. It winds north over the La Sal mountains through Castle Valley to end at U-128. This Scenic Backway provides scenery ranging from the alpine heights of the La Sal Mountains to the red rock desert of the surrounding Abajo and Henry Mountains.

The Abajo Loop Scenic Backway travels west from Monticello on Forest Road (FR) 105 to the junction with FR 079 then south through North Canyon to North Creek Pass where it turns northwest below Horsehead Peak and then southwest as it travels through the pine, fir and aspen forest. The Scenic Backway ends in the community of Blanding, just over 35 miles from the beginning.

Elk Ridge Scenic Backway begins about 25 miles west of Blanding at the junction of U-95 and U-275 which accesses Natural Bridges National Monument. The route leads one mile west on U-275 then turns on Forest road 088 ascending through the Bears Ears to the spine of Elk Ridge in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. This drive offers scenic panoramas of Canyonlands National Park, Dark Canyon Wilderness, Arch, Allen and Hammond Canyons, the Henry and La Sal Mountains and Monument Valley.

Scenic Byways are major roads that are regularly traveled by passenger cars or motorcoach.. All are marked with colorful highway signs. Scenic Backways generally do not meet full federal safety standards, meaning they are not wide enough, or graded enough, or level enough to be safe year-round, for passenger cars. Ask locally for road and weather conditions before you begin.

The forest provides information at public Visitor Centers in the Monticello Visitor Center, the Moab Interagency Visitor Center, and the Castle Country Regional Information Center located in the College of Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum in Price. Information is also available at Stuart Guard Station located in the heart of the Manti Division in Huntington Canyon. Stuart Guard Station is open to the public on weekends and holidays between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

USDA Forest Service - Manti-La Sal National Forest
Last Modified: Monday, 15 August 2005 at 11:23:02 EDT