A 38-mile gravel mountain road built by the CCC in 1933 as the first automobile route to Boulder, climbing over 9,000 feet through Dixie National Forest between Escalante and Boulder. Its centerpiece is the one-lane Hell's Backbone Bridge, perched on a knife-edge ridge with sheer drops into the Box-Death Hollow Wilderness on both sides.
| Category | Scenic Drive |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Escalante / Boulder |
| Top activities | Crossing the Hell's Backbone Bridge, Photography over Box-Death Hollow Wilderness, Forest and aspen scenic driving, Access to Blue Spruce campground and wilderness trailheads |
| Best time to visit | Late May through October — the road is not maintained in winter and closes with snow. September-October adds golden aspens. |
| Entrance fee | Free |
| Permits | None. Graded gravel/dirt; closed by snow roughly November through May, muddy after storms. No services for the full length. |
Visitor tip: A carefully driven passenger car handles it fine in dry summer conditions, but allow 2-3 hours — it's slow, winding gravel, and the bridge pullout is the photo stop you came for.
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