Question for Utahns

So far the snowpack is looking pretty impressive. I wouldn't expect to be able to go over 8000 foot or so on eastern slopes by the end of May. As Mentioned, the Wedge area has a lot of opportunity to explore in that area, possibly run out to the dinosaur quarry area north of the Wedge and check out the bones. 9 mile is well worth the drive. I think the old MK tunnels are all closed off now as are many of the mines. They used to be quite interesting. Much of the old mining equipment that used to be scattered all across the swell area and was quite interesting to check out has been removed over the years, but it's still fun to search. Remember many of those mines were Uranium mines so if you can get into them, there is a high possibility of high Radon gas content.

Especially if you'll be heading south of I-70 in the Swell, travel in a group, have a satellite communicator, or at the very least let someone know where you're going and when you'll return. Cell phones don't work in most of that area, and while it's getting far more crowded with off road vehicles now than it used to be, you can still find yourself in areas where you're not likely to see another person for days should you break down. Having water and the means to stay warm are a must. It's hard not to have a blast in that area.

Thanks BarryG, I have the Utah Byways book and want to explore some of those roads. Nine Mile canyon along with Skyline for example.

We have done Hole in the Rocks and the entire Cathedral Valley/Harnett road loop but those are farther south. We also did the South Draw in Capitol reef and that was a road too far for us tho we did complete it, having no choice to turn around...heh.

I have spent a fair amount of time in the Price area over the years. Skyline drive would certainly be a **** shoot that early and it will totally depend on snowpack and/or your vehicle choice atv/utv/suv/truck. The biggest problem with Skyline that time of year is the drifts. You may go for miles on dry road and then hit a snow drift. So if you can make sure and take a shovel sometimes it only takes a little bit of work to get by other times it may take a grader You will also potentially run into drifts on the access roads to and from for example in the Joes Valley area there is a major drift area not to far from top just before you get to Skyline Drive. Obviously you can go back the way you came just make sure you have enough fuel etc to do that and not plan on getting down at point b and filling up and taking the highway back to your starting point. However for the most part there are roads at lower elevation that more or less parallel Skyline (they dont go all the way to 70 but down to Ferron or so. The San Rafael Swell should be good to go by then unless like previously mentioned a recent heavy rainstorm. Unfamiliar with the Duchesne area. IF you are willing to go just south of 70 you still have the Swell, Goblin Valley area and the Green River Desert.
From where hwy10 and 70 intersect you can go south over the mountains on 72 the road while paved and is decent road is a beautiful road that will end you up in the Fremont, Bicknell area just west of Capital Reef NP. Once east of that you have Canyonlands NP Maze district. One of the more remote places in the contiguous 48 with a few roads in it( We did from Hans Flat Ranger Station to Hite approx 100 miles in my truck no problem the Flint trail has several switch backs that required backing up to make but at least at the time was not a big deal not like some of the hardcore stuff in the Moab area. If you plan on camping in there you better have a reservation as there are very few campsites but they are awesome particularly the Golden Stairs site. However you can get in and out in a day just depends on what all you want to see and do in there.

Sorry for the rambling post love it out there, been going for over 50 years there will be plenty of good areas but the higher elevation stuff will totally depend on snowpack

I spent least summer up in central Utah. Which was south of I-70. There's a mount road that was not opened up until June 15th. Up north it probably later.

Skyline Drive for example (West of Price, East of Spanish Fork) may not be passable yet; drifts and mud.

The northern part of the Swell (Castle Dale, The Wedge Overlook, and surrounding area) would be accessible with the exception of a recent heavy storm. Many run the Swell in the middle of winter, and actually did a group run down Buckhorn Draw Rd about a month ago.

I haven't explored the Duchesne area so I cannot comment.

While the snowpack may be high now, March can often be the snowiest month. A few years ago, we had big snows in mid to late April even after the ski resorts had closed. Other years, we had an early spring in March and things were good to go in many places by late April. So you can get a better gauge on things about that time.

You’ll find that the toughest places can be down by the creeks where the snow drifts in and the trees block the sun. You’ll also find that locals go in and try to bust through drifts to see how far they can get. I remember in my younger days chaining up all four wheels, then using a winch to get myself unstuck. Not my cup of tea anymore!

Germania wrote:
I'm a flatlander from the east, but I think snow will be an issue for you.We were in the San Juans a couple of years ago and there was still lots of snow around end of July.

Could be the case, depends on the winter snowpack. I don't know what Utah is getting, well now I do. The Price/DUCHESNE area looks like it's at about 200 percent of normal, about 2 feet roughly but deeper in drifts of course. Even the Escalante are has about a foot.

So I need to keep an eye on that

I'm a flatlander from the east, but I think snow will be an issue for you.We were in the San Juans a couple of years ago and there was still lots of snow around end of July.