Route 281 Trail of the Ancients in Utah

[QCMan]

Is this road doable with a trailer? Rig is in the sig.

[lbrjet]

I wouldn't tow anything down the Moki. The views are amazing though. I love that part of Utah.

[vermilye]

Two neat ruins in the area are Fallen Roof Ruin & House on Fire:
Fallen Roof Ruin off of Cigarette Springs Road which is off UT261 on the North side of the Dugway.


House on Fire off UT 95


Directions to both are all over the internet - House on fire is an easy one mile hike, Fallen roof ruin is shorter, but a bit more difficult.

[paulj]

You can see some of the same sorts of ruins to the east of Blanding. Hovenweep is perhaps the largest. But I've also visited some along County Road G west of Cortez, CO airport. The west end of this is Ismay Trading Post Rd at Aneth, UT.

Sights at the south end of 261 include Goosenecks St Park, and Valley of the Gods off of 163 (dirt, but not tricky or curvy, when dry)

If you could drop the trailer off at Goosenecks or Mexican Hat, you could spend a day or two exploring roads around there.

[mockturtle]

There is a bridge closure on UT 95 9 miles west of Blanding that will make this route unavailable until at least October.

Wow, thanks for the heads-up! Was planning on going that way.

[vermilye]

QCMan wrote:
Did some more research! The 11% grade is unpaved switchbacks. Will take 95 east then 191 to 163. Heading to Monument Valley.

There is a bridge closure on UT 95 9 miles west of Blanding that will make this route unavailable until at least October. Link

[agesilaus]

Well the Moki was built for Uranium Ore trucks originally but I would not pull a TT up it. Tho our first trip up was pulling a popup. We've been up and down it quite a few times since, camped for 5 days on the top side. It's certainly worth a trip up for the fantastic view.

[obgraham]

Indeed, 261, or Moki Dugway is not advised for trailers. However, when I've been on it there always seem to be a couple of semi-trucks negotiating it.

So sure, you can do it. But you may wish you hadn't!

[QCMan]

Did some more research! The 11% grade is unpaved switchbacks. Will take 95 east then 191 to 163. Heading to Monument Valley.

[enblethen]

If you mean UT 261, It has a very nasty section. I would avoid it!