Utah: Cottonwood Canyon Road

[dhayes]

In May, we will be traveling from Page, Arizona, to Kodachrome Basin State Park in Utah. Has anyone driven the Cottonwood Canyon Road, which runs from State Highway #89 up to Kodachrome Basin? I hear that it is, in part, gravel. What kind of condition is it in? Are there any steep climbs (e.g., 7% grade or more)? About how much of it is paved vs. gravel? Thanks in advance for any info you can provide. MaineDon

[caver]

I drove it in a 4x4 after a light rain and like was said, the southern half was a "greasy" mess. I had to give a lift to some German tourists who couldn't make it up the hill in their rental car. They were just a couple miles from 89. Even in 4x4 my truck was sliding all over the road.

[dhayes]

Thanks, everyone. Looks like it's best to drive around rather than take Cottonwood. Glad I asked. Thanks for the help. MaineDon

[boogie_4wheel]

Grew up in Page, rode/drove Cottonwood Canyon tons of times.

It is about 50 miles long from pavement to pavement. Road conditions vary; it is graded but can have washboards for the entire length, and/or washout sections after large rains. Do not travel if there is a chance of rain, or it has rained in the last week; the south half of the road is clay. There is a small creek crossing at the northern part, it may be dry, it may be wet, it may be flooded (see above about rain). Northern part of the road is hardpack dirt. Some blow sand along the edges or off the main road.

I've never needed 4wd on this road. Wait, I take that back, I did once when a semi blocked the road on the southern 3rd and I had to get my truck around him.

During the summer, you could easily take a small car along the road if you would like.

If you like to hammer down, it is faster to take this versus going through Kanab to almost Panguitch and back toward Tropic. But this 'time saver' requires you to kick it up to 50+ in places, which can easily be done when the road is half smooth.

I personally wouldn't pull my trailer down that road (very far anyway) unless I planned on camping somewhere along the route. As for an alternate route on your trip with a trailer/motorhome, skip it, unless it is a rental.

[diazr2]

Just a heads up Kodachrome is going to be closed all of June for re-paving. so I hope it's not at the end of May beginning of June because they say they will not have any camping there on the 1st till the 30th

[dahkota]

No problem with the jeep. My rig/rv wouldn't make it. If it has been raining, my jeep might not either. I don't remember any gravel on it.

The pictures here are pretty accurate.

[jolooote]

We rode about 10 miles of it from Kodachrome St.Pk. south on motor bikes about 5 years ago. Nice pretty, fairly erasy drive. Its paved from Rt. 12 down to the St.Pk and than dirt, clay, volcanic soils and some parts gravel. There were two wet, muddy creek crossings we had fun going thru. Its ok for a high clearance vehicle but not even that after a good rain.

[wcbass]

We drove that road about 3 years ago. As I recall little is paved…just a bit at Hwy 89 and maybe towards the end at the State Park. I can't really remember. I do remember the dirt portion has lots of washboarding. If it rains, the road is closed due to hazardous conditions. We were in a Jeep. We would never pull a rig over that road. It's a very pretty drive! I hope this helps.