Skip to main content
Recreation AreaRecreation.gov

Road Canyon

Bluff, Utah · San Juan County

Road Canyon is accessed from the Cigarette Springs Road on Cedar Mesa. The elevation in the upper ends of Road Canyon begins at approximately 6,200 feet and drops to 4,900 feet at the lower ends. The walls of the canyon vary from 100 feet in the upper ends to over 500 feet in the lower ends. Erosion of the colorful Ced…

Advertisement
37.39517, -109.82431
Open in OpenStreetMap

About Road Canyon

Road Canyon is accessed from the Cigarette Springs Road on Cedar Mesa. The elevation in the upper ends of Road Canyon begins at approximately 6,200 feet and drops to 4,900 feet at the lower ends. The walls of the canyon vary from 100 feet in the upper ends to over 500 feet in the lower ends. Erosion of the colorful Cedar Mesa Sandstone has created a layer cake effect of multiple tiers, especially in the middle and lower sections of the canyon. There are numerous archaeological sites present. Please take care when visiting these fragile sites. There are no maintained trails. Routes generally follow the mostly dry creek bed. There are long stretches of slickrock, with several pour-offs to negotiate. The canyon bottom is not as luch as some of the other Cedar Mesa canyons, and shade is at a minimum. A permit to hike or backpack is required.

How to Get There

Road Canyon has two popular access points:1. From the Kane Gulch Ranger Station drive 9 miles south on State Route 261 to the Cigarette Springs Road. Turn left (east) and drive 3.5 miles. At this point there is an unmarked pullout on the left. A route starts from the northewast corner of the parking area and runs 0.5 mile through the pinyon and juniper forest to the canyon rim and drops approximately 100 feet to the canyon floor.2. Drive 6.1 miles from the junction of State Route 261 and the Cigarette Springs Road. Take an unmarked spur road to the left 9north) and travel 0.8 mile to the end of the road on the canyon rim (high-clearance vehicles only). From the parking area, enter the first drainage to the east and make your way down the main canyon.

Driving directions (Google Maps) →

Plan Your Visit to Road Canyon

Heading to Road Canyon? A few things to know before you go:

  • Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
  • Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
  • Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
  • Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
  • Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a reservation for Road Canyon?

Yes — reservations can be made on Recreation.gov. Popular sites fill quickly, especially weekends and holidays. Book up to 6 months in advance.

How do I get to Road Canyon?

Road Canyon has two popular access points:1. From the Kane Gulch Ranger Station drive 9 miles south on State Route 261 to the Cigarette Springs Road. Turn left (east) and drive 3.5 miles. At this point there is an unmarked pullout on the left. A route starts from the northewast corner of the parking area and runs 0.5 mile through the pinyon and juniper forest to the canyon rim and drops approximat…

How do I contact Road Canyon?

You can reach the park at phone: 435-587-1500 or email: utmtmail@blm.gov.