A narrow dirt road with steep drop offs to Francis Peak in UT
Francis Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.887m (9,471ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Davis and Morgan Counties, in the U.S. state of Utah. Most cars can make this bumpy journey, though it is a back-country road.
Can you drive to Francis Peak?
Set high in the Wasatch Range, in northern Utah, the road to the summit is mostly unpaved. It is paved for the first mile until the first switchback in the canyon and then follows a winding, narrow dirt road for another 12 miles. It’s called Francis Peak Road (also known as Skyline Drive or Farmington Canyon Road). It’s a narrow winding dirt road with steep drop offs.
What is on top of Francis Peak?
Set high within the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, the summit hosts 2 radar towers constructed in 1959. The top is a restricted zone closed by a barrier. Access by permit only. You cannot actually come to the very top as there are critical radar towers for airplanes that block you from entering. The domes, operated by the Federation Aviation Administration and the Air National Guard, provide long-range radar and identification for area aircraft. The top ridge is a heaven for rattlesnakes which tend to sun themselves near the rock formations. The peak is named for Ester Francis, an early Morman pioneer who settled in Morgan during the 1800’s. The view from the top is spectacular in all directions with a great view of Morgan (east) and the Great Salt Lake (west).
Is the road to Francis Peak in UT open?
The road is no longer plowed in winters. Snow fields usually block some portion of all of the longer routes well into June. The road to the summit is very steep. Starting from Farmington, the ascent is 20.59km (12.79 mile) long. The elevation gain is 1.561 meters and the average gradient is 7.58%. Cell phone coverage is iffy all along the ridge.
Pic: Chuck Tracy