The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the South Willow Canyon Road

South Willow Canyon Road is a very scenic drive in Tooele County, in western Utah, USA. The road is mostly paved but becomes gravel at the National Forest boundary and winds through some very interesting narrows.

South Willow Canyon Road

Located within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, South Willow Canyon Road (Forest Road 171) is 11.42km (7.1 miles) long. It’s mostly paved (but the last 4 miles are unpaved). However, any vehicle should be able to make it. Although the South Willow Canyon road is paved, it is pitted with chuckholes and is not recommended for trailer use. Snow can usually be found on the upper part of the trail from November to the middle of June.

The road ends at an elevation of 2.270m (7,447ft) above the sea level, at the beginning of the Deseret Peak Trail. You can find a small parking area and bathrooms. The road is pretty steep and narrow. Starting from the Mormon Trail, the elevation gain is 718 meters. The average gradient is 6.28%. It’s noted for its fantastic wildlife. Along the road there are five forest service campgrounds.
Pic: Mike