La Sal Mountain Loop Road
La Sal Mountain Loop Road is a beautiful scenic drive up into the mountains from Moab, located in San Juan County, in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Utah. Though paved, it’s narrow and lacks any guardrails.
The loop road is a two-lane highway very popular. It’s 90.44km (56.2 miles) long. Running through the Manti-La Sal National Forest, it’s a winding mountain drive with some sharp turns and hairpin turns. It’s all paved though narrow, steep and winding in some places. There are no services available along the route so make sure you have all the gas, food, water, and other supplies you may need for at least a few hours. The highest elevation of the road is 2.543m (8,343ft) above the sea level.
The ride is rather remote, so you need to be prepared. The road is poorly maintained. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with dangerous dropoffs. The road doesn’t become too exposed but some people may not like the heights. The 20 mile stretch on the mountain slope is narrow and full of potholes and many sharp 15-20 mph turns. The narrow winding road, while suitable for passenger cars, is not suitable for large RVs or trailers due to tight switchbacks. The road is not meant for the faint of heart or those that are afraid of heights because the road often has zero guardrails and drop offs into oblivion.
Views are excellent. The journey offers an exhilarating driving experience, with superb views. The road winds through the mountains running from the scorching desert into cool green woodlands. It’s an unforgettable road trip with incredible views over the Moab Valley and Canyonlands National Park. This is definitely one road trip that you want to record with lots of photographs. You will see mesas and buttes used in movies.