2005 OCTA Convention - US191 North From Arizona

GETTING TO SALT LAKE CITY

Sites and Sights Along the Way
By Dr. Jay Aldous

US191, North From Arizona

Bluff (MM 25) Bluff was settled by a group of Mormons in 1880 after they traveled from Escalante crossing the Colorado River Canyon through Hole in the Rock.
Blanding (MM 49): Blanding is the gateway to many of the most scenic parts of Utah within easy distance such as Hovenweep NM, Natural Bridges NM, Edge of the Cedars Trail of the Ancients SP.

Cliff Dwelling Ruins Near Blanding.

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Monticello (MM 71): The old Spanish Trail entered the present state of Utah a few miles east of town and passed north through Lisbon Valley. Access to Canyonlands NP is a few miles north of town. Pass by many interesting rock formations before passing Wilson Arch on the east of the highway.

Petroglyphs in Canyonlands National Park

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Moab (MM 124): Moab is the slickrock biking capital of the country. Continue to view interesting geological formations and cross the Colorado River near one of the few places that the river could be forded in early times. The Old Spanish Trail passed through here. Access to Arches National Park is on the west side of the river.

Delicate Arch.

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Looking west from Skyline Arch in Arches National Park.

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Cresent Junction (MM 157, Exit 180): Enter Interstate 70 and follow the route of John W. Gunnison on his exploration of a route for the Rio Grande Railroad in 1853. The Old Spanish Trail leaves US 191 at about the Moab airport and joins I-70 at Green River.
Green River (Exit 162): The Old Spanish Trail forded the Green River north of town. The John Wesley Powell Museum is located on th e east bank of the Green River on the road into Green River from the interstate. Take US 191 northwest to Price. John Gunnison followed the Old Spanish Trail north from here close to the Price River. A road follows this route that leaves US 191(west) at a about mileage marker 184. This gravel road leads into the San Rafael Swell.
Wellington ( MM 247): Nine Mile Canyon is north from Wellington. Nine Mile Canyon is reputed to be one of the largest displays of ancient rock art.
Price (Exit 241): Price is in the heart of the coal fields of Utah. Railroading and mining are the mainstays of this community. There is an excellent natural history museum in Price and a dinosaur quarry near by.

Dinosaur in Natural History Museum.

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Helper (MM 234): Helper Historic District contains trains and other memorabilia from the heyday when this railroad town supplied helper engines to pull heavy coal trains over the summit.
Castle Gate (MM 232): Castle Gate derived its name form the castle like formation on the west side of the canyon that has been greatly changed by construction of the highway and railroad. This was the site of one of Butch Cassidy’s famous robberies.
Soldier Summit (MM 211): The name soldier Pass was given when about 40 members of the Utah Expedition were given permission to leave to join the Confederate Army in 1861. This group arrived at the pass in a blizzard and seven or eight individuals were frozen to death. They were buried near here. The name Soldier Summit was given to the site when the Rio Grande Western Railroad printed its first time table. Note the jail just west of the service station, one of the few structures remaining from a town of peak population of about 3,000.
Thistle (MM 187): The town of Thistle was inundated by a lake formed when a landslide blocked the creek in 1983. The total cost both direct and indirect incurred by this landslide exceeded $400 million, the single most costly slide in U.S. history.
Diamond Fork (MM 184 ): The Domínguez-Escalante expedition passed down Diamond Fork into Spanish Fork Canyon in 1776.
Provo (I-15 Exit 263): The Domínguez-Escalante expedition entered Utah Valley from Spanish Fork Canyon to the southeast of Provo. Provo was an early Mormon community first named Fort Utah and latter named Provo in honor of the early trapper and explorer, Etienne Provost. This community is the location of Brigham Young University. Geneva Steel in Provo smelted iron ore from Iron Mountain west of Cedar City until recently.
Salt Lake City (I-15 Exit 310): Your destination for an enjoyable visit at the Crossroads of the West 2005 OCTA Convention.

Additional Information:
Allen Kent Powell. The Utah Guide, 2^nd. Edition, Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, 1998.

Peter H. DeLafosse, Editor. Trailing the Pioneers, Utah State University Press, Logan., 1994.

Charles Kelly. Salt Desert Trails, Western Epics, Inc., Salt Lake City, 1996.

Bill Weir. Utah Handbook, Moon Publications Inc, Chico, 1991.

Tom and Gayen Wharton. Utah, Compass American Guides, Inc., Oakland, 1991.