🌄 Scenic Drive Through Moab | Potash Road (SR-279) 🚗

Описание: One of Utah’s Most Dramatic & Accessible Canyon Drives
Just outside Moab, Utah lies one of the most scenic drives in the Southwest — Potash Road (State Route 279). This week, we explore the paved portion of this stunning Colorado River canyon, a drive that delivers towering red sandstone cliffs, calm river bends, ancient history, and unforgettable lighting — all accessible year-round in any passenger car.
📍 The drive begins off Hwy 191 north of Moab and follows the Colorado River for 17 miles one way, ending near the potash mine and a popular river boat ramp.

🚘 Why Potash Road Belongs on Your Moab Itinerary
Unlike the rugged off-road trails Moab is famous for, this scenic drive is:


✔️ Easy and accessible


✔️ No long hikes required


✔️ Perfect for cars, vans, RVs (smaller rigs), and travelers of all ages


The narrow canyon amplifies the scale of the landscape, and as the sun moves, the color of the sandstone shifts dramatically, making this a drive you’ll want to experience again and again.

🧗‍♂️ Rock Art, Rock Climbers & Ancient History
Along the route you’ll discover:


Wall Street Climbing Area — vertical sandstone walls rise directly from the road, often dotted with climbers


Petroglyph panels carved by ancestral Indigenous peoples, with interpretive signs to help you understand what you’re seeing


A river corridor used for centuries as a travel and resource route



🦖 Dinosaurs, Arches & Outdoor Adventure
This short drive packs in big surprises:


Jurassic dinosaur tracks visible high above the road near Poison Spider Mesa


Trailheads leading to Corona Arch and Bowtie Arch, two of the most impressive free-standing arches in the region


Primitive camping areas suitable for tents and smaller RVs


A boat ramp used for launching multi-day rafting trips through Cataract Canyon



⚙️ Industry Meets Nature
Built in the early 1960s, Potash Road was originally designed to support the Cane Creek Potash Mine, not tourism.
Running alongside the highway is a historic railroad spur, including a tunnel over a mile long — a reminder of the engineering challenges and economic history that shaped this canyon.

🌵 Potash Road is a rare blend of geology, archaeology, recreation, and industrial history — all packed into one unforgettable drive.

👉 Want to see what lies beyond the pavement? Be sure to check out our previous video covering the off-road continuation of this route.

👍 If you enjoyed this scenic adventure, we’d love your comments and likes.

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