Potash Road or the Lower Colorado Scenic Byway is a quiet and less traveled state motor route that runs along the Colorado River just north of Moab, and ends at the border of Canyonlands National Park. If you take this 17-mile journey you will be treated to soaring sandstone cliffs, rock climbing, cycling trails, petroglyphs, dinosaur tracks, arches, and views of the Colorado River. The Potash route is also a very popular ride for road cyclists.

Find Utah State Route 279 four miles north of Moab, off of Highway 191. The first leg of the journey will take you past the Moab uranium tailings pile that is currently being relocated. Soon after this, you’ll enter a narrow gorge of the Colorado River where sandstone cliffs tower above the water.

Sites to See Along Potash Road

https://goo.gl/maps/nQs3Rm8bR7aAcxY9A

Wall Street

One of the first things you’ll notice while driving along Potash Road is “Wall Street”. This is a section of the cliffside filled with technical routes where you’ll see climber after climber making their way up.

Wall Street is a 1-mile long section of Sandstone along the side of the road, 10 minutes from Moab, Utah. There are around 130 climbs in that one mile; right on the side of the road, in some cases a foot or two off the road. They range from lower angle friction (good for getting used to climbing on sandstone) to strenuous, balanced, face climbs. There are also splitter cracks and demanding roofs. Wall Street has it all.

Petroglyphs

Also found in the Rock Wall area around mile marker 5, look for a sign at a riverside pullout that says, “Indian Writing.” About 25-30 feet up, you’ll see petroglyphs dating all the way back to the Formative Period.

If you’re dying to see Native American petroglyphs, but don’t want to do a hike to see them, your answer lies just over 5 miles down Potash Road. Now, there is a pullout and a sign on the Colorado River side of the road where you can easily park to see the petroglyphs. Across the road, on the cliffs look up and you’ll see a decently large panel of petroglyphs including images of anthropomorphic figures, animals and other symbols. These petroglyphs have been dated by archaeologists to between the Archaic and Fremont cultural periods. They’re a beautiful cultural site to behold and it’s very nice to be able to do so with such little effort as well.

At 5.1 miles (8.2 km) several petroglyph panels are visible on cliffs on the right side of the highway. Marked pull-offs on the left side of the road provide parking to view these panels.

Petroglyphs, including bighorn sheep, deer and humans

Dinosaur Tracks

Less than a mile after the petroglyphs pullout, you’ll see a sign for Poison Spider Trail + Dinosaur Tracks to the right. Anyone who is a fan of paleontology and dinosaurs specifically does not want to miss this stop. It’s a short climb (about .25 miles round trip) up a slick rock bluff and it will lead you to a sign that lets you know you’re at the dinosaur tracks. Look up from there and you’ll find two 3-toed footprints in the rock before you.

Footprints from approximately ten different meat-eating dinosaurs can easily be viewed at the Poison Spider Dinosaur Tracksite. The tracks are found on two rock slabs which fell from overlying sandstone atop the cliffs.

At 5.9 miles (9.5 km) the Poison Spider Trail Parking will be on the right. A kiosk on the end of the parking lot, near the vault toilet, will have a map for a short trail to dinosaur tracks and rock art.

Potash Boat Ramp

Past the Corona Arch parking lot, the road begins to skirt the train tracks. After 3.5 miles, you will see the Jug Handle Arch, well indicated on the right side of the road. Immediately after the arch, you will find the intersection with Long Canyon Road.

Which as we will see, arrive at the site where the Intrepid Potash Company processes potash, a potassium compound (hence the name of the road)

https://goo.gl/maps/LV2F4E7Zf2kxPKNp6

Another 1.5 miles on this epic journey will find you at the end of Potash Road in Utah, where you’ll arrive at Potash Boat Ramp. Finding yourselves at a beautiful stretch of calm water, sit at some of the picnic tables and take in the relaxing babble of the water and calm river landscape.

Additional Stop:

https://goo.gl/maps/bH1bG9o8nhM6ajjg7

Hole ‘N the Rock

11037 South Highway 191, Moab, UT 84532

Canyonlands Country, Utah is home to a Hole N The rock: an amazing 5,000 square foot home, meticulously carved out from a canyon rock. What started out as a family fun almost a century ago, is now attracting visitors from all over the world.

The Christensen family began to dig a small alcove, for their sons to sleep, but over the years it developed into an intricately engineered marvel. Albert Christensen excavated over 50,000 cubic feet of sandstone from the rock to create the home, furnished with a chimney, 14 rooms, and even a built-in bathtub.

https://goo.gl/maps/CkTWFnFbQnXvXQWa6

Largest Tree in the State of Utah

CASTLE VALLEY, Utah — In the heart of Utah’s red rock county, there’s something very big and green. The largest tree in the state was recently documented in Castle Valley, a small town east of Moab.

Just three miles from Moab to Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway U-128

For the first 13 miles (20.9 km) it parallels the Colorado River within a narrow section of the gorge, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding red sandstone cliffs. 

Referred to by Moab locals as the River Road, Scenic Byway 128 is one of the most interesting and breathtaking drives imaginable.

Dining

The Cowboy Grill at Red Cliffs Lodge

Milepost 14, Highway 128 Moab, Utah 84532

Menu:

https://www.redcliffslodge.com/dining/individual-dining

Ăn gì ở Moab?

Thị trấn nhỏ này nằm khá cách biệt với những thành phố lớn nên hiển nhiên giá thức ăn ở đây cũng đắt đỏ hơn vì chi phí vậ chuyển. Tuy vậy, chúng tôi cũng đã thưởng thức qua một số nhà hàng ở dowtown:

1. Singha Thai Cuisine: khá phong phú các món để lựa chọn, và theo đánh giá thì không kém gì các nhà hàng Thái nổi tiếng ở New York hay Boston.
2. Sunset Grill: nếu bạn thích các món thịt nướng thì nên chọn nhà hàng Sunset Grill. Giá đồ ăn và rượu ở đây hơi cao nhưng đổi lại là view ngoài trời cực đẹp và lãng mạn. Lưu ý là phải đặt bàn trước khi bạn đến.
3. Zax restaurant: phục vụ all-you-can-eat pizza và các món sandwich khác, nhà hàng này khá đẹp với kiểu trang trí đậm chất miền Viễn Tây hoang dã.
4. Bankok House Too: có chỗ ngồi ngoài trời, phục vụ ẩm thực Thái, Việt Nam và cả sushi nữa.