Good roads out west (UT, WY, CO) [Archive] (2024)

Zippadee

9th September 2006, 00:26

I've put almost 2000 miles on my miata since arriving in western Wyoming at the beginning of July, and I guarantee you, none of those miles are commuting (thanks to company pool vehicles).

Some fun roads I've been on out here are as follows
US39 (from Woodruff, UT to Ogden, UT)
Description- fairly gentle road that goes from deserty terrarin to mountain forrests (Cache National Forest) and plains, then dropping down into lower level grass and woods between the ranges, then cuts around Pineville dam area. Roads are fairly straight on the eastern side, with some wide sweepers, then as you crest going west, some 35mph reversals going down. Afterwards, some wide sweepers going into Hunstville. West of Hunstville, roads get curvy with narrow roads, but heavier weekender traffic all the way into Ogden.

US191 into US 44 (from Vernal,UT north to Manila,UT)
Description- coming out of Vernal you'll notice alot of signs talking about rock formations (permian, cretaceous, etc) and the road is straight or sweeping. Don't let this discourage you, because as you climb, the hairpins arrive and man are they a hoot. Because the grade is rather steep, you'll want to stay in low gears for max fun, high gears will drop your speed. Also, you'll become accustomed to the smell of overheated brakes and tires from the trucks trying to survive coming down the opposite direction. These hairpins will open up into sweeping curves at some point as you climb into the mountain forest (might bring a coat, the temperature drop is substantial). The forest goes along a ways until you come to US 44. If I remember correctly, to stay on US 191, you have to turn, otherwise, stay straight to go onto US 44. Now, more fun awaits and a spectacular view of Flaming Gorge National Park will soon come about as you emerge from the forest. Some pretty awesome downward sloping hairpins also follow, though if you stay in the right gear, you need neither touch the brake nor the throttle (make sure you're wearing nice sticky tires, I reccomend Falkens Azenis). This, however, is pretty much the end of the views and the curves as you enter southern Wyoming. However, I'm told theres some nice views if you take the road that runs along Flaming Gorge (I didn't so I don't know how that is)

US 139 (From Jct w/I-70 to Rangely, CO)
Description- Going north from the junction with I-70, its pretty desert going between ranges, but soon you'll find yourself climbing a winding mountain with narrow roads and harrowing drops. Theres little traffic on this road, which makes it both fun and scary if something should happen. A few hairpins, mostly wall face curves. Watch out for wildlife once you get up into the forest, a yearling tried to make friends with my car while I was cruising it. Adter the mountain comes a really really straight road that isn't worth anyones time unless you really want to go to Rangely, a really depressing little town created from the oil boom back in the day. I'd reccomend turning around and traveling back south to Grand Junction and better scenery. Plus you get to do the cruves twice then.

Colorado National Monument (just outside of Grand Junction, CO)
Description- Now this road will cost you $7, but the scenery is gorgeous. All flat, no banked turns, so aggressiveness is not rewarded. I reccomend this road more for picture taking or going into the park for hiking, biking and other activities, but it is curvy in a way. Park Rangers litter the road though, so don't be in a hurry.

US 330 to US65 (from Jct w/I-70 to Cedaridge, CO)
Description- A great gorge road that winds up into the mountains and then drops onto a plain into Cedaridge.
Sweeping curves at the bottom of the gorge area that straighten out a little until you start climbing onto Grand Mesa Natl Fst. A couple reversals (not really hairpins) and some curves up in the mountain with some really nice views going up and going down from the mountain. Gets a bit chilly up there even when its 90F in Grand Junction, CO. Cedaridge is a nice little town to eat lunch in and then turn around and go back the way you came. Theres nothing interesting going further south on US65.

Well thats several of the roads I've been on, all of which I reccomend. I'm already planning a few more roadtrips, so look for more road threads from me.

Cheers,
Greg