Moki Dugway

• We were surprised to come upon this breathtaking corkscrew section of Utah Hwy 261. Not that we weren’t warned turning onto that highway: “10% Grades, Switchbacks, Narrow Gravel Road, 23 miles ahead.” That sign hardly prepared us for the reality:
  

  

  This switchbacking dirt road, we found out later, was built in 1958 by a private company. Its purpose was to carry uranium ore mined on top of the mesa to the processing plant on the valley floor. Only later was it incorporated into the state highway:
  

  

  I would have to say driving down it was certainly a memorable experience.
  

  

  Researching the title of this unusual road revealed its origin as “Moqui”, the Spanish word for Pueblo Indians. However, there are now at least three different spellings of the name.
  
  The attraction pictured below has really nothing to do with Moki Dugway; it was merely close by and, so, is included here:

  

  Goosenecks State Park is only 10 miles by road from the base of Moki Dugway. As one might guess, it showcases the “goosenecks” of the San Juan River with a “drive-up-and-look” viewpoint. For this writer, the place is remembered fondly as a sunset picnic spot with parents decades ago and since Patty and I were so close we simply had to stop. I am happy to report in all that time it has not changed.