The Moki Dugway

Now, obviously this fellow should have been driving with both hands on the wheel, especially when you consider the road that he's driving on and how big his vehicle is, but it's still a pretty sweet video. The road in the video is the Moki Dugway. It's absolutely beautiful, borderline terrifying, and breathtaking either way you look at it.  

The Moki Dugway is located 3 miles north of Mexican Hat on Utah State Route 261. Utah 261 is part of the Trail of Ancients, a National Scenic Byway that stretches across 480 miles through Colorado and Utah. The Trail of Ancients was the first National Scenic Byway dedicated specifically to an archaeological site, and focuses on the cultural history of southwestern Native American tribes.  

Originally constructed in 1958, the Moki Dugway was originally designed as a mining road to transport uranium ore from the Happy Jack mine in Frye Canyon to the town of Mexican Hat.  

The Dugway was carved out of the Cedar Mesa 1,100 feet over the course of a mere 3 miles. Switchback after switchback makes the descent possible, but the road is still incredibly steep, quite narrow, and lacks the luxury of a guardrail. If you decide to tackle the Moki Dugway, it could end up being the longest 3 miles of your life! But it’s an incredible and beautiful experience that, with caution, is well worth the journey.  

Unsurprisingly, this road closes frequently due to weather and other hazards, so check with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) before you make the trip. It's recommended by UDOT that only vehicles under 28 feet long and under 10,000 pounds attempt to tackle the Moki Dugway. Most vehicles can manage, but bigger vehicles like semi trucks, mobile homes, RVs, and vehicles hauling trailers might find it difficult to navigate the switchbacks.  

The Mokie Dugway isn't paved either. In addition being super steep, super windy, and super narrow, the road is made of dirt, sand and gravel. Most vehicles could make it down the Dugway, but many couldn't make it up. However if you're in a Subaru, you could run laps up and down it for fun!