Zion National Park – Smithsonian Butte Road and Viewpoints

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Introduction:

What? :

Smithsonian Butte National Back Country Byway is located just south of Zion National Park. It travels for 9.25 miles between Rockville (highway 9) and Apple Valley, Utah Highway 59 (Arizona Highway 389).

This well-maintained dirt road led to a scenic elevated plateau that provide great views of Canaan Mountain and Zion National Park.

This area is govern under BLM.

 






 

Where? :

This area is located south of Zion National Park.

There are to entrance to this area.

 



At the north this is at Rockville, Utah located on highway 9. From Springdale drive 3.5 mile south, from La Verkin, Utah and highway 17 junction drive 16 miles east.

From highway 9 turn into Bridge Road and pass the Old Bridge crossing Virgin River to it south side.

From here drive west, in the direction of Grafton Ghost Town but after 1.5 miles you will see on your left the entrance to Smithsonian Butte Staging Area.

Google Map Link

 

The south entrance to the road is located at Smithsonian Butte Apple Valley terminus (4WD). This is located on Utah highway 59 (Arizona Highway 389), 14 miles east of the town Hurricane (highway 9) or driving west 9 miles from Hildale, Utah.

Google Map Link

 


 

When? :

The BLM area is open year-round.

Summer is hot and mid-day temperatures reach 100f.

Winter rain and snow can cause the dirt road to be impossible to drive.

 




Related Blogs:




 

Due note 1:

This is well maintained road suitable to all cars, just take it slow.

Low clearance vehicles, RV's and vehicles towing trailers are not recommended to travel here.

I do not recommend driving here after rain when the soil surface is wet, the route becomes impassable to drive on.

 

Due note 2:

This is BLM land, no fees involved.

No service, no water source.

There are restrooms at Gooseberry Mesa trailhead.

Sporadic cellphone available.

 




Due note 3:

This is amazing place for dispersed camping at top of the butte with amazing view and usually few people.

Dispersed camping is permitted on BLM lands throughout Gooseberry Mesa for period not to exceed 14 days.

Camping is prohibited within 1/2 mile of either side of the Back Country Byway.

 



Due note 4:

A short side trip near the Virgin River leads to the historic ghost town of Grafton. You can find here several rehabilitated buildings and interpretive information.

 

 



My thoughts:

Not many travelers know about this scenic byway, I discover this area by “mistake” when I was driving to visit historic ghost town of Grafton, and I saw the BLM sign at the start of the road. In a different trip I was looking for dispersed camping location near Zion National Park and I remembered that there is this BLM area.

I came here several times since then; it is right near Zion National Park that is one of the busiest parks in the US and here there are almost no other people around.

It is quiet, serene and there are few amazing overnight locations with amazing views.

 

 

The Drive:

You start your drive at Rockville, Utah, a small community of less than 250 people.

Pass the metal Old Bridge to the Virgin River south side and head to the start of the well-maintained dirt road.

 


The road climb to the top of the elevated plateau and soon after you start with your drive the view open. Stop along the way at side viewpoint.

 

There are several side roads that leads to mesa fingers.

 


The main road climb to the plateau and there find it way to the west at the foot of Smithsonian Butte before turning south descending onto lower farmland plains, making the straight line to Big Plain Junction (Utah highway 59).

 



When the road get to the south of the BLM area and reach Apple Valley there is a side road called Gooseberry Mesa National Recreation Trail.


This road leading to the west side of the mesa, it starch about 5 miles and there are several trailheads along the way.



At the end of the way there is a nice viewpoint to the west, you can see below you Virgin River area and far away the impressive Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness.



At this end of the road, you can also find Gooseberry Mesa Yurts.



 

From the different viewpoints along the roads, you can see several impressive landscape views.

Zion West Temple mountains and the entrance to Zion Canyon are located to the north.


East of the dominate Smithsonian Butte you can see Canaan Mountain wilderness with it much elevated mountains as Eagle Crags West and Lower Mountain West.


To the west of this area is the Virgin River lower elevation desert badlands.

 

 

My favorite dispersed camping location is on the side road leading into Wire Mesa, take this road, pass the small parking lot and take the first right turn leading to the edge of the mesa cliff right above a canyon where Zion Mountains is right in front of you.

 




 

This area is an amazing place for offroad mountain bike adventure.

The mesa is covered with single tracks routs that are overall level and provide amazing view and riding experience.

 

 

www:

https://www.blm.gov/visit/smithsonian-butte-national-back-country-byway

 

Map:

https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Smithsonian_ButteNBCB.pdf

https://www.trailforks.com/trails/county-road-access-smithsonian-butte-rd/

https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/utah/smithsonian-butte-back-country-byway-01

 

 

 

Additional Pictures:

 





















Location: Zion National Park, Utah, USA

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