This is a relatively short road, about 30 miles long with one end near Natural Bridges National Monument and the other near Mexican Hat, UT. Neither GPS nor my atlas showed a gravel section. The gravel section, called "Moki Dugway", is 3 miles of steep grades and switchbacks. A sign at the bottom said it is not recommended for busses, RVs or trailers. A TV pulling a small trailer might make it, but a 5er or Class A will probably end up over the edge.
Had I known about this impassable (for me) section, I would have found a CG near Blanding, UT. It is only an hour backtrack from Monument Valley so not a real big deal, just a minor inconvenience.
I'm just glad I found it while out sightseeing in my TV instead of while pulling my 5er.
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Have driven it both ways. Would rather drive up than down.
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The fact that it's gravel isn't a big deal. Actually the hairpin corners are paved if I recall correctly. But the sharpness of the corners might be a problem with longer vehicles. Still a careful driver should be able to handle them. There is clearly enough space for a grader to turn around.
People with experience with switchbacks know that the tight ones can often be negotiated with a bit of backing; imagine making a 3 pt turn on a street. It can be a little scary backing towards the edge.
GPS may not warn you that it is gravel (my TomTom does not), but if you preview the route with enough zoom, the switchbacks are quite evident. The same goes for other digital maps. You can also see it with Google Maps streetview. And there are videos online.
Also if there are switchbacks, they are there for a reason, most likely to handle a significant grade. Turn on Google Maps terrain to see the contours of the rim that it climbs.
* This post was
edited 04/18/12 03:14pm by paulj *
Since that section of 261 was built to haul uranium in large trucks, the road is wide enough for just about any RV. That said, the last 2 times I've driven it is was very washboarded. I suspect you would spend some time getting your storage cabinets back in order after a trip up or down. That video is what got me to the Moki Dugway the first time!
Here is a photo:
By the way, a ride out to Muley Point at the top of the Dugway is well worth the trip.
We are contemplating going up it with our tt. Do you all think a 26' + 21' will make it? We've done it in an SUV, no big deal; DH is pretty sure he can make it with little oncoming traffic...
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dahkota wrote: We are contemplating going up it with our tt. Do you all think a 26' + 21' will make it? We've done it in an SUV, no big deal; DH is pretty sure he can make it with little oncoming traffic...
We watched an approx. 40' class A do it last summer, so a 26' + 21' should be fine. And if you watch the YouTube Video in the link above, it's an 18-wheeler. Around the 6-minute mark you can see his trailer in the mirror. And the comments on YouTube say he also tows his 57' spread axle drop deck trailer up and down the dugway as well.
You should be fine. It really just depends on your comfort level with grades, switchbacks, and no guardrail.
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MPond wrote: We watched an approx. 40' class A do it last summer, so a 26' + 21' should be fine. And if you watch the YouTube Video in the link above, it's an 18-wheeler. Around the 6-minute mark you can see his trailer in the mirror. And the comments on YouTube say he also tows his 57' spread axle drop deck trailer up and down the dugway as well.
You should be fine. It really just depends on your comfort level with grades, switchbacks, and no guardrail.
Afterthought - while I'd be comfortable doing it in either of my rigs (38' DP & toad, or my 38' 5-er), the DW would never go along for that ride. She ran up and down it with me in our Jeep, and even then she made me drive as far away from the edge as possible.
My point: It's definitely doable, but you really need to consider the comfort-level of your passengers, in addition to your own comfort and skills.
Best of luck to you. If you do it, take pictures and post them later.
remoandiris wrote: Neither GPS nor my atlas showed a gravel section. The gravel section, called "Moki Dugway", is 3 miles of steep grades and switchbacks.
This is the main reason we never rely on a GPS solely. We love traveling scenic roads but we also research the road thoroughly when we plan to drive it with our 40' motorhome. Just "Google" the name or road number and usually you'll find out about it from the state transportation web site. We also use the Mountain Directory for excellent reviews mile by mile. We've driven many "steep, curvy" roads, including driving many times, the much-talked-about Red Mountain Highway (Hwy 550 from Durango to Ouray in Colorado) but I don't think we'll attack this one this May. Safe travels out there!
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