In the past couple of installments we have been traveling along Utah Highway 95 from Hanksville to Blanding. After driving the route just once, it has become one of my favorite lengths of pavement in Utah. This stretch of highway crosses some of the most scenic lands in the Southwest – red sandstone, twisted cottonwoods, and gaping canyons combined with that always deep blue Utah sky are just a few of the items that will assault your visual senses while RVing the highway.
The best section of the drive is the 40-mile stretch as you cross the Colorado River drainage. Virtually every dirt road leading off the highway in the area beckons adventure. One such road is Jacob’s Chair Road accessed via Gravel Crossing. Jacob’s Chair resembles a gigantic straight-backed chair sitting atop a mesa. It was named after Jacob Adams, a well-known cattleman in the area who lost his life while trying to cross nearby White Creek too soon after a storm.
Start your journey by dropping your RV at an awesome boondocking site located at:
N 37 42.422 W110 14.363 From there proceed with your tow vehicle, dinghy (4×4 preferred, but a high clearance two wheel drive vehicle and capable driver would suffice), motorcycle or ATV down and across the White River (normally dry) and start the climb towards Jacob’s Chair. When you approach the first major grade after exiting the White River Canyon, look left to N37 43.305 W110 13.330 for the ruins of an old uranium mining camp and the remains of some very photogenic vehicles that were used by the miners. Be sure to take your camera for pictures at the camp and to capture the scenic vistas that beckon at every twist and turn of the road as you ascend. When the road becomes too much for your nerves, vehicle or both, turn around and return to camp via the way you came.
Surviving a trek to Jacob’s Chair and back, just another adventure in RVing!
Ro Beets says
Wow what a great site. I love this area of Utah and spent many hours/days backpacking here and all around south eastern and western Utah in my younger days. Now not so much backpacking as day hiking but still love it. Thanks for the great descriptions I’m copying /pasting links of this to some friends. Trying to convince them to take this route home from Durango to Lake Havasu to really see this area
Dave Helgeson - Adventures in RVing says
Glad you enjoyed it. Lot’s to explore along this stretch of highway for those willing to leave the asphalt.