Hell's Backbone Road, Gravel mountain road between Boulder and Escalante, Utah
Hell's Backbone Road is a gravel route connecting Boulder and Escalante through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The passage climbs to approximately 9,200 feet elevation and traverses narrow ridge sections with sharp drop-offs on either side.
The Civilian Conservation Corps built this mountain passage in the 1930s when Boulder was the last mapped settlement in the contiguous United States. The project emerged from efforts to connect and develop remote rural areas during the economic crisis of that era.
The road serves as a gateway to remote hiking trails in the Box Death Hollow Wilderness Area, where visitors enter Utah's isolated mountain terrain. People use this passage to experience the solitude and raw character of the high country away from developed areas.
This route requires dry conditions and clear weather for safe passage, with winter months typically blocking access due to snow. Travelers should expect rough surfaces and prepare their vehicles accordingly for the unpaved terrain.
A concrete bridge spans a deep canyon marking the narrowest section where cliffs drop away dramatically on each side. This spot represents both an engineering feat and one of the more exposed stretches along the entire drive.
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