Coal Canyon Road

Disappear into the Book Cliffs with this gateway into Utah's most isolated protected wilderness. The Book Cliffs are the longest continuous cliffs on the continent. They loom just out of reach along the highways from Price, Utah, east to Grand Junction, CO. This region has been protected from development for decades and lays claim to being one of the least explored regions in the United States. There are still undocumented cliff dwellings and petroglyphs being found to this day in the Desolation Canyon Wilderness Study Area. The cliff system is comprised of multiple tiers, each acting as a natural barrier to reaching the uninhabited interior. Coal Canyon Road is one of the few roads that quickly transports you to the first tier of these towering cliffs. The trail travels through an ever tighter canyon before rapidly climbing up a narrow ledge to the wilderness area above. Be sure to stop at the petroglyphs to try to interpret what they may mean.