Trail Overview
Smoky Mountain Road is a scenic, entry-level route ideal for beginners and landscape-focused explorers looking to access some of the most striking desert terrain above Lake Powell. Spanning approximately 13.7 miles through the rugged Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, this wide, graded dirt road provides an accessible path with a gentle technical rating of 2 out of 10. Drivers will navigate a well-maintained corridor that begins near Big Water, Utah, climbing from a minimum elevation of 3,843 feet up to a peak of 4,104 feet. With a mild cumulative elevation gain of 705 feet, this route is suitable for most high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles, SUVs, and SxSs, making it a popular starting point for journeys deeper into the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
As the route traverses this desert plateau, offroaders are treated to sweeping views of pastel-colored badlands, deep canyons, and distant vistas of Lake Powell. While the road is generally smooth and easy, the clay-based dirt can become extremely slick and impassable when wet, requiring careful weather monitoring before heading out. Along the way, travelers often use this stretch to connect with the spur trail leading to the iconic Alstrom Point overlook, which offers one of the most famous panoramic viewpoints in the region. Operating a stock four-wheel-drive or an SxS along this portion of Smoky Mountain Road serves as an excellent gateway to remote southern Utah adventures, demanding no specialized recovery gear under dry conditions but requiring caution during seasonal rain events.
