Road Canyon

Road Canyon is accessed from the Cigarette Springs Road on Cedar Mesa. The elevation in the upper ends of Road Canyon begins at approximately 6,200 feet and drops to 4,900 feet at the lower ends. The walls of the canyon vary from 100 feet in the upper ends to over 500 feet in the lower ends. Erosion of the colorful Cedar Mesa Sandstone has created a layer cake effect of multiple tiers, especially in the middle and lower sections of the canyon. There are numerous archaeological sites present. Please take care when visiting these fragile sites. There are no maintained trails. Routes generally follow the mostly dry creek bed. There are long stretches of slickrock, with several pour-offs to negotiate. The canyon bottom is not as luch as some of the other Cedar Mesa canyons, and shade is at a minimum. A permit to hike or backpack is required.