Interstate 70 travels through undeveloped rocky crags and desert like lands between Green River and Salina. The roadway however is not boring by any stretch of the imagination. Just west of Green River lies the San Rafael Reef, a long series of cliffs and flat topped mountains stretch for as far as the eye can see. The freeway cuts through the reef dramatically at a place called Black Dragon. Several turn-offs provide opportunities for drivers to soak in the beauty or to just take a break from the long climbs. The freeway retains a level of scenery unparalleled by any other stretch of highway in Utah. Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon Colorado compares quite well with the scenery found at San Rafael as well.
Interstate 70 west
The next area of civilization lies 100 miles west of Green River on Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 at Salina. Interstate 70 was built as a new roadway across the San Rafael Reef and Castle Valley meaning that it did not replace an original U.S. Highway. U.S. 50 originally traveled northwest with U.S. 6 to Spanish Fork and back south again. It was not until the completion of Interstate 70 that U.S. 50 saw relocation onto its current alignment with Interstate 70 and the path between Salina and Scipio. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Passing through a rock cut on Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 westbound. The San Rafael Reef rises above in dramatic fashion ahead while the San Rafael Desert encompasses the flat lands to the south. Photos taken 10/18/04.
Utah 24 (County Road) ties into Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 at Exit 149 on the eastern fringes of San Rafael Reef. Utah 24 arcs 172 miles west through Hanksville, Torrey, Loa, and Sigurd along a routing south of Fishlake National Forest and the San Rafael Reef. The state highway ends at U.S. 50 near the town of Salina. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Use Utah 24 south for Capitol Reef National Park and Lake Powell. Capitol Reef lies west of Hanksville along Utah 24. Utah 95 stems south from Hanksville, and it in conjunction with Utah 226 serves the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Westbound at the Exit 149 off-ramp to Utah 24 (County Road) west and Four Corners Mine Road north. Four Corners Mine Road travels north and east back to U.S. 6 & 191 from the Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 diamond interchange. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Incredible views of the San Rafael Reef mountains, rock cut, and Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 westbound freeway. The highway crosses the San Rafael River ahead of the climb toward Black Box and Black Dragon within the Reef. Photos taken 10/18/04.
The Black Dragon View Area lies at the top of the Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 climb in the San Rafael Reef. The vistas up here are striking, giving Interstate 70 status as one of the most beautiful freeways in the country. The dramatic rock cut to the east sees Interstate 70 descend toward the San Rafael Desert and Green River. To the northwest lies Black Box. Photos taken 10/18/04.
Continuing west along Interstate 70 & U.S. 40 between Black Box to the north and the San Rafael Swell to the southwest. Photos taken 10/18/04.
A ranch exit lies at the north edge of the San Rafael Swell on Interstate 70 & U.S. 50. Intersecting the freeway here is Buckhorn Draw Road and Temple Mountain Road. Buckhorn Draw Road meanders northward to Window Blind Peak (elevation 7,030 ft) and the Buckhorn Flat. Temple Mountain Road wanders southwest toward San Rafael Knob (el. 7,921 ft), Temple Mountain (el. 6,773 ft), and Utah 24. Photo taken 10/18/04.
The Ghost Rock View Area lies along Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 westbound adjacent to San Rafael Knob and Sinbad Valley. Photos taken 10/18/04.
Pushing westward through Sinbad Valley on Interstate 70 & U.S. 50. The freeway crosses a set of arch bridges over the Eagle Canyon ravine ahead of the Moore interchange (Exit 114). Photos taken 10/18/04.
The Moore Cutoff (Emery County 803) and Emery County 927 meet Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 at Exit 114. Emery County 803, an unpaved roadway, stems northwest from the freeway 18.7 miles to the settlement of Moore. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Use Exit 114 for the adjacent Eagle Canyon View Area. The rest area exists just east of the Exit 114 diamond interchange. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Exit 114 departs Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 westbound for the Moore Cutoff. In the background lie the mountains of Molen Reef Castle. No services exist along Emery County 803 or at the interchange itself. Photo taken 10/18/04.
This suite of photos showcases some of the landscape visible from the Eagle Canyon View Area. The canyon is clearly visible in the first photo as a narrow and deep ravine. A set of red painted arch bridges cross the canyon on Interstate 70 a few miles to the east. Unfortunately they are not visible from the view area. Otherwise other points of interest in the Sinbad Valley include Turtle Rock and the continuation of Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 east. Photos taken 10/18/04.
Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 begin a long descent (5% grade) into the Castle Valley. The Fishlake Mountains rise into the hazy sky along the western horizon. The foreground includes the mountains of Molen Reef Castle. Photos taken 10/18/04.
Another in the Utah series of ranch exits exists at Exit 105 on Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 westbound. This ranch exit joins the freeway with local roads and Emery County 923 from the south. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Exit 105 consists of a diamond interchange between Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 and local roads. Photo taken 10/18/04.
The Salt Wash view area lies just west of Exit 105. Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 west otherwise continue to the Molen Reef Castle and Copper Globe in western Emery County. Photos taken 10/18/04.
Blue Road / Emery County 912 meet Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 at the Exit 97 ranch exit. Emery County 912 comprises a through route between the freeway and Emery 9.2 miles to the north. Blue Road migrates southward to Copper Globe and uninhabited areas. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Exit 97 consists of a diamond interchange between Emery County 912 north and Blue Road south at Interstate 70 & U.S. 50. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 brush the Coal Cliffs as it crosses from Emery County into Sevier County. Photos taken 10/18/04.
Utah 10 and Utah 72 junction with Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 at Exit 91. The pair of state highways both begin their respective journeys from the Exit 89 diamond interchange with Interstate 70. Utah 10 travels 69 miles northeast to Price. Utah 72 ventures 36 miles southwest to junction Utah 24 at Loa. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Like Utah 24 to the east (Exit 149), Utah 72 also provides access to the Capital Reef National Park from Interstate 70. Utah 72 meets Utah 24 in Loa 21 miles west of the park. Utah 10 meanwhile travels 12 miles northeast to Emery. Photo taken 10/18/04.
One half mile west of the Exit 89 off-ramp to Utah 10 north and Utah 72 south. Utah 72 south parallels Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 two miles to Freemont Junction (junction Utah 76) before turning south. Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 rise into Fishlake National Forest west from there. Utah 72 also enters the forest near Highard Mountain (el. 11,533 ft). Photo taken 10/18/04.
Low and behold the signs at Green River are inaccurate. Gas, food, and lodging are available along Utah 10 northeast of Interstate 70 & U.S. 50. While the services may lie ten miles or so to the north in Emery, that is 30 miles closer to Green River than the services found in Salina. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Exit 89 and an Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 westbound mileage sign found at Freemont Junction. Ahead is Mount Alice (el. 8,327 ft). Drivers are finally within 100 miles of Interstate 15; note the milepost difference. Utah renumbered many of its interchanges to reflect more accurately the actual mileage. Therefore Exit 89 is now Exit 91. Photos taken 10/18/04.
One mile east of the Exit 86 rest area on Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 westbound. Exit 86 ties into Utah 76, a parallel frontage road between Exit 86 and Utah 72 (Freemont Junction). The actual rest area exists along Utah 76 just east of the diamond interchange. Interstate 70 replaced Utah 10 from Freemont Junction west to Salina. Utah 76 follows the original Utah 10 path. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Welcome to Fishlake National Forest. Interstate 70 crosses two swaths of the National Forest. Most of the freeway between Exits 56 and 86 travels through the eastern sector. The western tract encompasses the Pahvant Range and Interstate 70 between Exits 1 and 23. Photo taken 10/18/04.
An access road spurs north from Utah 76 to the Exit 86 diamond interchange with Interstate 70 & U.S. 50. The local frontage road system continues west from Utah 76 to various National Forest Roads. Utah 76, ignored from Interstate 70 signage, ventures 2.4 miles back to Freemont Junction. The state highway provides a more direct route to Utah 72 south for Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 eastbound travelers and Utah 72 northbound travelers bound for the westbound freeway. Photo taken 10/18/04.
U.S. 50 appears for the first time on Interstate 70 westbound in the state of Utah! The federal highway, hidden from view until this point, follows the freeway another 30 miles to Salina. U.S. 50 only appears cosigned with Interstate 70 on reassurance shields through Fishlake National Forest. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 turn northwest for a 13-mile jaunt. The narrow freeway passes through a 7,923 ft Emigrant Pass in the Fish Lake Mountains. Photos taken 10/18/04.
Westbound on the approach to the Exit 72 ranch exit with Convulsion Road. Old Utah 10 parallels the eastbound side of Interstate 70 from Convulsion Road westward. Photo taken 10/18/04.
A metal guard rail separates the travel lanes of Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 between Exits 72 and 63 in Fishlake National Forest. Photos taken 10/18/04.
Goosebury Road intersects Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 at the Exit 63 diamond interchange. The forest road road travels south from the junction to Mt. Terrill (el. 11,547 ft). Photo taken 10/18/04.
Exit 63 gets a half-mile guide sign on Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 westbound. Goosebury Road intersects old Utah 10 (Interstate 70 frontage road) just south of Exit 63. Photos taken 10/18/04.
The final seven mile stretch of the Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 overlap between Goosebury Road and Salina. U.S. 50 again is acknowledged on the reassurance shield. Photo taken 10/18/04.
U.S. 50 departs Interstate 70 westbound for State Street in Salina. Business Spur Interstate 70 & U.S. 89 join U.S. 50 along State Street 1.6 miles north to West Main Street. There U.S. 50 west turns onto Main Street for a 0.7 mile jaunt to junction Utah 24 (old U.S. 89). Business Spur Interstate 70 continues northward with U.S. 89 on State Street to the north edge of town. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Salina lies in the valley between the Fishlake Mountains and the Pahvant Range at the crossroads of U.S. 50 and 89. U.S. 50 turns northward 29 miles from Salina to Scipio and junction Interstate 15. The federal highway follows Interstate 15 south from there to Holden. U.S. 89 merges onto Interstate 70 southwest from Salina to Exit 23 (Sevier). Photo taken 10/18/04.
State Street ends at a diamond interchange with Interstate 70 & U.S. 50-89. Business Spur Interstate 70 provides travelers with their first services since Green River and Emery. U.S. 89 joins Salina with Redmond, Axtell, and Gunnison to the north. Photo taken 10/18/04.
Interstate 70 east
Looking at the Interstate 70 & U.S. 50 eastbound view area at Black Dragon in the San Rafael Reef. The freeway begins a long descent through magnificent rock cuts toward Green River. A runaway truck ramp lies ahead for truckers on the steep grade. Photo taken 10/18/04.
