Hells Backbone Road — Escalante to Boulder via the Spine Above Sand Creek Canyon

Hells Backbone Road earns its name about 25 miles in, at the single-lane Hells Backbone Bridge — a skinny concrete span hung between two sheer canyon drops, Death Hollow on one side and Sand Creek on the other. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, this was the only road linking Boulder to the outside world until the 1940s. The full route runs Forest Road 153 from Escalante north through the Dixie National Forest, climbing through ponderosa and spruce before cresting the ridge and threading across that bridge with no guardrails and a long way down on both sides. It’s one of those moments that reminds you why you drove out here.

The road is graded gravel and dirt — high clearance recommended, 4WD helpful when wet, but stock SUVs handle it in dry conditions. It’s the weather and season that bite you: the route typically closes with snow from November through April, and afternoon thunderstorms turn the clay sections greasy fast. No permit required. Dispersed camping is available in the national forest sections. Fuel in Escalante; Boulder has limited services. Cell service is essentially gone above the forest boundary. Do this loop in the evening light — the canyon colors reward the timing.