Moki Dugway and Valley of the Gods Road
Red-rock monuments and a cliff-edge uranium road
The Moki Dugway was cut in the 1950s so uranium trucks could haul ore off Cedar Mesa. It’s still there: three miles of graded gravel switchbacks on UT-261, dropping 1,100 feet down the Mesa’s edge with no guardrail between your tire and the drop. Start at the Valley of the Gods turnoff on US-163 and take the 17-mile county road west through sandstone buttes with names like Setting Hen and Lady on a Tub. Cross a few dry washes, then pop out on UT-261 below the Mesa. Turn north, climb the Dugway, and burn the extra five miles of dirt out to Muley Point. The overlook runs across the San Juan River goosenecks to Monument Valley, and it’s worth the detour.
This is an easy drive with real exposure. Any high-clearance vehicle handles it dry. After rain the Valley road turns to slick clay and the washes can run, so check conditions at BLM Monticello or Mexican Hat before you commit. Trailers over 10,000 pounds and RVs over 28 feet are banned from the Dugway. Fuel and water are in Mexican Hat, with nothing between. Cell service is spotty. BLM land around the Valley allows dispersed camping, and sunset there beats any developed campground. Go spring or fall, and keep the downhill vehicle in a low gear. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 26 mi / 41.8 km |
| Duration | 3-5 hours |
| Max elevation (ft) | 6400 ft |
| Best season | April-June, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock high-clearance 2WD (4WD in wet conditions) |
| Nearest town | Mexican Hat, Utah |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management, Monticello Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Monticello Field Office |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner (or similar SUV) do Valley of the Gods and the Moki Dugway?
Yes. A stock high-clearance 2WD is enough when it's dry, so a stock 4Runner has no problem. The road is washboarded gravel and dirt with a few dry wash crossings, and the Dugway is a wide, graded gravel switchback road.
Is the trail passable in winter or after rain?
Winter is doable but unreliable. Snow and ice can make the Dugway dangerous or closed, so check conditions before you go. After rain, the clay surface in Valley of the Gods turns slick and the wash crossings can flood, so 4WD is recommended and flash flood risk is real. Best windows are April-June and September-October.
Do I need a permit or pay a fee to drive it or camp?
No permit or fee is required to drive the road or to dispersed camp on the BLM land in Valley of the Gods. Camping is first-come, with no water, toilets, or trash service, so pack out everything. Fire restrictions change seasonally, so check with the BLM Monticello Field Office.
How bad is the Moki Dugway? I'm nervous about the drop-offs.
It's about 3 miles of gravel switchbacks at roughly a 10% grade, dropping about 1,100 feet down the Cedar Mesa escarpment with no guardrails. It's not technical, but the exposure is real. Take it slow, stay in low gear on the descent, and pull into the wide spots to let oncoming traffic pass. Uphill traffic has the right of way. Large and heavy vehicles are restricted, so read the posted signs at the top.
Can I rely on cell service, fuel, and water out there?
No. Cell service is spotty to nonexistent along most of the route. Fuel up in Mexican Hat, Bluff, or Blanding before you go, and carry all your own water, especially in summer when temps often top 100°F. Download your maps offline and tell someone your route.
Trail track
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