The scenic route of I-70 through southern Utah was unbelievable. We don't usually travel Interstate highways and think of them as particularly scenic, but this travel sure was. It is recorded that the construction of this part of I-70 is an engineering marvel, with one engineer claiming this section as "one of the most significant highway construction feats of its time". The construction of I-70 through the Salt Wash to the San Rafael Swell, as this area is known, required boring through many solid rock canyons, cliffs, and mountains. The swell is noted for its sheer canyons and rock formations and is home to a large amount of exposed dinosaur remains. This includes the largest known collection of Jurassic era dinosaur remains at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry at the north end of the swell.
The highway ascends the western edge of the swell on a steady slope loosely following the north rim of Devil's Canyon, seen here. At the top of the grade is a view area with a view of Devil's Canyon and an overlook of the country west of the swell. It then crosses Eagle Canyon via a pair of steel arch bridges. The eastbound bridge is 489 feet long and the westbound bridge is 523 feet long.
The highway then ascends Ghost Rock Summit, seen here, the highest point for I-70 inside the swell. At the summit is another view area overlooking the Little Grand Canyon of the San Rafael River. The summit is named for unusual rock formations nearby. The Ghost Rocks themselves are at 7,405 feet (2,257 m), although the freeway is slightly lower. I-70 meanders through a relatively flat portion of the swell until reaching Spotted Wolf Canyon, which provides the exit route to the swell. The eastern descent features one brake check area and two runaway truck ramps to aid trucks down.
About half way down is a view area of the canyon narrowing as it approaches the eastern escarpment of the swell, the San Rafael Reef, seen here. Just as the highway exits the swell it passes to the north of Goblin Valley State Park. The highway exits the swell near Green River, where we camped for the night. An incredible drive!
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