Cottonwood Canyon Road facts for kids

View when entering Cottonwood Canyon from the south after passing over higher elevations from US-89. The road follows the Paria River for the first several miles then continues to the north along the eroded East Kaibab Monocline adjacent to the steeply dipping rocks known as the Cockscomb.

Along the monocline - view south at a terrain transition point where the south portion of the road shifts from the major valley to an adjacent and parallel minor valley

View north at the same location with the colorful rocks of the Coxcomb on the right

Grosvenor Arch

Road 400 (Cottonwood Canyon Road) is a scenic 47-mile (76 km) dirt road in Kane County, Utah, United States that connects U.S. Route 89 (US-89) with South Kodachrome Road (which, within a few more miles connects with Cannonville and Utah State Route 12). The road traverses portions of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument offering a unique view into the heart of the Monument. This road is considered impassable in wet weather and high clearance vehicles are recommended.

Views

Patient drivers of this road will be rewarded with a closer look at spectacular natural features, including one known as the Cockscomb. Topography here is on a more intimate scale, and formations are varied and colorful. Additionally there are notable hiking trails accessed along the route such as Hackberry Canyon, the Cottonwood Narrows, and Round Valley Draw. Other attractions located on the northern end of the road include Grosvenor Arch and Kodachrome Basin State Park, more reliably accessed from Cannonville, Utah.

Termini

The southern terminus is at the junction with U.S. 89 in Kane County: 37°06′18″N 111°50′49″W / 37.10500°N 111.84694°W / 37.10500; -111.84694 The northern terminus is at Kane County line near Cannonville, where it becomes S. Kodachrome Road: 37°32′08″N 112°03′04″W / 37.53556°N 112.05111°W / 37.53556; -112.05111

Overlooking the area near Kodachrome Basin State Park