Cottonwood Canyon Road - Viewpoint Paria River

Cottonwood Canyon Road is a roughly 44-mile backcountry drive connecting Highway 89 near Kanab to Highway 12 at Cannonville, cutting straight through Grand Staircase-Escalante country along the Paria River. It's unpaved the whole way, and reviewers consistently rate it a memorable, scenery-heavy drive if you come prepared for a rough road. Plan on about two hours to run it end to end, more if you're stopping for photos.

What to expect

• Surface: graded dirt with washboard sections; passable in a regular car when recently graded and dry, easier with a high-clearance 4x4
• Weather: avoid entirely during or after rain — the clay surface turns to mud and vehicles get stuck, including 4x4s, especially near the Cottonwood Narrows
• Best timing: late spring after grading tends to draw the strongest reviews; fall brings cottonwood color along the river bottom
• Side trip: Grosvenor Arch sits about a mile off the road on a spur near the north end

The road tracks the Paria River for stretches, dropping through open plains on the south end near Kanab before winding into narrower, more dramatic terrain toward Cannonville. It's rated 4.3 stars from visitors who drove it. Check current conditions with the BLM visitor centers in Kanab or Cannonville before heading out, since road status changes fast after storms.