Smoky Mountain Road 2.0

​Smoky Mountain Road is an 80 mile trail between Big Water and Escalante, providing access to several jeep trail along the way.  Interesting formations, scenic Kelly Grade and an underground coal fire are all on the southern 23 miles of the run.  The northern part is mostly a road through the trees with frequent bumpy ledges.

We will detail the southern part only on this website.

There is a GPS - gpx track file at the bottom of the page.
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Coal fire vents
There are many great formations north of the road as you travel from Big Water to the base of Kelly Grade.
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Interesting formation
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Dark, erosive soil
Steep, rugged switchbacks known as the Kelly Grade scale the escarpment, rising over 1.000 feet to the top of Kaiparowits Plateau.  The grade was named after Don Kelly, the man who built it.  Local lore claims that because no one else was brave or skilled enough to cut the road, Kelly just jumped in his machine and did the job.
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Beginning of Kelly Grade
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Shelf road near the top
Nice views from the top of the grade.
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Distant views
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A closer canyon
Follow the spur road off Smoky Mountain Road to find the underground coal fire.  Utah Geological Survey has a good explanation of what is going on here.  This track ends at a vent seam that was closed in the 1960's, while the right hand road ends at the vent holes.

Note there is no smoke visible in the photo at the top of the page, while close up photos below seem to show some.  We believe this is steam that disappears as it hits open air.  Some also condenses and drips back down into the hole.

If you stand downwind of the holes you will have no doubt there is burning coal in the ground.  The odor is very strong.  HINT:  Do not park your vehicle downwind of the holes!!  Experience speaking.
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Left vent hole
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Right vent hole
The remainder of Smoky Mountain Road is not very interesting.  We suggest you either turn around and go back the way you came, or take Smoky Hollow Road back.  (Not yet on this website)

​Page updated 2017.
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