Wondered about just how rough the shortcut is describe in jamawani's post. Is is comfortable on 700x28s? 32s? 38s? Also I plan to do this very same route from NV to CO across UT in early June credit card style (not camping or cooking). How would that change the advise here. Any other advice.
Originally Posted by
jamawani
May/June is pretty early for Colorado.
But for Utah -
US 40 is pretty busy around Vernal -
But there is a alternate loop that turns off towards Dinosaur N.M. at Jensen
(You should consider checking out Dinosaur)
West of Vernal you can take UT 121 past Lapoint and cut south to Roosevelt.
There also a county road that runs north of the river turning off 1 mile north of Myton.
If you are willing to do about 10 miles of dirt - then you can avoid some heavy traffic -
And you can cut about 25 miles off the distance - and have some nice scenery, too.
West Strawberry Road (FR 131) turns south off of US 40 just west of the reservoir.
Take that about 7 miles to FR 029 on right (dirt)
10 miles of medium rough with switchbacks - to Diamond Ford Road (paved)
Follow Diamond Fork south to US 6 to Hwy 198 and Spanish Fork.
(Bike shop, services - you don't have to go thru Provo)
You should really consider heading out to Utah Lake on Lincoln Beach Road.
There is camping right on the point.
Then head down to US 6 at Goshen.
Two options from there - stay on US 6 all the way to Delta.
Or take Goshen Canyon Road south to Nephi -
Then UT 132 and UT 125 to Delta.
Both are the same distance.
You can camp at the fairgrounds in Hinckley if you ask.
(Or you could at one time - I hope you can still.)
The nice thing about doing so is that Hinckley is the last service until the border.
You have 83 empty, brutal miles to the border gas station.
Then another 5 miles to Baker, Nevada.
Since you will be heading west -
I would leave as early as possible to avoid headwinds.
J