OCR Text |
Show V Woifcreek Pass Highway Nine Mile Canyon see and do 2001 duchesne county A Tale of Two Roads The unique way in which this Basin was settled in such a short leave Ft. Duchesne when the post was abandoned in 1 91 2.) In between it would be a life line of vital importance to the Basin, used by stagelines and freighters. The trip took three days, depending on the weather, which created the need for facilities along the way for the teamsters and their livestock. As a result, businesses sprung up in the canyon. Hotels, a saloon or two, a blacksmith shop, a water stop at Wells Draw, and of course ranchers in the Nine Mile and its side canyons, transformed country that had stood pretty empty since the Anasazi left mysteriously hundreds of years before, intoabitofathriving period, created needs and communities almost overnight. As homesteaders moved into the area, the demand for goods and supplies meant that a way to get them into the area was critical. To get those supplies to the West meant a railroad was critical. It doesn't take much of a genius to figure that if the nearest railroad was down in Price, Utah, there needed to be a road from thereto here, or here to there, depending on howyou look at things. The route selected was up Nine Mile canyon, which seems community. pretty short until you figureout Those early settlers found a that Nine Mile is really 40 miles wealth of Indian artifacts, from long. the Anasazi and the Utes. Cliff Actually, the road had already been carved out by soldiers dwellings, granaries and stationed at Ft. Duchesne, to petroglyphs are still found in the canyon, bearing record of its bring supplies to the fort. (Ironiit earliest settlers. cally, would be the same route If you get the bug to getaway, to was used by the soldiers that Frontier Motel take the Nine Mile road to Wellington someday. You'll drive through history, following in the footsteps of Indians, the 9th Cavalry, the company of Buffalo Soldiers who built the road, cowboys and the freighters who helped build the Basin. Not bad for one road. Nine Mile Canyon is located one mile west of Myton off US Highway 1 9140. It is 80 miles long and consists of a graded, double lane, gravel and dirt surface road. Another road is making a name for itself in the Basin. The road over Wolf Creek Pass, in northwest Duchesne County, has been a bit of an adventure for many years. Not any longer. It will be paved all the way to Kamas. A rugged, twisting mountain characterized as Tittle more thanagoattriar is just Wolf Creek pass has changed from not much mom than a goat traS to a modem highway that provides motorists with a satis dive through goregous scenery. pass about two months away from having its $25 million make-ove- r sticks at. If shard to argue with them, since the mine is still lost, but one thing is sure the Spaniards combed these very hiHsintheir never ending search for gold. I guess we can only hope they noticed how pretty it is while they were at it Wouldn't want them wasting theirtime. WhBe you cant quite travel at freeway speeds, (who would want to? There wouldnt be time to see itall), the new road opens upa beautiful part of Duchesne County to back country motorists. Show people a picture of where youve been and most beautiful mountain country. likely, they would think it was Groves of quakies, stands of Wyoming or Montana. No is and that country kidding, it just doesnt get much pretty pines to off make the prett ier than ourupper country. you pull enough side of the road and just sit there So leave the hot house behind thissummer and take acool drive foraspell. Some folks would claimthat through paradise the Wolf this road isn't too farfrom the lost Creek Pass road. Youll want to Rhodes mine, where theres more come back, guaranteed. gold than you can shake a couple up to today's highway standards, and accommodate speeds of 35 to 45 miles perhour. The improved highway proor August. a more direct and safer vides The Wolf Creek Pass project route for residents of Duchesne begins 5 miles northwest of County's east side to travel to the Hama in Duchesne County and Front If you're traveling Wasatch ends 6 miles east of Woodland in from Duchesne to Park City, Summit County. The majority of driving the pass should save you the road traverses forest land. Road construction has resulted in around 20 minutes. From Heber to Duchesne, you can shave widening the pass to a about 1 0 minutes off yourtime. paved surface in order to bring it While the Wolf Creek road may not have quite the historic background of the Nine Mile road, it takes folks on a drive through scenic completed. The Wolf Creek Pass project is scheduled for completion in July 23-mil- e, . 28-fo- ot & Grill Great Two ROCK (REEK OUEtT RANCH Guide Sendee Professional Outfitters Guides In The High Uintas Amenities Include: Cafe Home Space Camp Sites Cabins For Lodging;,Recreation Area Complete With ' Horseshoes, Basketball. Etc. - . B-B-- r. Motel - R.V. 722-220- 1 it ' f. j .. Grill - 722-366- .. 9 i Hu. Mountain Home, Utah 435-454-33- 32 Q, |