The Road Through Eastland and Canyon Overlooks.

CR 312 - Horsehead Road is 11.2 miles from Main and Center Streets of Monticello; along this road is the community of Eastland.  Eastland was established in the 1920s and has not grown much throughout the years; last census taken was in 2000 of 130 in population.  It is basically a community of farms and some residential homes; there are no stores or services, so the residents come to Monticello for most of their needs.  While the majority of roads along Route 491 are comprised of dirt, gravel or a combination of both; the road to and through Eastland is unmaintained rough pavement which ends at 6.3 miles.  Four wheel drive is highly recommended for the rest of this adventure along CR 312; on the map below, follow the bright blue hi-lighted road. 

It won't be until you reach mile mark 5.2 that you'll see anything more scenic than the farmland.  The road begins a steep descent, but as it levels out you can park and take a good look at Horsehead Spring.

Then it's pretty much back to farmland; at 6.8 miles is CR 354 which looks to lead off towards Horsehead Canyon; while at 8.7 miles is CR 353 which might lead to Coal Bed Canyon.  Don't know for sure as I haven't traveled them as yet...road trip!  For now though, follow the curve to the right to stay on CR 312.







Just 4/10s of a mile (mile mark 9.1) there is an abandoned farmstead; the buildings there are old and their structures are fascinating, there is also some farming equipment sitting in the overgrown plant life.  The poor windmill has lost its blades and simply sits pointing upwards to the sky.

 

 

At mile mark 11.7, CR 312 splits around a large building; the road to the right is unmarked while the road to the left is, and goes downward towards a canyon.  None of the maps I had were a big help with deciding on which way to go; that's a huge reason Roy and I decided to begin making up our own and posting them.  Anyway, I decided to follow the sign and go left, and while a little nerve racking in spots, it was a fun drive!













Down and around to an overlook of Big Water Canyon...



Sleeping Ute Mountain in the distance.

At mile mark 12.9, there is an ATV trail that goes out into Big Water Canyon.  I was only able to travel for a mile before it became too rutted for the SUV to continue on.  Even then, it was pretty harrowing at a few spots, especially when the SUV was tilted upwards.  I do not believe I'll be doing that any time soon again.







...up and around to an overlook of Montezuma Canyon.

Along the way are many an ATV trail leading off into who knows where, but this stretch of road you've just traveled contained all these beautiful viewpoints and is only about 6.3 miles before you reach a split in the road.  It seemed a lot longer, but than I was stopping for photos and driving around 25 miles/hour.





So, mile mark 18 is the split; this is also a good area to park and have a picnic as there are grassy areas just a few feet away.

If you're curious about the split to the right, this 1.1 mile section will lead you to the Cactus Park Oil Tanks; doesn't sound too exciting, but the road will definitely get your adrenaline pumping.  I figure it this way though, if oil tankers can make it up and down these rough roads, it'll be a piece of cake for me and the SUV.

Alrighty then, taking the split to the left brings you up, up, up with a canyon to the left of you and a canyon to the right of you at one point.  Basically I was gripping the wheel and saying, "Oh s**t!" for about two miles; suddenly it leveled out and the landscape was turning into farmland again.  Horsehead Canyon could be seen in the distance past the freshly tilled fields. 

This road was only 4.7 miles long from the split and you won't guess where it lead too.  Remember at the large building I said the road split, the road to the right had no sign; well as I drove past Horsehead Canyon, the large building came into view.  In other words, CR 312 was a loop road which gave you awesome views of three canyons: Big Water, Montezuma and Horsehead.  So back up CR 312 towards Eastland, with a detour here and there, before I was too tired to explore anymore.  A most spectacular day indeed!

Mary Cokenour

Where Do Those San Juan County Roads Go?

From Monticello, along Route 491 to Colorado, there are a slew of San Juan County roads to the right and left. Looking at a map of the area, there are also many canyons listed; anyone with an explorer's attitude wants to know what there is to find and see in these canyons. My dog, Jenna, and I have been trekking up and down the roads, south of Route 491 and east of Route 191, to get to these canyons; it's been no easy task, let me tell you. Unfortunately, many of the roads, even though they are listed as "County" roads, dead end at farms and the canyons may or may not be seen in the distance.

Along both sides of the roads is farmland; "no spray" and "organic farming" signs posted along the fence posts as well as the "private property" and "no trespassing" signs.  The main crops are beans, sunflowers, alfalfa and wheat; along with the occasional orchard.  Looking at the richness of the recently tilled soil explains why the pioneers decided to come up closer to the Abajo Mountains; also explains why they kicked those ranchers from Colorado and Texas out of the area.  Now I was able to access a few of the canyons via two of the roads; I'll be writing those up as separate posts.  For now, I'm going to simply post the map I've created with the legend that goes along with it.  As I find new roads and sites to see upon them, the map will be updated. 

The Map

Updated June 15, 2014

The Legend

San Juan County Roads South of Route 491 and East of Route 191

The mileage locations of each road is based upon the starting point at the intersection of Main and Center Streets of Monticello, Utah.  The majority of property along both sides of the roads is privately owned; "No Trespassing" signs are posted.  Many of the farms have "No Spray" signs posted as they practice organic farming; the primary crops being beans, alfalfa, wheat and sunflowers, and the occasional orchard. The Utah/Colorado border is 16.4 miles, again, using the intersection of Main and Center Streets in Monticello, Utah as the starting point.

Main Roads - accessed directly off Route 491

3.5 miles - Monticello Landfill which utilizes the northern end of West Boulder Point Canyon.

4.1 miles - CR 307 (Edge of the Canyon); a small section of West Boulder Point Canyon can be seen; it ends 3 miles at farm.

5.1 miles - CR 308 (Hallers); ends 1.6 miles at CR 337 (North Dude Ranch Road).

6.2 miles - CR 309 (West Boulder); top of Boulder Point can be seen in the distance; ends 5.7 miles at farm.

8.2 miles - CR 311 (East Boulder Point); small side view of Boulder Point Canyon can be seen; ends 1.7 miles at farm.

9.2 miles - CR 364 (Johnson); ends 1/2 miles at farm.

11.2 miles - CR 312 (Horsehead); road through Eastland; 19.2 miles before it ends at Cactus Park (oil tanks and pump jack location); a separate loop road has ATV trails along it; overlooks include Horsehead, Big Water and Montezuma Canyons.

12.2 miles - CR 355 (Long Draw); ends 1.7 miles at CR 339.

13.2 miles - CR 366; closed road.

14.3 miles - CR 314 (North Lockerby); ends 1.5 miles at CR 339.

15.3 miles - CR 377; ends 1.4 miles at CR 339.

Secondary Roads - accessed from the Main Roads off Route 491

CR 337 (North Dude Ranch Road) - 2.1 miles in length; runs between CR 307 and CR 309.

CR 338 (Boulder CTF Road) - 5 miles in length; runs between CR 309 and CR 312.

CR 339 (East Lockerby) - 5 miles in length; runs one mile west of CR 312 to CR 377.

CR 340 (Pearson) - 8.7 miles; Pearson Canyon and Point viewpoints; ends at padlocked gate.

CR 341 (Coal Bed) - located 1.4 miles west of CR 377 along CR 339; road through Coal Bed Canyon.

CR 343 - merges with CR 341 at .9 miles; splits off from CR 341 at 5.4 miles.

CR345 - Cedar Point; settled 1918; mainly wilderness area.

CR 351 (Eastland) - 3 separate roads of central Eastland; LDS Church and Fire Department location.

CR 353 - off CR 312 - ends 1.4 miles at farmland.

CR 354 - off CR 312 - ends 1.1 miles at abandoned homestead.

CR 366 - closed road.

CR 367 (Shupe) - off CR 312; ends 1.4 miles at farm; dirt road at .9 miles leads to CR 338 or CR 339.

CR 372 (Monument Canyon) - located 11.8 miles along CR 341; 6.5 mile road through northern section of Monument Canyon; ends at CR 348 (State Line).

CR 381 - off CR 340; ends half mile at farm.

Mary Cokenour