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I have read that the drive up to Cedar Mesa has a dirt portion. How is that road on passenger cars?

Took my 1989 Dodge Caravan minivand with bad rings up the Mokee Dugway about 3 years ago. It was fun! If you go in the other way, off 95, not very far at all on the dirt, but you'd miss all the fun. I went to Mexican Hat to look at the river, then up toward the Dugway, saw the Goosenecks, then up the Dugway to Cedar Mesa. Had time to kill before meeting friends, so went to Natural Bridges NM for a hike. All in one day, having left Springerville early in the morning. We camped in the parking lot of the ranger station since they got there at night.

I saw nice new cars on the Dugway, and even motorhomes, which I guess aren't really recommended.

I remember when the Kane Gulch Ranger Station was a small trailer and you sat outside and talked to the ranger. I remember when that dugway was narrower in sections too. ---SIGH-----
I remember signing yourself in at TH's, no advance permits, and walking in for a same day no problem. Oh well---

Dirt section up the Moki Dugway is decent for cars. Went up it in a Mustang GT and Jetta station wagon (in a blizzard no less) so even if you are driving a lowered Metro it is passable.

RedRoxx44 wrote:I remember when the Kane Gulch Ranger Station was a small trailer and you sat outside and talked to the ranger.

I suppose they didn't have such a great selection of books back then, either. I'm still kicking myself for not stocking up.

big_load wrote:I suppose they didn't have such a great selection of books back then, either. I'm still kicking myself for not stocking up.

I have the same sentiments.

rdavisiii wrote:I have read that the drive up to Cedar Mesa has a dirt portion. How is that road on passenger cars?

It's not so much how it is on cars, but how it is on riders. You should have no problem at all. Just watch for that white Nissan 4-door NISMO - a crazy woman drives it

Just came back from Cedar Mesa down the dugway (went up the dugway as well). The road is in fine shape - suitable for any type of vehicle. I even saw 2 harleys on their way up.
If you for some reason need to avoid dirt driving altogether, merely take the route in from Monticello. Remember, though, that most all the trailheads on CM will have varying degrees of dirt access, some can be rough, although hitchhiking up on CM goes very well).

Yeah, the road into the Government trail gets ugly pretty quickly in a passenger car. I got my minivan pretty far in there, though! Poor old minivan. Wish the rings hadn't worn out...loved that thing...

Thanks for the info. Ended up in the jeep and saw first hand I could have taken a lowered pinto if I wanted. What a place! I cannot wait to go back there again. The roads down to Collins and Bullet where tame, I think a normal car could make both with little issue. Next time I think I will hike down stream instead of up stream.

We walked down Bullet but not far enough to see all the kivas.

azbackpackr wrote:all the kivas

This is just so tantalizing! "All the kivas" and rljamy's triplog comment on the multiplicity of ruins. I may have to try again this fall instead of next spring.

hikeaz wrote:Just came back from Cedar Mesa down the dugway (went up the dugway as well). The road is in fine shape - suitable for any type of vehicle. I even saw 2 harleys on their way up.
If you for some reason need to avoid dirt driving altogether, merely take the route in from Monticello. Remember, though, that most all the trailheads on CM will have varying degrees of dirt access, some can be rough, although hitchhiking up on CM goes very well).

How about a trip report on Owl Creek?

Owl Creek/Fish loop is very nice and beautiful canyons but most of the ruins are up high, a neat little ruin a little down owl's slickrock steps.
Many special places on the Cedar Mesa.