White Mesa Overlook
Personal Notes
This page presents our personal notes on our visit to the White Mesa Overlook in Utah.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
8:25 a.m.
Our first stop on this day was the White Mesa Overlook. The road off of Highway 191 is not signed. Take the dirt road that leaves the highway to the west (right) as you’re heading south from Blanding (GPS Coordinates (NAD83): 37 28.24N; 109 31.31W) . It is near the curve between highway markers 42 and 43. You can see marker 43 from the dirt road. The graded dirt road heads southwest, then curves to the west. Just before this curve (almost right away) there is narrow rutted road heading southwest (left). Take the rutted road, signed as Route 234.
9:09 a.m.
There are lots of old and new roads cut through the sage along this route. For the most part, stay to the left when you come to an intersection that is of the same status as the road you’re on. The road ends on a high point above a series of rocky cliffs. The point provides a panoramic view in all directions. You can see the Sleeping Ute, and parts of Monument Valley, The Comb, and Shiprock, and many other prominent features on the horizon and nearer landscape. The GPS Coordinates for this point are: 37 27.888N; 109 31.562W; at an elevation of 5,412 feet.
The road to get to this point is really rough in spots. As I said, there are lots of side roads crossing and veering off and merging into this road. On the way in, stay to the left as you come to intersections. The route is almost straight southwest. The bad condition of the road is caused by wheel ruts created when someone drove the road when it was muddy. Near the end of the road, near the overlook, it gets really rocky, with some sharp rocks protruding. Take care in this area to avoid puncturing a tire.
9:30 a.m.
It's about 4 miles from the turn off on the highway to the White Mesa Overlook.
