Ut20 Summit: jct I15 - jct US89
This summit on US20 is one of those practical roads. It
takes advantage of a low spot between the high plateaus of
the south and the more alpine looking Tusher Mountains to
the north, in order to breach it with large radius curves
or straight stretches. Given all this, it comes as a
surprise that it has a through going comfortable shoulder
to ride on, so that it makes a great work out ride with a
few nice dessert mountain views in the process. The
highest point is marked with summit and elevation signs
and is shown with a pass symbol on old Touraide maps.
click on profile for more detail |
1.(5910ft,mile00) START-END
WEST: junction I70 - Ut 20
2.(7920ft,mile10) TOP
3.(7020ft,mile14) F77 summit (dirt road) to
Paragonah joins from right
4.(6470ft,mile21) START-END EAST: junction with
US89, Bear Valley Junction |
 Approaches
From West. Ut20 heads perpendicular to I15 straight
for the Juniper hills above. The 8600ft Black Mountains across
the valley quickly become smaller. In a high sagebrush valley
the southernmost alpine peaks of the Tusher Mountains can be
seen on the horizon. After that it's back into the junipers,
gently curving to the top via several false summits.
From East. Bear Valley Junction is a spot containing
plenty of evidence of sombody's previous ambition to
capitalize on passing motorists: a boarded restaurant, a gas
station with the pumps removed, a billboard with a picture of
rotten wood. There is even more. Two crosses, the size
of Mack Trucks, memorialize two police officers who died
in traffic accidents. They are adorned with the Utah beehive
symbol. This is the starting point of the profile. After the
initial warm up climb a few nice finger like rocks point
skywards. They look even nicer when descending the other way
with the Sevier Plateau in the background. When the Little
Creek dirt road deviates to the left, so does Bear Creek,
which the road has followed so far hidden in the sage. From
here the final traverse to the summit can be seen. It becomes
evident that there are several more false summits and hidden
sections when actually riding it.
Tours
Dayrides. (paved) An out and back ride over the
entire route shown on the profile, ie. from its junction with
I15 to the junction with US89, measured 42 miles with 3700ft
of climbing in 3:5 hours. (m3:06.09.29).
(paved+unpaved): A loop ride starting at the junction with
I15, going over this summit, and then turning onto FR077
summit: jctUt20 - Paragonah, returning via I70 measured 62
miles with 4300ft of climbing in 5:2 hours. (m3:06.10.02).
History. The
road was constructed after WWII. It replaced the FR077
summit as main route over the mountains.
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Utah's summits and passes
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