NPS - J. Axel 
Motorists may be unaware of how remote this monument is. Please read this critical safety information about vehicle and road safety, including the difference between a high clearance 4x4 and a very high clearance 4x4. This way you are well prepared for your Parashant adventure. At a minimum most roads in the monument should be explored with a high clearance vehicle with all-terrain tires in good condition. Four wheel drive is often needed in sand and loose rock sections of road, or if it rains. Some roads are more difficult and need very high clearance 4x4s and UTVs. A few roads are so rough or have such tight turns only UTVs can travel on them. See Road Descriptions for specific difficulty ratings by road number. Mt. Trumbull Scenic Loop Drive This is the most popular scenic drive in the monument and usually appropriate for any high clearance four wheel drive vehicle. The road between the Trumbull Schoolhouse and Mt. Trumbull is usually impassible December - February due to snow, ice, and mud above 5,500 feet elevation. It leads from St. George, Utah to Mt. Trumbull and Toroweap and ends at Pipe Spring National Monument. Twin Point Scenic Grand Canyon Overlook This is one of the more popular scenic drives. It is usually appropriate for any high clearance four wheel drive vehicle. Longbed crewcab pickups will have difficulty on some tight turns near Twin Point as the road winds through the pinyon trees. The road is usually impassible December - February due to snow, ice, and mud. Pakoon Springs and the Historic Tassi Ranch This is a great 4x4 drive from October - April to explore the Pakoon Basin and two of its largest springs at Pakoon and Tassi, as well as the historic ranch ruin at Tassi. This area is not recommended in summer due to extreme temperatures often in excess of 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius). Grand Gulch Mine This is a destination of choice for those seeking the ruins of an extensive mining operation. All high clearance 4x4 vehicles should be able to reach this site most of the year unless Upper Pigeon Canyon has flooded in the monsoon season. The road is sometimes impassible December - February due to snow, ice, and mud. Whitmore Canyon Overlook and Whitmore Point Most high clearance 4x4s can make the drive from the Mt. Trumbull Schoolhouse to Whitmore Canyon Overlook deep in the Grand Canyon. Bedrock steps on the way to Whitmore Point make this road impassible to some stock pickups and SUVs. The road to Frog Springs is only for very high clearance vehicles. Tires need to be rugged and in good condition to handle miles of sharp lava or limestone rocks on these roads. Tweeds Point This is a scenic rim view in the northern Grand Wash Cliffs that looks down into colorful Hidden Canyon and across the broad Pakoon Basin. This drive is for most high clearance 4x4 vehicles except crew cab longbed pickups. Kelly Point This one is for very high clearance 4x4s and UTVs only. The road leads to one of the most isolated and beautiful views into the western reaches of the Grand Canyon. UTVs strongly recommended. The road is gated and closed to motorized vehicles December through early March. Parashant Canyon - Copper Mountain Mine This one is also for very high clearance 4x4s and UTVs only. Drive deep into the Grand Canyon on this route. Extreme dropoffs in Trail Canyon and extremely rough roads to Copper Mountain Mine. Snap Point Stunning views from the westernmost viewpoint on the north rim of the Grand Canyon are guaranteed here. The 1680 road off the 1012 road is recommended for very high clearance 4x4s and UTVs only. High clearance 4x4s can make it the first two miles to the first viewpoint but should not proceed further toward Snap Point. Inaccessible in winter due to snow and ice. |
Last updated: June 20, 2023