Take a scenic ride through the rugged beauty of the Arizona Strip as we follow Utah Route 59 from Hurricane to the Arizona state line near Colorado City. This 22-mile journey carries us through the far southwestern edge of the Beehive State, where red rock mesas, vast desert vistas, and isolated communities mark a path shaped by resilience and natural grandeur.
Leaving Hurricane, Utah, we start our journey on UT-59 as it branches southeast from the city’s modest but growing center. Hurricane itself, part of the greater St. George area, has seen rapid development in recent years—but you wouldn’t know it once you head out of town. The landscape begins to open up almost immediately, giving way to an arid expanse dominated by sagebrush, yucca, and a rust-hued horizon. The road is smooth and gently curving as we pass through Apple Valley, a small town named more for its spirit than its orchards. Apple Valley is sparsely settled, its homes scattered across the flat desert floor with the looming Smithsonian Butte to the north—a stunning formation popular with hikers and photographers.
As we roll farther south, the highway climbs and descends subtle ridgelines, revealing ever-widening views across the Vermilion Cliffs and the Parashant Plateau in the distance. This is a quiet drive—traffic is light, and the surroundings are uninterrupted by commerce or congestion. UT-59 feels like a secret passage, threading through an often-overlooked part of the American West. The route hugs the northern edge of the Arizona Strip, a region that is geographically isolated from the rest of Arizona by the Grand Canyon and historically closer—culturally and logistically—to Utah than to Phoenix or Flagstaff.
Approaching Hildale, the terrain subtly shifts. Here, the red cliffs press closer to the highway, and the road descends toward the Utah-Arizona border. Hildale and its twin city across the line, Colorado City, are known for their complex and often controversial history tied to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Despite—or perhaps because of—its past, the town is evolving. In recent years, there’s been a slow emergence of new businesses, tourism ventures, and community events that offer a glimpse into its transformation. The presence of paved sidewalks, family-run shops, and visitors from all walks of life suggest a region in quiet transition. The nearby Water Canyon Trailhead, tucked just south of the highway, has become a local hiking favorite and an unexpected draw for those exploring the area.
Our journey ends just past Hildale at the state line, where UT-59 becomes Arizona State Route 389. The border itself is almost invisible—marked more by subtle changes in signage than any dramatic gateway. Still, there’s a sense of crossing into something new. The road continues into Fredonia, but here at the edge of Colorado City, surrounded by desert silence and distant mesas, it’s worth pausing to take in the view. The air is dry and crisp, the light golden and harsh in all the right ways. It’s a corner of the country that feels untouched and unhurried, where the highway seems to whisper stories of isolation, endurance, and deep-rooted identity.
Though short in distance, the drive from Hurricane to Colorado City via Utah Route 59 reveals a landscape both stark and stirring. It’s a route less traveled, but rich with character—ideal for those seeking a different kind of journey. One that leaves behind the bustle and instead rewards the patient eye and the curious mind with stories written into stone and silence.
🎵 Additional Music:
Piano March by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/
🗺️ Route Map
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