Sally: Yeah. Back then, cars came across the country a whole different way.
Lightning McQueen: How do you mean?
Sally: Well, the road didn’t cut through the land like that interstate. It moved with the land, it rose, it fell, it curved. Cars didn’t drive on it to make great time. They drove on it to have a great time.
Driving on roads I’ve never driven is enthralling! I absolutely love it when I discover something new to me. Especially when it’s in my neck of the woods, or desert I should say. So when I found out about the Smithsonian Butte National Back Country Scenic Byway, I had to drop everything and go drive it! The road is 9.25 miles long, and boy does it have fantastic views! The road connects Apple Valley to Rockville. Before the Zion Mount Carmel highway was finished, this was the route from the Grand Canyon to Zion National Park. A high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle is an absolute must for this road if you want to drive the entire thing. Which I learned the hard way. We attempted this in our Kia Soul haha. We started from Apple Valley and drove as far as we could until admitting defeat. We managed to drive most of the road, thank’s to Donovan’s mad driving skills. When the road got too rough, we simply parked the car on the side of the road and proceeded to hike around on foot. Even if you have 4 wheel drive, do not attempt this if there has been recent rainfall. The roads will be impassable. Overall this was an awesome adventure and I hope you enjoy the photos I took. If you decide to drive this road, you can make a day out if it and visit the ghost town Grafton, do some hiking, and/or check out the Yellow Man Pictograph & Petroglyph site.
