State Route 14

As Utah 14 ascends from Cedar City (elevation 5,800 feet) to Midway Summit (elevation 9,896 feet), it passes through some dramatic scenery including several tall cliffs, mountain terrain, and alpine forests. This area is part of the Dixie National Forest, which includes several discontinuous units in southern Utah.

10/25/03

The first major junction along eastbound Utah 14 since leaving Cedar City is with Utah 148. Utah 148 leads north through Cedar Breaks National Monument, then connects with Utah 143. Utah 143 leads northwest to meet Interstate 15 at Parowan and east to meet U.S. 89 in Panguitch.

10/25/03

Eastbound Utah 14 at Utah 148. Utah 148 is closed in winter due to seasonal snowfall, thus making Cedar Breaks National Monument inaccessible at that time.

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Utah 14 east and scenic byway shield after the Utah 148 intersection in the heart of Dixie National Forest.

10/25/03

This alpine meadow is part of the flat top of the Markagunt Plateau, and it is surrounded by trees. The deciduous trees in the forest are not dead; they have already lost all of their leaves in anticipation of winter. Since this was a dry autumn, no snow was present yet in the meadow or forest. That changed shortly after we departed this area.

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View of the entrance to the Duck Creek campground, which is located near a cluster of seasonal cottages and cabins that constitute the closest thing to a settlement along Utah 14 between Cedar City and Long Valley Junction.

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After passing through the Duck Creek area, Utah 14 begins its descent from the Markagunt Plateau and prepares to reach the Sevier River Valley. The reddish soil and colorful landscape abounds for the rest of Utah 14, and it continues in places such as Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park.

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Eastbound Utah 14 approaches its junction with U.S. 89 in Long Valley Junction. U.S. 89 leads south to Kanab (and Zion National Park) and north to Panguitch and Bryce Canyon National Park.

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In 2003, the end Utah 14 east shield was flanked by two U.S. 89 shields, one for each direction. This changed by 2009. The scenic byway continues in both directions along U.S. 89.

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07/31/09

The Utah Scenic Byway shield that seems to be present on nearly every highway in Southern Utah, considering that nearly every road leads to a scenic area or park.

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Utah 14 begins westbound from U.S. 89 in Long Valley Junction. These pictures show the first west Utah 14 shields.

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Westbound Utah 14 is a treacherous route over the Markagunt Plateau, with steep inclines (8%) and tight curves, especially on the descent into Cedar City.

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Due to the dry summer and autumn, the fire danger is high. The same conditions permeated through the entire Southwest in Fall 2003. Late on the same day that this photo was taken, a small fire began near the town of Ramona, California. That fire grew into the conflagration known as the Cedar Fire, which burned through 300,000 acres and over 3,000 structures before being contained. A similar fire of like proportions could have occurred here too, given the dry conditions.

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Mileage sign on westbound Utah 14 for Cedar Breaks National Monument and Cedar City.

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At the meadows at the top of the Markagunt Plateau, elevations can reach above 10,000 feet. Snow is common, and we were fortunate to be able to pass over the summit with minimal weather-related intrusions this late in the season.

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Snow is only plowed during daylight hours over the Markagunt Plateau.

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Signage for Navajo Lake along Utah 14. Navajo Lake drains into the Colorado River Basin, while nearby Duck Creek drains into the Sevier River drainage, which is part of the Great Basin. Utah 14 forms a divide of sorts, with drainage to the south generally flowing into the Virgin River and drainage to the north flowing into the Sevier River (with some exceptions closer to Long Valley Junction).

10/25/03

Navajo Lake, which feeds the North Fork of the Virgin River, is visible from this turnout on the south side of westbound Utah 14 near Duck Creek.

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View of Utah 14 west as seen from the meadow on top of the Markagunt Plateau just east of the Utah 148 intersection.

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From this turnout on Utah 14 before reaching Midway Summit on Markagunt Plateau, Zion National Park, the Kolob Plateau and Canyons, and Black Mountain are visible, thus offering dramatic scenery.

10/25/03