The Scariest Bridge In Utah Will Make Your Stomach Drop
By Catherine Armstrong|Published June 11, 2017
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Utah definitely has some white-knuckle canyons, with twists, turns and steep drop-offs. But, we have very few really scary bridges. Here’s one that might make you weak in the knees – especially if you’re afraid of heights.
Hell's Backbone Road is a 38-mile loop that takes you from Boulder to Escalante. In dry weather, this graded, gravel road is suitable for cars, and the scenery is incredible.
The bridge is only 14 feet wide, so if you're facing down a big RV coming toward you, you'll want to pull over and wait your turn. The 109-foot-long bridge was built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. You can see that the bridge basically just sits on columns of rock that tower up from the gully below.
To be honest, if you're driving in a small car, this bridge isn't too scary. You can't really see over the edge as you're driving. But...if you're in an RV or a high-profile vehicle, it's pretty nerve-wracking. It's 1,500 feet down, on either side.
If you take this bridge, you've got to hop out and get a look over the edge. If another car is trying to cross, go all the way across the bridge - there's room to park safely on either side.
It’s hard to get an idea of just how far down it is on either side of this bridge. Take a look at this video posted on YouTube by Dave Clark. It’s a little shaky, but you’ll see some good shots of the ravine below the bridge.
Have you driven across Hell’s Backbone Bridge? When I did it, I was a little nervous…how about you?
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