Moki Dugway
Mexican Hat, UT
A graded gravel section of Utah 261 that climbs 340 m up the face of Cedar Mesa in tight switchbacks. Signs advise against vehicles over 10,000 lb or 28 ft; the pullouts at the top overlook Valley of the Gods.
The Moki Dugway is an unpaved stretch of Utah State Route 261 near Mexican Hat that climbs the cliff face of Cedar Mesa in tight switchbacks. The roughly 5-kilometre (3-mile) section gains about 365 metres (1,200 feet) at grades of up to 11 percent. The rest of the route is paved.
The road was built in the 1950s to haul uranium ore from the Happy Jack mine on Cedar Mesa to a processing plant near Mexican Hat. The Ancestral Puebloans did not build the road, but they cut "Moki steps", hand and footholds, into nearby cliffs. From the bends you look out over Valley of the Gods and as far as Monument Valley.
Cars can drive the dugway. The BLM recommends it only for vehicles under 28 feet (8.5 metres) and 10,000 pounds (4.5 tonnes), so it is not intended for large motorhomes. Check conditions beforehand after heavy weather. At the top, an unpaved track leads left to Muley Point (about 8 kilometres), with no guardrails and no facilities.
- Nearest town
- Mexican Hat, UT
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 37.2750, -109.9400
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. Hot in July. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Coral Sands RV ParkMotorhome stopover20 mi from Moki DugwayMotorhomesWi-Fi
- Cottonwood RV ParkMotorhome stopover21 mi from Moki Dugway · 22 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWi-Fi
- Monument Valley KOAMotorhome stopover21 mi from Moki DugwayMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Monument Valley CampgroundMotorhome stopover23 mi from Moki DugwayMotorhomes
- Natural Bridges CampgroundCampsite23 mi from Moki DugwayTents
- Goulding's RV Park & CampgroundsCampsite24 mi from Moki DugwayTents
All campsites in Utah · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Moki Dugway?
Moki Dugway is in Mexican Hat, UT, at GPS 37.2750, -109.9400. It is about 21 mi from Bluff.
Can you camp near Moki Dugway?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Goosenecks State Park Campground, about 7 mi away; within 25 mi there are 35 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Moki Dugway?
Moki Dugway is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Southeast Utah: Needles, Valley of the Gods and Moki Dugway.
What is there to see near Moki Dugway?
Places worth a stop nearby: Valley of the Gods (5 mi), Goosenecks State Park (7 mi), Monument Valley (21 mi) and Natural Bridges National Monument (23 mi).
When is the best time to visit Moki Dugway?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)