Not only can you drive through the La Sal mountain range, but there’s actually a scenic loop that offers a terrific tour through the peaks. The La Sal Mountain Loop Road, labeled on road signs as FR 062, takes you on a 60-mile loop over the top of the mountains before depositing you back near the town of Moab. It takes about three hours to drive the loop, although we recommend taking your time so you can really enjoy the sights.
Start your drive by heading south out of Moab on Highway 191, then turn left at the sign for Ken’s Lake and the La Sal Mountain Loop Road. You can stop at the lake if you want, or just keep going past it to head straight for the mountains.
The loop starts out in the red rock desert surrounding the mountain range, but you’ll see the scenery start to change pretty quickly as you climb to higher elevations. One of the unique features of the La Sal mountains is how dramatically they rise out of the desert, so in the blink of an eye, you can see the landscape transform from a desert to an alpine woodland.
About 15 minutes into the drive, you’ll pass the Mill Creek Recreation Area on the left. This is a great place to stop for a hike, as well as the last opportunity to visit the bathroom for a few hours. About a half-mile down the road from Mill Creek is the Oowah Lake turnoff, which we highly recommend taking. This dirt road leads to a stunning alpine lake that is ideal for hiking, fishing, and picnicking. If you haven’t had your fill of peaceful mountain lakes by this point, make sure to check out Warner Lake about two miles past the Oowah Lake turnoff.
As you make your way back down from the peaks, you’ll notice the alpine biomes making way for more desert flowers again. Before descending down into the surreal red rock landscape of Castle Valley, make sure you stop at one of the shoulders on the road to see a spectacular view of the entire Moab area.
Finally, once you’ve made it through the towering sandstone spires of Castle Valley, you’ll reach an intersection with Highway 128. Head west to get back to Moab for a well-earned dinner.
To make the most of your trip, check out our La Sal Mountains Self-Guided Driving Tour, or you can sign up for Action+ and gain access to over 100 tours for a single yearly price.
