Utah's seasonal roads reopen ahead of holiday weekend

SALT LAKE CITY — Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, Utah's seasonal roads are officially open for summer travel.

The Utah Department of Transportation announced Friday that Alpine Loop and Mirror Lake Highway reopened, marking the final seasonal road openings across the state this year.

This gives drivers access to popular high-elevation destinations for hiking, camping and scenic drives as the busy holiday weekend begins.

"This is the unofficial start of summer, so people are going to be out there with their campers, with their ATVs, and they want to enjoy themselves, and we want them to do that too," said UDOT spokesperson John Gleason. "Just make sure that you get there safely, pay attention to your surroundings, and understand that you may need to give yourself some extra time to reach your destination."

Officials said drivers should still be prepared for changing conditions in higher elevations, including muddy areas in some spots.

UDOT also warned drivers to expect heavier traffic and delays on highways and canyon roads throughout the holiday weekend. Real-time updates on road conditions and construction are available through the UDOT traffic app.

Other seasonal roads already open across Utah include:

• State Route 39, Monte Cristo (east of Ogden)
• State Route 65, East Canyon (northeast of Salt Lake City)
• State Route 190, Guardsman Pass (Brighton to Park City)
• State Route 224, Guardsman Pass (Park City to Summit/Wasatch County line)
• State Route 35, Wolf Creek Summit (east of Francis, Summit County, to west of Hanna, Duchesne County)
• State Route 153, Mount Holly (west of U.S. 89 in Junction, Piute County, to Puffer Lake, Beaver County)
• State Route 148, Cedar Breaks National Monument (east of Cedar City)

For updates on non-state-maintained routes, such as the Nebo Loop and Pine Canyon from Midway to Park City, UDOT advised drivers to check with the appropriate agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service.

Related topics