Utah State Route 44
Encyclopedia
State Route 44 is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of Utah
that runs from US-191 at Greendale Junction, southwest of Dutch John
, to SR-43 in Manila
. The route spans 27.99 miles (45.05 km) as it straddles the southern and western border of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
, and, along with US-191 is part of the Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway
.
The highway was established in 1927, originally going from Manila to Greendale Junction and continuing south to Vernal
. However, in 1981, the portion from Vernal to Greendale Junction was truncated in order to designate that road a part of US-191.
, southwest of Dutch John
. From there, the route heads west, continuing to straddle the southern boundary of Flaming Gorge
. The highway turns northwest, now fully entering the National Recreation Area. Past Sheep Creek Loop Road, the route begins a more unpredictable path with many twists and turns, though remaining in a general northwest direction. The route continues north, exits Flaming Gorge, and continues north for 4.5 miles (7.2 km) before terminating at SR-43 in Manila
.
, was added to the state highway system in about 1918 as a forest highway
project, completed in 1926, and numbered SR-44 in 1927. Two major realignments through the Ashley National Forest
were made in 1966 and 1971, the first moving SR-44 to the northeast between a point south of Carter Creek and near Summit Springs, and the second moving it east between a point east of Summit Springs and Sheep Creek Gap. (The east–west road past Summit Springs was only a state highway between 1966 and 1971.) The final change was in 1981, when the part of SR-44 south of Greendale Junction was renumbered as part of US-191.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
that runs from US-191 at Greendale Junction, southwest of Dutch John
Dutch John, Utah
Dutch John is a small census-designated place located in eastern Daggett County, Utah, United States, about northeast of the Flaming Gorge Dam on U.S. Route 191. The population was 145 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, to SR-43 in Manila
Manila, Utah
Manila is a small town located in at the northern edge of Daggett County, Utah, just south of the Wyoming border. The town is at the junction of State Route 43 and State Route 44, and is the county seat of Daggett County...
. The route spans 27.99 miles (45.05 km) as it straddles the southern and western border of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a United States National Recreation Area located in the states of Wyoming and Utah. The centerpiece of the recreation area is the 91 mile long Flaming Gorge Reservoir, a reservoir created by the Flaming Gorge Dam along the Green River in 1964...
, and, along with US-191 is part of the Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway
Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway
The Flaming Gorge - Uintas Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway in the state of Utah. It spans approximately as it travels from Vernal, Utah northward through the Ashley National Forest and the Uintah Mountains to the area around Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in the northeastern corner...
.
The highway was established in 1927, originally going from Manila to Greendale Junction and continuing south to Vernal
Vernal, Utah
Vernal, Uintah County's largest city, is located in eastern Utah near the Colorado State Line, and 175 miles east of Salt Lake City. It is bordered on the north by the Uinta Mountains, one of the few mountains ranges in the world which lie in an east-west rather than the usual north to south...
. However, in 1981, the portion from Vernal to Greendale Junction was truncated in order to designate that road a part of US-191.
Route description
The route begins at the junction of US-191 on the southern boundary of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation AreaFlaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a United States National Recreation Area located in the states of Wyoming and Utah. The centerpiece of the recreation area is the 91 mile long Flaming Gorge Reservoir, a reservoir created by the Flaming Gorge Dam along the Green River in 1964...
, southwest of Dutch John
Dutch John, Utah
Dutch John is a small census-designated place located in eastern Daggett County, Utah, United States, about northeast of the Flaming Gorge Dam on U.S. Route 191. The population was 145 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. From there, the route heads west, continuing to straddle the southern boundary of Flaming Gorge
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a United States National Recreation Area located in the states of Wyoming and Utah. The centerpiece of the recreation area is the 91 mile long Flaming Gorge Reservoir, a reservoir created by the Flaming Gorge Dam along the Green River in 1964...
. The highway turns northwest, now fully entering the National Recreation Area. Past Sheep Creek Loop Road, the route begins a more unpredictable path with many twists and turns, though remaining in a general northwest direction. The route continues north, exits Flaming Gorge, and continues north for 4.5 miles (7.2 km) before terminating at SR-43 in Manila
Manila, Utah
Manila is a small town located in at the northern edge of Daggett County, Utah, just south of the Wyoming border. The town is at the junction of State Route 43 and State Route 44, and is the county seat of Daggett County...
.
History
The road from SR-6 (US-40) in Vernal north to SR-43 in Manila, where one could continue to WyomingWyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, was added to the state highway system in about 1918 as a forest highway
Forest Highway
Forest Highways or Forest Routes are a category of roads within United States National Forests. They are built to connect the national forests to the existing state highway systems, and to provide improved access to recreational and logging areas....
project, completed in 1926, and numbered SR-44 in 1927. Two major realignments through the Ashley National Forest
Ashley National Forest
Ashley National Forest is a national forest located in northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming. Within the Forest’s bounds are of vast forests, lakes, and mountains, with elevations ranging from . The Forest covers portions of Utah; Duchesne; Uintah; Daggett; and Summit counties in Utah and...
were made in 1966 and 1971, the first moving SR-44 to the northeast between a point south of Carter Creek and near Summit Springs, and the second moving it east between a point east of Summit Springs and Sheep Creek Gap. (The east–west road past Summit Springs was only a state highway between 1966 and 1971.) The final change was in 1981, when the part of SR-44 south of Greendale Junction was renumbered as part of US-191.