Fremont to Duchesne City ~ Fishlake National Forest

​All that a visitor needs to do to start an interesting scenic drive in Utah is to point the car in any direction and step on the gas pedal, because there are so many panoramic landscapes to experience in this state. The most popular scenic drives tend to be in Zion, Bryce Country, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands because these places boast colorful sandstone landscapes and cobalt blue skies. Scenic drives in the western half of the state, near the Great Basin Desert and the Bonneville Salt Flats offer views of an inhospitable desert expanse that stretches out to the horizon. After spending an extended amount of time in the harsh, yet beautiful high desert red rock regions, a longing will likely occur to find familiar surroundings in a lush green landscape. By taking a drive along the eastern edge of the Fish Lake National Forest and Manti-La Sal National Forest through north central Utah, a tourist will find the rolling green hills and deep forests that dreams are made of!  

The scenic drive in today’s article goes from Capitol Reef National Park in central Utah north to either the Dinosaur National Monument or the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. Utah State Road 72 begins at the intersection of SR 24 near Fremont a few miles west of Capitol Reef. State Road 72 turns into State Road 10 north of Interstate Highway 70, then this road eventually connects with U.S. Highway 191 going north to Duchesne City, which is a hub for many points of interest. This travel route goes through some desolate areas, so it is best to map the route ahead of time because cel phone communication services are sparse in this region.  

After seeing so much of the red sandstone landscape in southern Utah, the rolling green hills that stretch out forever will create a dreamlike experience. It is as if this lush green environment was intentionally hidden for a reason. Relatively few people talk about this part of Utah and it is not often featured in travel brochures. Very few automobiles roll over this long two lane stretch of road, so this is a perfect scenic drive for those who seek some uninterrupted peace and quiet that allows the thoughts drift to places unknown.  

The description of rolling green hills in this region is really a misnomer, because the elevation of the hills actually is higher than most mountains in America.  The elevations along this travel route range from just over a mile high to almost 10,000 feet above sea level, which is a pretty high elevation for rolling green hills. The majestic views of distant lakes and forests can be seen far below in the valley from the hilltops and this confirms how high in the sky these rolling green hills are. The air is so crisp and clean that it is easy to think that this must be God’s country. This definitely is a place where the deer and the antelope roam free. 

The scenic drive from Fremont to Duchesne City and beyond is truly a pleasant experience that is well worth recommending. There are a few campsites along the way and plenty of lush green mountain meadows that are perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon picnic. The timeless nature of this scenic drive through the rolling green hills definitely will make the journey worthwhile!