Utah State Route 279

State Route 279
Potash-Lower Colorado Scenic Byway
Route information
Maintained by UDOT
Length	15.178 mi[1] (24.427 km)
Existed	1960–present
Major junctions
South end	Potash mine along Colorado River
North end	US-191 near Moab
Location
Country	United States
State	Utah
Highway system
Utah State Highway System Interstate US State Minor Scenic
← SR-276 → SR-280

State Route 279 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Utah. The highway was constructed in 1962–1963 to service the Cane Creek potash mine and processing plant southwest of Moab. The highway was named one of the most beautiful highways opened to traffic in 1963. The entire length of SR-279 has been designated the Potash – Lower Colorado River Scenic Byway by the Utah State Legislature,^[2] however is known locally as Potash Road.^[3]

This highway was intended to be part of a longer highway, State Route 278, that was to scale the canyon walls between Moab and Dead Horse Point State Park. Only the connection to the potash mine was constructed before the project was cancelled. Although the highway was constructed to aid the mining industry of southeastern Utah, the road is popular with tourists and four wheel drive enthusiasts. The jeep trails beginning where SR-279 ends are used to access Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point.