State Route 276 (Utah)
Encyclopedia
State Route 276 is a state highway
located in southwest-central San Juan
, eastern Garfield
, and a tiny portion of northeastern Kane
counties, in the southeast of the U.S. state
of Utah
. The northern section was created in 1965 as an access road to Bullfrog Basin, while the southern section was added in 1969, but was designated SR-263 until 1985. The two are connected by the John Atlantic Burr Ferry across Lake Powell
. The ferry is the only auto ferry in a landlocked western state.
, Lake Powell
, and Glen Canyon
, SR-276 is in two sections. The two sections are connected via the John Atlantic Burr Toll Ferry. The first section runs 43 miles (69.2 km) south-southwest, from the junction of SR-95 northeast of Mount Hillers to the Colorado River and Bullfrog
(also called Bullfrog Basin). The second section runs east-northeast for 49 miles (78.9 km), from the marina and ferry at Halls Crossing
, to rejoin State Route 95 near Natural Bridges National Monument
. The northern section of SR-276 passes through the tiny community of Ticaboo
along the way. The state of Utah's administrative portion of the highway ends at the boundary of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
(northern portion 35 miles (56.3 km), southern portion 36 miles). The U.S. Department of the Interior maintains the road surface within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
. The original planned alignment followed an existing unpaved county road, beginning at the former alignment of SR-95 at Trachyte Junction (roughly 38.038°N 110.623°W) and heading generally south to the junction of Shitamaring Creek and Lost Spring Wash. The proposed road continued down Shitamaring Creek and Hansen Creek to the recreation boundary. However, when built in the late 1960s, the final route was east of the existing county road, only joining the initial proposal along Hansen Creek south of Ticaboo
.
State Route 263 was created by the state legislature in 1969, connecting the recreation area near Halls Crossing
with SR-95 near Natural Bridges National Monument
. This was an existing county road, only requiring minor realignments west of Red House Spring. Ferry service between Bullfrog Basin and Halls Crossing began in 1985, and that year SR-276 was extended to absorb SR-263 for continuity.
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...
located in southwest-central San Juan
San Juan County, Utah
As of the current census of 2010, there were 14,746 people and 4,505 households. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 50.4% Native American, 45.8% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% African American and 2.3% reporting two or more races...
, eastern Garfield
Garfield County, Utah
Garfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000 the population was 4,735. It was named for James A. Garfield, President of the United States in 1881. Its county seat and largest city is Panguitch.-Geography:...
, and a tiny portion of northeastern Kane
Kane County, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,046 people, 2,237 households, and 1,628 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 3,767 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
counties, in the southeast of 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...
. The northern section was created in 1965 as an access road to Bullfrog Basin, while the southern section was added in 1969, but was designated SR-263 until 1985. The two are connected by the John Atlantic Burr Ferry across Lake Powell
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is a huge reservoir on the Colorado River, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona . It is the second largest man-made reservoir in the United States behind Lake Mead, storing of water when full...
. The ferry is the only auto ferry in a landlocked western state.
Route description
Separated by the Colorado RiverColorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
, Lake Powell
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is a huge reservoir on the Colorado River, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona . It is the second largest man-made reservoir in the United States behind Lake Mead, storing of water when full...
, and Glen Canyon
Glen Canyon
Glen Canyon is a canyon that is located in southeastern and south central Utah and northwestern Arizona within the Vermilion Cliffs area. It was carved by the Colorado River....
, SR-276 is in two sections. The two sections are connected via the John Atlantic Burr Toll Ferry. The first section runs 43 miles (69.2 km) south-southwest, from the junction of SR-95 northeast of Mount Hillers to the Colorado River and Bullfrog
Bullfrog, Utah
Bullfrog Basin Marina is a small unincorporated community on the shores of Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area of Kane County, Utah, United States. Bullfrog is a popular place on Lake Powell for tourists, fishermen, and outdoor enthusiasts due to its marina and local...
(also called Bullfrog Basin). The second section runs east-northeast for 49 miles (78.9 km), from the marina and ferry at Halls Crossing
Halls Crossing, Utah
Halls Crossing is a census-designated place in San Juan County, Utah, United States. The population was six at the 2010 Census. State Route 276 crosses the Colorado River at Halls Crossing using the Charles Hall Ferry.-Geography:...
, to rejoin State Route 95 near Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located about north west of the Four Corners boundary of southeast Utah, in the western United States, at the junction of White Canyon and Armstrong Canyon, part of the Colorado River drainage...
. The northern section of SR-276 passes through the tiny community of Ticaboo
Ticaboo, Utah
Ticaboo is an unincorporated community in far southeastern Garfield County, Utah, United States. It lies along State Route 276 more than by air east of the city of Panguitch, the county seat of Garfield County. Its elevation is 4,265 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post...
along the way. The state of Utah's administrative portion of the highway ends at the boundary of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a recreation and conservation unit of the National Park Service that encompasses the area around Lake Powell and lower Cataract Canyon in Utah and Arizona, covering 1,254,429 acres of mostly desert...
(northern portion 35 miles (56.3 km), southern portion 36 miles). The U.S. Department of the Interior maintains the road surface within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
History
The State Road Commission designated SR-276 in 1965, linking SR-95 with the Bullfrog Basin portion of the new Glen Canyon National Recreation AreaGlen Canyon National Recreation Area
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a recreation and conservation unit of the National Park Service that encompasses the area around Lake Powell and lower Cataract Canyon in Utah and Arizona, covering 1,254,429 acres of mostly desert...
. The original planned alignment followed an existing unpaved county road, beginning at the former alignment of SR-95 at Trachyte Junction (roughly 38.038°N 110.623°W) and heading generally south to the junction of Shitamaring Creek and Lost Spring Wash. The proposed road continued down Shitamaring Creek and Hansen Creek to the recreation boundary. However, when built in the late 1960s, the final route was east of the existing county road, only joining the initial proposal along Hansen Creek south of Ticaboo
Ticaboo, Utah
Ticaboo is an unincorporated community in far southeastern Garfield County, Utah, United States. It lies along State Route 276 more than by air east of the city of Panguitch, the county seat of Garfield County. Its elevation is 4,265 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post...
.
State Route 263 was created by the state legislature in 1969, connecting the recreation area near Halls Crossing
Halls Crossing, Utah
Halls Crossing is a census-designated place in San Juan County, Utah, United States. The population was six at the 2010 Census. State Route 276 crosses the Colorado River at Halls Crossing using the Charles Hall Ferry.-Geography:...
with SR-95 near Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located about north west of the Four Corners boundary of southeast Utah, in the western United States, at the junction of White Canyon and Armstrong Canyon, part of the Colorado River drainage...
. This was an existing county road, only requiring minor realignments west of Red House Spring. Ferry service between Bullfrog Basin and Halls Crossing began in 1985, and that year SR-276 was extended to absorb SR-263 for continuity.