Utah State Route 153

For the former highway, see Utah State Route 153 (1933-1945).

State Route 153 marker

State Route 153
Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway
Route information
Defined by Utah Code §72-4-121
Maintained by UDOT
Length: 40.488 mi[1] (65.159 km)
Existed: 1945[2] – present
Major junctions
West end: SR-160 in Beaver
East end: US-89 in Junction
Location
Counties: Beaver
Piute
Highway system
← SR-152SR-154 →

State Route 153 (SR-153) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Utah. Just over half of the western portion of the highway has been designated the Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway as part of the Utah Scenic Byways and National Forest Scenic Byways programs.

Route description

SR-153 starts in Beaver, Utah as a surface street named 200 North at its intersection with SR-160 (Main Street). After approximately 3 miles (4.8 km), it enters Beaver Canyon alongside Beaver River, and after another 1.5 miles (2.4 km), it enters Fishlake National Forest. Continuing up the canyon, the route passes Three Creeks Reservoir, Elk Meadows Ski Resort, and Puffer's Lake as it climbs into the Tushar Mountains. In this area, the route reaches its highest paved elevation at 9,200 feet (2,800 m) (Utah's 5th highest paved road).[3] Shortly after the Puffer's Lake turn-off, the pavement ends[1] and the route reaches its highest overall elevation of over 10,200 feet (3,100 m).[4]

After this peak, the route turns south for a few miles before resuming its general eastward direction. As it descends from the mountains, it follows City Creek down the canyon. Once out of the canyon, the route turns southeast towards the town of Junction, Utah in Piute County. As it enters the town, it turns due east to merge with Center Street until its western terminus at US-89 (Main Street).

History

The road from Beaver east to Puffer's Lake was first added to the state highway system in 1927 as part of SR-21.[5] In 1941, SR-21 was extended east from Beaver to SR-11 (US-89) at Junction.[6] In 1945, the road from Beaver to Junction was split off from SR-21 and designated as SR-153, reusing the newly vacated route number (former SR-153 was absorbed by SR-68 that same year).[2]

The highway's route has remained mostly unchanged since 1945, except for some minor realignments.[7]

SR-153 was designated the Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway, a Utah Scenic Byway on April 6, 1990, and subsequently designated a National Forest Service Byway on February 6, 1991.[8]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
BeaverBeaver0.0000.000 SR-160Western terminus
 21.29434.269Begin unpaved portionEnd of portion designated as scenic byway
Piute 34.81556.029Pavement resumes
Junction40.48865.159 US-89Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. 1 2 3 "State Route 153 Highway reference" (PDF). Utah Department of Transportation. September 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  2. 1 2 Utah State Legislature (1945). Chapter 61: State Roads and Routes. Session Laws of Utah. Route 153. From Beaver on route 1 easterly via Puffer Lake to Junction City on route 11.
  3. ↑ Arave, Lynn (2007-03-22). "Enjoy Utah's scenic heights from your car". Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah). Retrieved 2010-08-30. 5. (tie) U-153, Beaver Canyon to Elk Meadows and U-12, Boulder to Torrey, both about 9,200 feet above sea level.
  4. ↑ Delano Peak, UT (Map). 1:24,000. 7.5 minute (Topographic). United States Geological Survey. 1981.
  5. ↑ Utah State Legislature (1927). Chapter 21: Designation of State Roads. Session Laws of Utah. 21. From Beaver westerly via Milford, Newhouse and Garrison to the Nevada State line; also from Beaver easterly to Puffer's lake.
  6. ↑ Utah State Legislature (1941). Chapter 34. Session Laws of Utah. Route 21. From Beaver westerly via Milford, Frisco and Garrison to the Utah-Nevada state line; also from Beaver easterly via Puffer's Lake to junction with route 11 at Junction City.
  7. ↑ "State Route 153 Resolutions" (PDF). Utah Department of Transportation. November 2008. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  8. ↑ "Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway (U-153) Official Designations". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
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