Utah State Route 153
Encyclopedia
State Route 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 Forest Service Byways programs.
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 9200 feet (2,804.2 m) (Utah's 5th highest paved road). Shortly after the Puffer's Lake turn-off, the pavement ends and the route reaches its highest overall elevation of over 10200 feet (3,109 m).
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).
east to Puffer's Lake was first added to the state highway system in 1927 as part of SR-21. In 1941, SR-21 was extended east from Beaver to SR-11 (US-89) at Junction. 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).
The highway's route has remained mostly unchanged since 1945, except for some minor realignments.
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.
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 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...
. 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
Utah Scenic Byways
The legislature in the U.S. state of Utah has designated a system of Utah Scenic Byways in addition to the National Scenic Byways that are defined within the state. Some of the state designated routes overlap with the federal designations...
and Forest Service Byways programs.
Route description
SR-153 starts in Beaver, UtahBeaver, Utah
Beaver is a city in Beaver County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,454 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Beaver County.Settled by Mormon pioneers in 1856, Beaver was one of a string of Mormon settlements extending the length of 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
Fishlake National Forest
Fishlake National Forest is located in south central Utah, USA. Its namesake is the largest freshwater mountain lake in the state.-Geography:...
. 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
Tushar Mountains
The Tushar Mountains are the third highest mountain range in Utah after the Uinta Mountains and the La Sal Range. Located in the Fishlake National Forest, Delano Peak, 12,174 ft NAVD 88, is the highest point in both Beaver and Piute counties and has a prominence of 4,689 ft...
. In this area, the route reaches its highest paved elevation at 9200 feet (2,804.2 m) (Utah's 5th highest paved road). Shortly after the Puffer's Lake turn-off, the pavement ends and the route reaches its highest overall elevation of over 10200 feet (3,109 m).
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
Junction, Utah
Junction is a town in and the county seat of Piute County, Utah, United States. The population was 177 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Junction is located at ....
in Piute County
Piute County, Utah
Piute County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. The population in 2000 was 1,435, and by 2005 had been estimated to decrease to 1,365. It was named for the Paiute tribe of Native Americans. The county seat is Junction and the largest city is Circleville.-Geography:According to the U.S...
. 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 BeaverBeaver, Utah
Beaver is a city in Beaver County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,454 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Beaver County.Settled by Mormon pioneers in 1856, Beaver was one of a string of Mormon settlements extending the length of Utah...
east to Puffer's Lake was first added to the state highway system in 1927 as part of SR-21. In 1941, SR-21 was extended east from Beaver to SR-11 (US-89) at Junction. 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).
The highway's route has remained mostly unchanged since 1945, except for some minor realignments.
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.