![Black Dragon Canyon](https://outdeezy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Black-Dragon-Canyon.jpg)
Utah has hundreds of canyons to explore. Maybe thousands. That’s why Black Dragon Canyon isn’t anything famous.
It’s awesome nonetheless.
This short 4×4 trail delivers classic Utah backcountry just off Interstate 70, fewer than 20 miles west of Green River. Look for an unmarked pullout on westbound I-70 a mile east of the San Rafael Swell lookout point. It’s OK to go through the gate, just close it behind you.
![Black Dragon Canyon Map](https://outdeezy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Black-Dragon-Canyon-Map-1024x687.png)
The entrance to the canyon is less than two miles from I-70. The trail quickly turns from desert wash to curving high rock walls, and the vibe is similar to a backcountry road through one of Utah’s famed national parks.
I’ve seen posts on message boards saying non 4-wheel drives can make it. When I was there, in July, there had been recent monsoon storms and the road was definitely not passable without a 4×4.
Black Dragon Canyon is a cut through the San Raphael Swell, a series of huge rock fins that resemble a dragon’s spine. Nearby is a worthy hiking trail with pictographs and a view of Spirit Arch.
![Utah Backcountry](https://outdeezy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Black-Dragon-Canyon-Road.jpg)
The Black Dragon route has some pictographs too. They are easy to find; just look for the low wooden fencing inside the canyon.
The road then continues out through the west end and loops back to I-70. You can also double back through the canyon for a shorter way back to I-70.
Find more off-road driving routes on Outdeezy HERE.