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NEWS RELEASE
September 29, 2005
Contact: Tracie Cayford, (801) 538-8777
Utah’s Trail of the Ancients Designated National Scenic Byway
Seven National Scenic Byways Available for Motorists in Utah
Salt Lake City – Utah’s Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway has won top honors from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. On September 22, 2005, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta named the route a “National Scenic Byway,” one of America’s elite roads in terms of scenic, cultural and archeological significance.
‘The Trail of the Ancients features cultural sites and breathtaking scenery in the Four Corners region,” says Leigh von der Esch, director of the Utah Office of Tourism. “The national designation brings the total number of National Scenic Byways in Utah to seven, providing beautiful drives from the northern to southern end of the state.”
Trail of the Ancients follows a trade route established a thousand years ago and used by the Anasazi tribe. Utah’s portion of the Trail is defined by Highways 95, 191, 163, and 262 in San Juan County. Landmarks along the way are Natural Bridges National Monument, Goosenecks State Park, Grand Gulch, Edge of the Cedars State Park, Monument Valley, Hovenweep National Monument and Four Corners.
“The original Trail was longer, traveling a loop through the present day Four Corner states,” says Margaret Godfrey, Utah State Scenic Byway Coordinator. “We’re working closely with Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona to someday achieve national designation for all four states – a seamless, four-state Trail of the Ancients. This year, Utah and Colorado received the designation, and we’re already working on multi-state marketing plans.”
Utah’s Trail of the Ancients was one of 45 roads given national recognition by Secretary Mineta at the recent “America’s Byways Designation Event” in Washington, D.C. All were described as defining the “heart and soul” of America. More than 150 of the nation’s byway leaders attended the event, as well as a workshop on how to utilize the new designation to increase economic development along their byways.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to bring economic benefit to San Juan County,” says Peggy Humphreys, director of San Juan County Community Development/Visitor Services. “Businesses should feel free to use the Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway logo and reference the Trail of the Ancients when advertising their business.”
“I am looking forward to the day when Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway will extend into all Four Corner states,” says Cleal Bradford, executive director of Four Corners Heritage Council. “Thereafter it will define the proposed geographical setting for a Trail of the Ancients National Heritage Area.” Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah has introduced a bill (S.1414) to initiate a three-year study of the proposed National Heritage Area.
Trail of the Ancients joins six previously named National Scenic Byways in Utah. The others are Logan Canyon, Nebo Loop, Huntington-Eccles Canyon, Flaming Gorge-Uintas, Dinosaur Diamond and Highway 12 All-American Road.
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