After a backpacking trip in the Colorado Canyons in May of 2002 I decided to take the back way to Moab. I knew that it would be faster in the long run than going back towards Grand Junction and on to Interstate 70. I also knew that I would have to cross the Dolores River eventually, but did not know the condition of the river. There was always a chance that the river would be impassable. Keep this in mind if you do the drive without knowing the river condition.

The photo to the left shows the view looking to the west from the Utah- Colorado border on Triangle Road. The road is barley visible in the middle of the photo winding towards the Dolores River. The escarpment on the horizon is at the bank of the Colorado River near Dewey Bridge.






From the Jones Canyon trailhead I drove back to Road D.S. 00. (If you need directions from Grand Junction, visit our Colorado Canyons page.) This is the road that will take you to Dewey Bridge. At the Utah border the road turns to dirt and becomes Triangle Road. You will be on dirt till you reach Dewey Bridge. This is not an offroad drive at all. The road when I was last on it was well maintained and well traveled. The only obstacle is the Dolores River. Once you near the river you will see evidence of mining operations. Continue traveling to the right and you will drop down to the river. There may be another river ford to the left which takes you toward Fisher Towers. I have not driven this stretch, it may be a more serious off road drive. When you reach the river be sure to scout it out. The main channel can shift and it will always be deeper on the outside, which will be across from you at this point.

This photo shows the Dolores River as I found it at the crossing in May of 2002. I found plenty of tracks going into the river on that trip. It was an easy ford. I have visited this location many times since then and found the river high and uncrossable a number of times, without indication that anyone had forded it recently.