Utah highways 14 or 143 with travel trailer?

[edwardo37]

We'll be going from the Cedar City, UT area on I-15 to Hwy 12 (Bryce Canyon) pulling a 30' travel trailer this May. I'd like to take one of these scenic routes (14 or 143) over the mountains to Hwy. 89. Neither looks too curvy on Google Earth, but I don't know about grades. If I take my time, would either of these two roads be ok pulling a trailer? Sounds like the western slopes are steeper than the eastern ones, so I'd be going up the steeper side. I'd also like to camp a couple of nights on one of these highways; maybe Cedar Breaks, Panguitch Lake, or Navajo Lake areas. Are either of these two routes doable? I've traveled lots of mountainous roads and am not squeamish. Thanks for your help.

[twogypsies]

If you're used to driving mountains you're 27' rig will probably be O.K. Are you comfortable with your braking ability?

However, Hwy 14 is a very steep and curvy road - 8% grades, 25 mph curves, 10,000' summit which is 18 miles east of Cedar City. The eastbound descent has 6-8% grades and one section is 3-1/2 miles long and another is 4 miles long.

Hwy 143 heading east is a warning sign "13% uphill grades - not recommended for trailers."

The best highway to cross from I-15 to 89 in that area is Hwy 20. It's an easy drive.

[MRUSA14]

Bryce could be under a lot of snow in May if you aren't lucky.

[edwardo37]

How is 143 east of the Cedar Breaks area? Looks like the worst part of 143 is west of Brian Head.

[twogypsies]

Hwy 143 heading east is a warning sign "13% uphill grades - not recommended for trailers."

[GraciesDaddy]

Watching the "Mountain Trip" scene (again!) in "The Long, Long Trailer," I would say NO!

Then again, that was the 1950's, your trailer is WAY smaller than Lucy's & Desi's and the roads are WAY better now.

Just adhere to the tried-and-true Mountain Driving Rule #1: Go down the hill at the same speed you went up the hill... And you'll be OK.