05/19/2026
Today marks the beginning of a historic new chapter for Hole-in-the-Rock Road.
For more than 70 years, Garfield County has maintained this road through some of the harshest conditions in Southern Utah. For over 16 years, the County has fought for the ability to make long-term improvements that would finally provide a safer, more reliable surface for the public.
Every year, Garfield County has spent roughly $150,000 just trying to keep the road passable. Despite those efforts, Hole-in-the-Rock has continued to be known as one of the roughest roads in the county. Long dry summers make regular grading nearly impossible because moisture is needed to properly maintain the surface. The result has been washboards, dust, rough driving conditions, and constant deterioration.
Starting today, that changes.
This week, Garfield County will complete approximately 10 miles of chip seal beginning at the Highway 12 junction, with hopes to continue improving additional sections of the road in the coming years.
Chip sealing this road will allow us to finally preserve a stable driving surface, reduce maintenance costs over time, improve safety, reduce dust, and provide a much better experience for residents and visitors alike while remaining within the existing disturbed roadway.
Projects like this do not happen overnight. They take years of persistence, coordination, and hard work.
We want to thank our current and past County Commissioners, the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office (PLPCO), the Governor’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the Utah Legislature, neighboring counties who stood with us, and especially our Garfield County Road Department crews who are out there right now making this project happen.
Hole-in-the-Rock Road is more than just a road. It is part of Garfield County’s history, heritage, and future.
