Wire Mesa / Smithsonian Butte Road
Region: Zion & Southwest Utah | Land Manager: BLM (St. George Field Office) | Cost: Free
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Red rock terrain representative of the Wire Mesa / Smithsonian Butte area. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Smithsonian Butte National Backcountry Byway connects Rockville, at Zion's south entrance, to Highway 59 near Hurricane, and the dispersed camping along Wire Mesa near the top gives you dramatic views over Zion's west side without fighting for a spot inside the park.
Quick Facts
| Distance from Rockville | About 20-30 minutes via Smithsonian Butte Road |
| Road & Clearance | Graded dirt/gravel byway; passable for most vehicles in dry conditions, high clearance recommended for the roughest stretch near the summit |
| Rig Suitability | Tents and vans; not recommended for large RVs or trailers |
| Amenities | None |
| Cell Signal | Limited |
| Best Season | Spring and fall |
| Stay Limit | 14 days within a 28-day period |
Map
Getting There
From Rockville, head south on Smithsonian Butte Road (also called the Smithsonian Butte National Backcountry Byway). The road climbs onto Wire Mesa before descending toward Highway 59; dispersed pull-offs cluster near the higher, more scenic stretch.
What to Expect
Sweeping views of Zion's west side, the Eagle Crags, and the Pine Valley Mountains from an open mesa top, with far fewer people than anything inside Zion National Park itself. It's a genuinely scenic drive, so expect occasional through-traffic even at your site.
Good to Know
This byway is graded but can wash out or turn rutted after storms, check conditions before heading up in a lower-clearance vehicle. Being this close to Zion's south entrance makes it a smart overflow option when the park's own campgrounds are full.
Camped with a Zion view and no hookups? A solid solar and battery setup keeps the fridge cold and the lights on without needing to drive back to town. See what an off-grid power system looks like