That You Were Never The Same?
Energy Loop
Huntington & Eccles Canyons
National Scenic Byway
The Energy Loop connects three canyons: Huntington, Fairview and Eccles Canyons. This byway gets its name because it’s right in the middle of Utah’s energy country.
The byway traverses the Wasatch Plateau taking you right through the panoramic Manti-LaSal National Forest.
You can actually gain access from three different directions. Highway 6 north of Colton. From the south off SR-10 in Huntington. From the west off SR-89 in Fairview using SR-31.
Prepare to reach elevations over 10,000 feet. Some of these trails were used by early Spanish explorers. And as you make the drive, try to picture the tremendous hardships faced by early coal miners, settlers, and railroad laborers.
But nowadays, The Energy Loop is a wonderful drive any time of the year. SR-31 from Fairview to Huntington is kept clear through the winter.
My father-in-law used to own a farm just off SR-89 in the town ... and I use the term loosely ... of Indianola. He rode his horse and drove his truck numerous times into these mountains.
If you start in Huntington, you may want to visit Huntington State Park. Amber-colored buttes dominate this desert oasis. With 237 acres of warm water, this local favorite lets you enjoy boating, water-skiing, swimming and fishing.
You can end your drive either in Fairview or in Scofield depending on where you start. Prepare for a variety of terrain. Sparkling high-mountain lakes. Diverse … often clashing … vegetation. And breathtaking cliffs and canyons.
Along the route, you can enjoy camping, picnicking, and fishing. The area is also an unparalleled destination for hiking, 4-wheeling, and hunting. These mountains are teeming with mule deer, elk, and an abundance of Utah Wildlife .
Many years ago, my family and I enjoyed one of our most enjoyable camping trips ever along this byway at one of the campgrounds near Electric Lake. I still remember the summer thunderstorms and intensely green vegetation of the mid-summer Manti-LaSal.
There are numerous natural lakes, streams, and man-made reservoirs along the way. You can stop and throw a fly into the beautiful Electric Lake. Or into Huntington Creek below the lake. Fish for browns, rainbows, and cutthroats. The area is a fly fishers’s paradise actually.
The byway also allows access to Scofield Reservoir State Park. Located high in the Manti-LaSal Mountains, Scofield is a year-round outdoor destination.
Camp, boat, and fish during the summer. And in the winter, enjoy ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. It’s a fabulous mountain setting. My father-in-law prefers fishing Scofield over the more-famous Strawberry Reservoir.
The drive from Huntington to Fairview is 48 miles (77.2 km). If you’re driving straight through, allow at least an hour. Plan accordingly if you want to stop along the way.
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