The Smokey Mountain Road is the longest of the backcountry byways that cross through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. For the most part, it crosses the Kaiparowits Plateau, providing good views of diverse scenery. The trail maintains good standard as it winds along the face of Nipple Bench, underneath tall cliffs and through a mix of badlands scenery. Kelly Grade seems insurmountable from the distance, but following the trail to the top will leave you with breathtaking views both to the south and the west. Once on top, the trail takes you through several deep canyons, including Drip Tank Canyon, Last Chance Creek and Dry Wash. The northern end of the trail travels through Alvey Wash Valley, a long, wide, flat-bottomed, sagebrush-covered valley, which gradually gets narrower until it becomes a high-walled rock canyon. Smokey Mountain Road is an overnight trip, with a total distance of 143.6 miles. Make sure you don't forget the camera; you'll be kicking yourself if you do.