the highway begins just north of moab at a junction with u.s. route 191 near the southern boundary of arches national park. the road follows the north bank of the colorado river to the potash mine. the road is legislatively designated north–south, but actually serpentines for most of its length. the highway loosely parallels a spur of the denver and rio grande railroad built at the same time and for the same purpose of serving the potash mine. the route of the railroad features a tunnel that bypasses most of the serpentine bends in the colorado river between moab and the potash plant. while in the colorado river canyon, the highway passes by dinosaur footprints, indian petroglyphs and jeep trails leading to canyonlands national park and dead horse point state park. the highway also passes by three named natural arches, corona arch, bow tie arch, and jug handle arch.