Smithsonian Butte Scenic Backway:

This is considered a scenic backway (dirt road) but is passable by regular automobile at any time other than heavy rain or snow (rare). The road can be entered either from Scenic Highway 9 at the town of Rockville or on the other end from Scenic Highway 59 near the community of Apple Valley .

From Rockville you enter this backway by taking Old Bridge Rd (northeast end of town) - toward Grafton (turn south on this road - the road will curve to the west). The historic town of Grafton is just a couple of miles due west and is an off-shoot of the main road. Be sure to visit Grafton cemetery to see the grave markers and learn a little about the history of the town. Go into the town and see some of the original old structures. Most impressive is the old school-house. Grafton is the place where part of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford and Paul Newman) was filmed. The scene of Newman riding Redford 's girlfriend on a bike (double) was filmed here.  

Go back to the east approximately one mile or less and turn uphill (southwest) to follow the road up past the formation called Smithsonian Butte (on the east side of the road). You may venture south on a road that goes out onto Gooseberry Mesa. The north side of the mesa offers dramatic views of Zion National Park and overviews of the town of Rockville. Continuing on the Smithsonian Butte backway road you head straight south two or three miles till you hit the pavement of state road 59. You can turn around and go the opposite direction from either end of this road - or you can circle around and back to Zion Mountain Ranch. If you started in Rockville then you can circle past Pipe Spring National Monument (a recommended stop) and then on to the town of Kanab. Visit our Kanab or Pipe Spring National Monument information pages (click on the links).