Fire
State Route 153 through Beaver Canyon leading to Utah’s Eagle Point Resort is closed indefinitely after flash floods and debris flows heavily damaged and in some spots completely washed out the highway on Sunday afternoon. According to a Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) press release issued on July 21, 2026, the closure starts around milepost 7.5 east of Beaver, where debris is blocking the road, with the worst destruction happening between mileposts 7.5 and 10.5. UDOT noted that near milepost 14, floodwaters washed about half of the road right into the river.
Because a recent wildfire devastated the ski area and left a burn scar on the mountain, the area is at a very high risk for more flooding. UDOT Region 4 Deputy Director Jared Beard explained in the release, “If we have another storm, water and debris could come down the canyon again and cause additional damage.” He added, “We’ve been seeing thunderstorms every afternoon, and right now, neither side of the mountain is safe.”
UDOT engineers and surveyors are currently checking the damage from both the ground and the air, working alongside Beaver County, Beaver City, safety agencies, and Eagle Point Resort to build a repair plan. With additional thunderstorms expected throughout the week, crews are closely monitoring the weather.
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The highway climbs up to about 10,000 feet, running 21 paved miles from Beaver to the summit near Eagle Point Resort, and another 19 miles toward U.S. 89 in Piute County. UDOT is strongly warning motorists and property owners to stay away from the closed areas and obey all emergency personnel. Beard emphasized the primary goal of current operations, saying,“Right now, with SR-153 washed out, our priority is to protect I-15 and Beaver’s Main Street,” because keeping them open is critical as primary evacuation routes for the community. Additionally, local KUER News reporter Pamela Mccall interviewed the mayor of nearby Beaver, Utah, who believes it’ll be a “very long time” before the road can be repaired.
UDOT promised to share updates as soon as new information becomes available.
