The scenic drive is a portion of the original road through the Waterpocket Fold. Ancient people used this route for centuries. After settlement along the Fremont River, the ancient trail was developed into a wagon road in about 1884. It was used by the settlers, Mormon church leaders, miners, and by cattle and sheep ranchers when they moved their herds between the high country to the west and the lowlands to the east. This gravel road was the only one through the Waterpocket Fold until the completion of Highway 24 in 1962.