The highway follows a long valley in Eastern Utah between the Wasatch Plateau on the west and the San Rafael Swell on the east.

According to a roadside memorial fire is the worst coal mine tragedy in Utah's history.

[3] More recently the highway was mentioned in worldwide news as part of coverage of the Crandall Canyon Mine collapse of 2007.

Though the highway is not generally used for long haul traffic, the increase in coal extraction along the SR-10 corridor has caused the Utah Department of Transportation to push for funding for improvements calling it one of the most dangerous freight corridors in Utah[4] The northern portion of the highway is loosely paralleled by the Utah Railway that helps service the numerous coal mines along the highway corridor.

The road proceeds in a north east direction passing along several small coal mining communities.