DINOS & DESERTS
DINOSAURS AND DESERTS LOOP
Explore some of the country s most amazing red-rock landscapes and soaring granite peaks on this 1,140-mile tour.
GREAT SALT WYOMING LAKE Rocky Salt Lake Flaming Gorge Mountain City National Dutch John Dinosaur National Steamboat National Recreation Area Monument Springs Park Hot Estes Vernal Sulphur Park Craig Springs Provo Lyons Kremmling Boulder COLORADO
Glenwood Wolcott Denver Springs Price Vail Frisco UTAH Fruita Grand Carbondale Arches Junction Aspen Castle National Leadville Dale Park Palisade Salina Green Colorado Paonia River National Monument Black Canyon Canyonlands Delta of the Gunnison National Moab National Park Park Montrose
Map by Peter Sucheski
ome of the least-crowded and most sits and where wild horses and herds of beautiful red-rock canyons, rivers elk beckon. en drive to Steamboat and recreational opportunities await Springs, a ski town known for its vibrant Son this fantastic road trip. Start in Salt Lake downtown. From there, it s a gorgeous drive City and head southeast toward Vernal, to Rocky Mountain National Park. Take the Utah, Flaming Gorge National Recreation southern route home to visit three more Area and Dinosaur National Monument. spectacular national park sites: Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, Farther west is Craig, Colo., in Mo at Colo., and Arches and Canyonlands County where two-thirds of the monument national parks in Moab, Utah.
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DIGGING DEEP
Uncrowded and stunningly beautiful, Dinosaur National Monument is home to beautiful red-rock canyons, two rivers that o er incredible ra ing and one of the world's richest dinosaur deposits. Two separate visitor centers, one in Colorado and one in Utah, have interactive displays. Dinosaur fossils can be seen at the stunning Quarry Exhibit Hall near the Utah entrance. To access it, stop at the Quarry Visitor Center rst, .25 miles away.
PHOTO: Dinosaur National Monument (TGrant Ordelheide)
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Desert Oasis
Cool down in the heat of summer by renting a stand-up paddleboard at the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in Utah.
A number of wakeless paddling trails near the dam and near Sheep Creek Overlook enable you to explore canyons that rise anywhere between 100 and 1,000 feet. You won’t even have to worry about waves from motorized boats.
“It’s really spectacular,” says Ryan Kelly, Flaming Gorge marketing director. “It’s a great way to get that deep canyon experience without going on a commercial trip downstream.”
Below the Flaming HIDDEN GEM Gorge Dam runs a mellow stretch of the Green Explore Dinosaur National Monument and more in Vernal, Utah. River that's great for family river By Tori Peglar floating. Rent a raft and float seven miles ooking to avoid the crowds and see one mystery. You ll also nd unmistakable downstream to of the country s most spectacular dinosaur bones — more than 1,500 — Little Hole national monuments in the monument s sandstone walls. takeout where a L pre-arranged shuttle can pick Head to Vernal, Utah, to see Dinosaur National Beyond the park, head to the McConkie you up. Or rent a Monument. You can explore this special place Ranch just a 15-minute drive from Vernal to houseboat to by foot, but don t miss the opportunity to see hundreds of Fremont Indian rock art explore the experience the monument by water. You can panels, most dating from 1 AD to 1300. Owned 91-mile-long reservoir. ra the gorgeous Green River on a day or by Jean McConkie McKenzie, the 500-acre multi-day trip that cuts through the property may have more ancient drawings on a For great scenery, visit Red Canyon monument, passing gorgeous striated one-mile-stretch than anywhere else in Utah, Overlook, the sandstone walls and lush coves. says Lesha Coltharp, Uintah County travel and area's most tourism director. Instagramm ed spot. On foot, you ll see ancient Native American Learn more at rock art of animal-like gures, abstract designs It s an authentic experience, says Coltharp, FlamingGorgeCountry.com. and human-like gures whose meaning is still a noting it s a $5 per car suggested donation to
PHOTOS: Gates of Lodore rafting (Oars Rafting Company), Paddleboard (Depositphotos) 54 . Colorado Edition 2021
CO-2021_RoadTrips_DinosDeserts_FINAL.indd 54 12/2/20 1:22 PM visit the ranch. It s Jean s homestead and if she s home, she ll show you the pottery she s collected. She just wants people to experience the area s history.
You ll see the ree Kings, a set of intricate drawings that tower above you on the cli s walls. You ll also catch a glimpse of an ancient artist s sense of humor when you spot a drawing of a frightened hunter being chased by a deer.
To explore the Vernal area by ATV, head to Dinosaurland KOA, 930 North Vernal Ave., to rent an ATV and explore trails that cater to all levels and leave from the property. Or take your mountain bike to McCoy Flats, Dry Fork Flume Trail, which is 10 miles from the McConkie Ranch, or Red Fleet State Park. Red Fleet also has a rolling 1.5-mile hiking trail to 200-million-year-old dinosaur tracks. Go early in the morning or late a ernoon since the tracks become di cult to see when the sun is directly above you. e park also rents kayaks, canoes and paddleboards to explore Red Fleet Reservoir.
Stop by the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum, 496 East Main St., for more area information or visit Dinoland.com.
DINOSAURS ARE LAME SAID NO ONE EVER
DEFINITELY NOT IN FRONT OF THE WALL OF BONES, ANYWAY.
DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT
DINOLAND.COM
PHOTOS: Gates of Lodore rafting (Oars Rafting Company), Paddleboard (Depositphotos)
CO-2021_RoadTrips_DinosDeserts_FINAL.indd 55 12/2/20 4:44 PM DINOS & DESERTS DUTCH JOHN, UTAH, TO CRAIG, COLO. 165 miles, 3 hours and 7 minutes
WESTERN COLORADO
From wild horses to elk herds, don't miss these three sights near Craig, Colo., on your way to Rocky Mountain National Park.
EXPLORE DINOSAUR STOP AT VISIT DEERLODGE PARK NATIONAL MONUMENT SANDWASH BASIN WHY GO: See hundreds of elk WHY GO: Two-thirds of WHY GO: See one of the year-round at this area on the 1this striking national monument is in 2country's last remaining herds of free-roaming 3monument's eastern edge. There are restrooms Colorado's Moffat County, making the wild mustangs. and eight camping sites. area a must-see. TIP: Sand Wash Basin is 45 miles west of TIP: To get there, go west from Craig on Hwy. 40 TIP: Explore the monument via a guided Craig, Colo. Drive west on Hwy. 40 past to mile marker 44. Take the Deerlodge Park Road rafting trip on the Yampa or Green rivers. Maybell. Turn north on Hwy. 318 and drive north for 12 miles, following the paved road to about 15 miles. Turn right on County Road 75. the campground.
Learn more at the Mo at County Tourism Association, 250 Victory Way in Craig, Colo., or at VisitMo atCounty.com. PHOTO: Dinosaur National Monument (Tom Tolbert)
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ARCHES NATIONAL PARK STOPS
While Delicate Arch gets all of the attention (it’s the arch featured on the Utah license plate), Park Avenue and Double Arch offer stunning views and beautiful trails to get to them.
After stopping at Arches Visitor Center, you’ll drive up steep switchbacks on a paved park road. At the top, Park Avenue and Courthouse
PHOTO: Dinosaur National Monument (Tom Tolbert) Towers area is the first you’ll reach. Park Avenue Trail is the most popular hike in the park because of its ease and scenery. However, many visitors stop at the Park Avenue Viewpoint, snap a few pictures and return to their cars without exploring this amazing trail along a dry wash bed between enormous towering walls of red sandstone. The trail is about 1 mile long.
To see Double Arch, take your first right after Balanced Rock to the Windows area of the park. It has the world's highest concentration of natural arches. Park in the Double Arch Parking Area and walk the easy .5-mile, round-trip trail. You’ll spot two giant arches that share the same foundation. The taller of the two arches is the park's tallest at 112 feet high.
PHOTO: Park Avenue trail at Arches National (Grant Ordelheide)
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