Utah has such a variety of scenic destinations that it might be easy to overlook the state’s northeast corner, snuggled up against Wyoming and Colorado, where you can take in mountain scenery, run along a wild river, follow the trails of Wild West outlaw gangs or hunt dinosaurs.
www.dinoland.com
Head east from Salt Lake City to Vernal, the central town in an area dubbed Dinosaurland. If you’re not sure there’s enough to make the drive worth your while, take a look at “Outdoor Recreation” and “Just for Kids.” And for accommodations, you can pick anything from camping to guest ranches to romantic bed-and-breakfast inns. Should you pack shorts or sweaters? Click on “Weather” and look for “Seasonal Weather Averages.” Be sure to click on “Road Trips &Trails” for scenic routes such as Nine Mile Canyon or Jones Hole, both full of pictographs.
Next, click on “Top Ten List.” You can warm up with a scenic drive on the Sheep Creek Canyon Loop, then switch to biking, hiking or running along the wild Green or Yampa rivers. Go fishing for trout at Flaming Gorge, visit the historic Jarvie Ranch where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid picked up supplies, or take in a rodeo.
www.nps.gov/dino
Oh, and about that name, Dinosaurland. They’re serious. No. 1 on the top ten list tells you where you can see fossils, learn about fossils and maybe even find one yourself. The focus of the area is Dinosaur National Monument, where the Yampa River runs wild and you can see the Douglas Dinosaur Quarry, which is full of fossils.
www.fs.fed.us/r4/ashley
A large share of northeastern Utah is included in the Ashley National Forest, home of part of the High Uintas Wilderness. Click on “Maps &Brochures” to get the lay of the land. Then go to “Recreational Activities” to learn about boating, numerous campgrounds and scenic drives including the Indian Canyon Scenic Byway and the Red Cloud Loop. While you’re in “Recreational Activities,” be sure to hit the link to the Flaming Gorge National Recreation area, a scenic reservoir full of fish that could be worth a visit all by itself.
www.utah.com/playgroundsLearn more about the mountains in the area from the “Other Playgrounds” section of the state’s Utah Travel and Adventure site, where you need to click on “Uinta Mountains.” According to the state, the Uintas have more than 1,000 lakes and 400 miles of streams. Peaks include the 13,500-foot Kings Peak, the highest point in Utah.
www.utah.com/destinations
Track down information on more “Best Destinations” at Utah Travel and Adventure, including Castle Country, the region southwest of Dinosaurland, where the attractions include other landmarks from the careers of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Roger Petterson, Associated Press
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
