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48 Hours In Dinosaurland

48 Hours in Dinosaur Land

You only have a short weekend or a quick couple of days that you will be visiting Vernal, Utah AKA Dinosaurland. What to do? How can you best use your short window of time in an area with so many incredible options. Let us the local’s help direct your time so you get the most out of your visit.

As a river rafting company obviously we recommend taking a Utah one day scenic river rafting trip. We offer a great beginner, family friendly raft outing on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. This trip has been rated as one of Utah’s top single day river rafting tours. We are obviously a little biased since this is our backyard but we do want to share this incredible stretch of river with you and your family or friends. 

The world famous “Wall of Bones” is a must if you are making the journey to Dinosaurland. The “Wall of Bones” or fossil quarry is located on the Utah side of Dinosaur National Monument. This is the main visitors center for Dinosaur National Monument with great displays, interpretative information and fantastic scenery.  

48 Hours In Dinosaurland

Paddle boarding at Red Fleet State Park. Red Fleet located 15 minutes north of Vernal is a miniature Lake Powell. There is a wakeless zone on the north end of the lake making it a perfect area to paddle board, kayak, canoe, swim. If you are feeling brave there are a couple of areas for a little cliff jumping, just make sure to okay it with the park rangers before taking the plunge.

Looking to put a little wind in your hair? Try out the spectacular single track mountain bike trails. McCoy Flats is the most popular riding area with a wide variety of trails for riders of all levels from the first time mountain bike rider to expert riders looking to push their skills. While out riding at McCoy Flats watch for the Antelope hiding out among the sage. Need a little more information about riding in the area Grail Cycles located downtown Vernal has the knowledge you need. 

48 Hours In Dinosaurland

A fun hike that does not take too long is Moonshine Arch. Located north of Vernal about 10 minutes on highway 191 this hike is a fun walk not too strenuous to some beautiful natural sandstone arches. This can be a hot hike I recommend taking it early or late in the day and bring plenty of water.

You make it the first part of July make time for the Dinosaur Round Up Rodeo. This is part of the professional rodeo circuit with some of the best PRCA cowboys and cowgirls coming from all over the United States and the world to participate. These athletes are incredibly talented and you will not be disappointed in the live action provided at this rodeo.

You are not going to fit all the great activities into a short 48 hours in Dinosaurland but hopefully this gives you a few ideas of where to start planning your next adventure. Have questions on a white water rafting trip let us know as the only locally owned river rafting outfitter in the area we have a lot of great suggestion and will be happy to help you with your questions.


The Weekend Warrior

Fighting the Good Fight: The Weekend Warrior

So, you like to get outside and stay active, but it isn’t always easy to make time?  You may live and work in a city, meanwhile your mind drifts towards the freedom of the hills or the grand solitude of the desert.  If you are a 9 to 5 work a day type like so many others, then how will you maximize your precious time off? You are in the company of weekend warriors and you will better enjoy your time of battle with a little preparation and planning. Whether you are heading off for a quick weekend of fly fishing on Utah’s world famous Green River or a mountain biking adventure on Vernal Utah’s amazing single track being prepared is a key component of a great vacation.

To me the first and most important piece of preparation that you can do for yourself is to know yourself.  Be realistic with your goals and be honest with yourself about your limitations. Ask yourself what you hope to get out of your adventure time, knowing that you will have to be  and want to be a functioning human being after the outing is over. Now that you have an understanding with yourself, you can plan a fitting venture and maximize your fun.  

Think about the physical requirements of your desired activities.  This goes back to knowing yourself but can also fit into extended or ongoing preparations.  If you are planning a cross country bike tour, then you should be putting in some miles in the saddle during the weeks before your big ride.  If you are going on a river trip or drive where there will be opportunities to do hikes, long or short, then you should be doing some walking or, better yet, hiking to get into shape.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Pace yourself, walk consciously. You can’t summit the mountain until you have walked through the foothills.  

You’re feeling good and have a rough idea of what you are ready to tackle, now it’s time to fill in the gaps and make your travel itinerary.  No matter what your activity, there are numerous resources out there to help you plan. Guidebooks and maps are still my favorite but there are great smartphone apps, blogs, discussion groups and websites that provide great planning ideas.  In many places and with many activities you can hire a guide service, which takes a lot of pressure off you to know everything. It is still a good idea to know something, so you know what you are in for. Sometime’s it is best to leave your ego intact and hire that local guide service they have the knowledge, skills and equipment to assure your trip is a success. 

Time to dig into your gear closet or garage.  If you are like me this part gets you excited, like walking into a room filled with old friends.  Don’t save this until the last minute unless you are sure your equipment is accounted for and in good working order.  Leave yourself enough time to make that unplanned run to the sporting goods stores or hardware store to repair the broken bits.  One of our favorite gear shops is Moab Gear Trader’s the owner and staff love outdoor adventure and recreation. There are few things worse than getting out to the field and realizing that something important is missing. You can mitigate that problem by writing lists.  Write out your lists of gear and meals and check the items off as you pack. You will be less likely to forget something and there is a certain sense of accomplishment that comes from checking things off. For most outdoor activities you should be able to find someone else’s checklist online to give you a starting point for organizing your gear.  

While in the thick of your adventure, pace yourself.  Don’t be so goal oriented that you risk causing injury to yourself or your travel companions.  Physical fatigue is a good way to take a bad step or make some bad judgement call that could ruin your holiday or have worse consequences.  Listen to your body and rest when you need to. Drink plenty of water and eat when you need energy. These things seem basic, but it is so easy to forget to stop and take care of yourself.  If you don’t do it, who will? These maintenance breaks are good for the mind and soul as well as the body. Pause to enjoy the place you are standing and to feel the calming rhythm of nature.  

When all is done and you’ve returned home satisfied and safe, do a couple of things to close the adventure and prepare for the next.  Take some notes or write in an adventure journal about what you’ve accomplished. What worked? what didn’t? what would you do different or the same next time?  Did you see another nearby canyon that you’d like to explore next time? Did you get some advice from fellow travelers? These notes, like the lists from before, can be very useful tools and enjoyable to reflect on later.  

With your memories stored and organized, take the time to clean and organize your gear.  It is satisfying to wash off the dirt that marks a good trip into the wilds. It is gratifying to see your well used equipment clean and in good working order.  It will make your life so much easier to pack for the next rally if everything is organized and ready to go.  

The adventurous life of a weekend warrior may not be measured by vast quantities but with a little work it will be by high quality.  May you fight the good fight and find the balance in life that you desire.


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