Things to do Flaming Gorge – Dinosaur River Expeditions

Three Great Hikes in Northeastern Utah

Posted on November 25, 2022 at 10:49 am.

Great Hikes in Northeastern Utah

The Flume Trail – Located a half hour outside of downtown Vernal, the Dry Fork Canyon Flume Trail is an incredible hiking opportunity worth the drive. The flume trail is open to hiking, mountain biking and horses. In the winter this is a popular cross country ski route or snowshoeing area. This multi-user trail follows Dry Fork Creek and the Red Cloud Loop Road. It is beginner, intermediate in fitness so it is a perfect hiking trail for anyone wanting to get out in nature. Dry Fork canyon is spectacular with some gorgeous scenery. In the spring and early summer, you will be able to follow the creek as it flows with winter run off. Eventually the runoff gets low enough that Dry Fork’s water seeps into the ground and does not flow along the creek’s streambed. Along the trail you will be interspersed with aspen and pine trees with the opportunity to see mule deer, if your lucky a moose and tons of sweet bird life. The canyon itself is a narrow, steep walled canyon with some incredible sandstone cliffs.

Little Hole Trail – We love taking a one-day raft trip along Utah’s world-famous Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam, but did you know there is an excellent hiking trail that follows the river? The first 7 miles of the Green River or Section A as it is most commonly known has a well-maintained hiking trail. This trail is most commonly used by fly fisherman looking to get into a little dry fly action from shore. You can park at either end of the trail and choose your adventure. There is parking available at the Flaming Gorge Dam River entrance or at the Little Hole Recreation Area. Take a camera, water, and snacks, it is easy to make a full day out of this hiking trail. The scenery is beautiful, plenty of wildlife to view and lots of great locations to sit back in the shade and enjoy watching the Green River flow by. There is a ton of great things to do in the Flaming Gorge area, taking a hike along the river is a must see and do if you are in the region.

Jones Hole Creek Trail – Located about an hour and a half from downtown Vernal, Jones Hole Creek is an oasis. This trail follows Jones Creek, a perennial spring fed stream originating from the limestone formations underneath Diamond Mountain. The head of the stream is the United States Fish and Wildlife trout hatchery. Here the biologists raise Colorado Cutthroat trout, Kokanee salmon and Rainbow trout for Flaming Gorge Reservoir and other local streams and rivers. Once the creek leaves the hatchery it flows through a geological wonderland of incredible cliff formations leading to the Green River approximately 4 miles downstream from the trail head. This trail is gentle with little elevation gain or drop. It can be very hot in the summer months so plan your hike accordingly, carrying plenty of water, sunscreen, and snacks. A popular side stop is Ely Creek to butt dam falls. This little side stream to Jones Creek has a small waterfall half mile from the main trail that is a refreshing spot to cool off. Watch for Native American rock art sites (remember do not touch the art), wildlife and fish in the stream. This is a popular hike with rafting groups who are coming down the Green River Gates of Lodore or Yampa River. You may encounter other folks who have been out for 4 or 5 days on Colorado whitewater rafting adventure.

Looking for other great hiking options in the area? Check with Uintah County Travel and Tourism, Dinosaur National Monument, United States Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management for trails in the region.

The Weekend Warrior

Posted on December 8, 2019 at 9:30 am.

Written by Dinosaur River Expeditions

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.