Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah, Fall 2022

Blog Resurrection ...

I haven't updated this Blog in seven years, and we have been to so many NEW places in these past years that it seems prudent to do so now.

We started our 2022-2023 trip in Lewes, Delaware at Cape Henlopen State Park with family. However, since it was really a family vacation, I am not posting any photos here. Cape Henlopen is a lovely park bordered by Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean with beaches, fishing, cycling, etc. Following our week here, we were supposed to visit friends Mike and Julie in the mountains of North Carolina, then visit friends Barbara and Wayne in Central Florida, however Hurricane Ian changed all of that and we decided to make a run for Colorado since it was still only the end of September. We haven't been to Dinosaur National Monument (which sits on the border of Utah and Colorado) since 2012 and have always wanted to return. And so we did ...

	We found excellent boondocking just off of Harper's Corner Road, on Blue Mountain Road with a view of the valley below us and mountains south of us.  It doesn't get much better than this!
Split Mountain Area
	At the Split Mountain boat launch on the Green River.  This is a typical take-out point for rafters.
	The Cub Creek Petroglyphs on the road to the Josie Morris Cabin.
	The Josie Morris Cabin which she built and lived in from 1905-1964 until about age 90! She had a garden, fruit trees and some livestock. She dug her own irrigation trenches in this harsh environment.
Island Park
	The Island Park area is spectacular. The small primitive campground, Rainbow Park, is on the Green River and suitable for tents, car camping, and vans. The road is accessible by most vehicles in good weather. This photo is taken from the Island Park Overlook, just past the campground.
	Another view from the Island Park Overlook. The cottonwoods and aspens are almost in full fall foliage.
	The Green River is popular with rafters. I suspect these rafters put in at the Gates of Lodore in the very north of the park, and will take out at Split Mountain.
	The abandoned Ruple Ranch on the Green River.
Yampa Bench Road and Echo Park
	The Yampa Bench Road provides sweeping views of the Green River and vertical cliffs that tower above it. 4x4 is recommended.
	At the western end of Yampa Bench Road is Echo Park and this feature called Steamboat Rock. There is a primitive campground here at Echo Park for small vans, cars and tents, although 4x4 is necessary to navigate the roads here.
Gates of Lodore and Loop Drive
	Getting to the Gates of Lodore in the northern-most section of the park takes almost 2 hours from the town of Dinosaur, CO, but it is worth it. Here is a group of rafters who had just put in at the Gates of Lodore Campground, which would accommodate RVs up to about 30'.
	Just north of the Gates of Lodore is Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge. Due to the time of year (early October), we didn't see many fowl, but the drive through the park on Wildlife Drive was really nice.
	From the northwest end of Wildlife Drive, we took the Swinging Bridge across the Green River, and followed Crouse Creek Road. The bridge is VERY narrow. Our truck had mere inches to spare on either side. Here I am on Crouse Creek Road.  Google Maps has marked a spot on this road as a Hideout for Butch Cassidy, but we didn't see the cave which is apparently high up on the canyon wall.
	Crouse Creek Road ended at Jones Hole Road, which we drove to the Fish Hatchery. It was getting late in the afternoon, so we hiked just a bit of the trail at the end of parking lot. This, I assume, is Jones Hole Creek. What a beautiful spot.
Fantasy Canyon
	Fantasy Canyon isn't far from Dinosaur National Monument, and just south of the town of Vernal, so we take a day trip there from our campsite. It is a protected area of weathered grey sandstone in the midst of oil and gas drilling.
	The stange shapes created by erosion show many weird faces!
	We roam the area for hours. There are picnic tables and a porta-potty on-site, but no overnight camping allowed.
Flaming Gorge
	In the Fall of 2012, we visited the Flaming Gorge, but were just passing through on a cloudy day, so photos were rather blah. So we take a day trip north to this reservoir on the Green River to see it in its spendor. This is Red Canyon, 1,700 feet deep and 4,000 feet across (518m x 1,200m).
	Cart Creek Bridge on Highway 191.
	The Green River below the Flaming Gorge Dam. There is a boat launch behind where I am standing to take this photo.

We are so glad we were able to return to Dinosaur National Monument after 10 years!  We spent two full weeks exploring the park and the area.  Thankfully, we had excellent weather for the duration.  We didn't go back to the Quarry Exhibit Hall this time, although I highly recommend it.  This park does NOT disappoint, and we don't understand why it isn't a national park.