4 minute read
Insider’s Guide
BY MONIQUE BEELEY
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IN 1869, MAJOR JOHN WESLEY POWELL, on expedition down the Green River, looked in awe at this magnificent country and pronounced: “We name it Flaming Gorge.” Today, the high elevation brilliant red cliffs are scenic attractions for thousands of visitors annually.
The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a whopping 1,384,132 acres with elevations up to13,500 feet. Located in the northeast corner of Utah in Daggett County, and the southwest corner of Wyoming, the NRA is managed by the Ashley National Forest and includes the section of the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam.
This rugged wildland stretches from high deserts to the alpine bowls and forested slopes of Utah's Uinta Mountains. The heart of the NRA is the 91-mile-long reservoir created by Flaming Gorge Dam, with more than 360 miles of shoreline, boat ramps, full-service lodges, and marinas. The NRA encompasses majestic Kings Peak (highest in Utah), Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway, and The Green River Corridor, a world-class trout fishery. Boundaries also include the fascinating Sheep Creek Geological Area and the High Uinta Wilderness.
ACTIVITIES ABOUND YEAR-ROUND IN THE OUTDOOR MECCA: hiking & backpacking, canoeing, SUP & kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, river running, scenic byways and wildlife viewing. Winter is off-season here, and you are sure to find solitude and endless places to explore.
If a cozy cabin in the-pine filled forest next to an icecovered private lake is beckoning your family, then Red Canyon Lodge is the perfect fit. Don’t be surprised to wake up to see mule deer and big horn sheep out your window in the early morning hours. Here you will truly unplug from society, as there is no wi-fi or tv’s in the cabins. The Lodge has a general store and restaurant (limited winter hours), as well as onsite snowshoe rentals.
PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN KELLY The Red Canyon Rim Trail can be accessed from your cabin. This trail is a total of 7 miles, and the 2-mile section to the Red Canyon Overlook (elevation 7,450’) provides many epic views of the deep canyon below carved by the waters of the Green River that now are part of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
For the fishing enthusiast in your family this area has you covered. Flaming Gorge Reservoir boasts world record German Browns and Utah state record lake trout & rainbow trout. In addition, the reservoir holds numerous other trophy fish: kokanee salmon, tiger trout, and both smallmouth & largemouth bass.
The Green River below the dam is one of the most renowned trout fisheries in the world. The flow is regulated to maintain an optimum temperature. The crystal-clear, emerald waters support a large population of trout, with rainbows below the dam and browns downstream. The browns are wild and grow quickly in the fertile water, with average fish measuring 15-17 inches long. The record, a 29-pound brown, was caught in 1996.
Camping sites are plentiful with 43 campgrounds spread over nearly 91 water-miles, plus countless mountain retreats. There is also the opportunity to set up “primitive” camping for those wishing for a more secluded adventure, or river camps for those seeking multi-day adventures on the river.
The small gateway communities of Manila (160 miles from SLC) and Dutch John (212 miles from SLC) have the basic essentials covered and provide lodging, dining, and food services, as well as guide services and retail gear sales/rental shops.
Visitor and Recreation information: Flaming Gorge Forest Service Office / Manila – 435-784-3445 Ashley National Forest Office / Vernal / 435-789-1181 FlamingGorgeCountry.com RedCanyonLodge.com
Editor’s Note- Daggett County is rural. It is Utah’s least-populated county with just over 1,000 year-round residents. As with many other rural areas throughout the state that are gateway communities to outdoor recreation and our epic public lands, their economy is heavily dependent on tourism. Be sure to plan for some time to stop and visit a local restaurant, fill up your gas tank, treat the kids to ice cream, or maybe buy some local art or a holiday ornament or mug as a memento from a fabulous family trip. Locals whose businesses provide guide services, lodging, restaurants, shops and gas/convenience stations are vital to the health and long-term wellbeing of our public lands. These are the passionate folks that volunteer their time for vital services like search and rescue, fire fighters, trail maintenance, trash cleanup, volunteer park rangers, and campground hosts. These are the people who will stop to help a total stranger who has a flat tire on the side of road, where there is no cell service and it’s a Sunday, and its pouring rain…this happened to me a couple months ago and was very much appreciated.
