Discover Dinosaurland Spring 2016 Edition

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April 2016

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Welcome to Dinosaur Country Visualize awe-inspiring arches. Visualize snowcapped peaks. Visualize world-class fly fishing. Visualize the earth’s bones laid bare in the Uinta Mountain Range. Visualize the wild west history and the sage land once ridden by the Old West’s most famous outlaws. Visualize hiking trails, mountain biking, ancient rock art, hunting, rodeos, shopping and dining. Visualize paleontological museums that will delight young and old alike.

You can do more than visualize it all in the Uintah Basin. You can get off your couch and live it in Utah’s Dinosaurland. Out here it’s living life in high-definition.

The Uintah Basin, in northeastern Utah, is well known to many people because of the attractions of Dinosaur National Monument. People can view and even touch more than 1,500 dinosaur bones all in their original resting place. The bones are in an enclosed quarry center, with Ranger-guided tours.

Dinosaurs are not all there is to the monument. Picnicking, camping, hiking and rafting are all options. Exploring the monument on foot will allow you to view massive arches and rarely seen petroglyphs.

Uintah County is home to three State Parks. The Utah Field House of Natural History Museum, Steinaker and Red Fleet Reservoir State Parks. You can have your boat

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355 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal, UT 435-789-1181, www.fs.fed.us/Ashley

134 West Main Street, Vernal, UT - 435-789-1652

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launched and ready for a day on the water in less than 20 minutes from downtown.

Don’t have a boat? Don’t let this stop you, Steinaker is home of the “Vernal Beach.”

Enjoy a day building sand castles, swimming, or playing on the swim dock. There are lots of picnic tables, camp sites, and pavilions.

Red Fleet has been referred too as the “Little Lake Powell” with its gorgeous scenery and huge red cliffs.

Don’t forget to watch out for dinosaur tracks as you play and explore the land around the lake.

The Field House museum is home to several dinosaur skeletons, many other fossils and a fascinating exhibit on the geological history of the area. Newly-opened is the curatorial facility, where visitors can watch through a wall of windows as paleontologists prepare fossil specimens for study and display.

In Utah’s Dinosaurland, you can see and do more than ever imagined. In Uintah County you can live life in highdefinition.

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ADA family COPY meets theWORKSHEET allosaurus skeleton housed in the quarry enclosure at Dinosaur National Monument.

Utah Game Warden National Magazine Monument quarry, Dinosaur Publication Office shows prehistoric tale of Dinosaurland P.O. Box 199 • Roy, UT 84067

D

they came to rest.

When visitors arrive in the monument they start the exploration at the new quarry inosaur National Monument covers an visitor center which is separate from the Dinoancient era, with fossils and geological formations saur Quarry Exhibit Hall. The visitor center dating back to the time of dinosaurs and beyond. welcomes visitors by having them walk past Over 300,000 people visit the monument each the stegosaurus that was present at the 1964 year. Most head straight to the Utah side of the World’s Fair in New York and then across a monument to see the Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit bridge made from a recycled railroad car. There Hall with its world-famous wall of bones. There, are new displays, a multipurpose area and restScan this code they can gaze at 1,500 fossil remains of dinosaurs and other creatures still in place in the rock where for more Information rooms.

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sauropods such The center highas diplodicus, lights areas across to stegosaurus, the entire 210,000 to meat-eating acre monument. therapods like It’s a way to keep allosaurus. In visitors in the area the renovated longer so that they exhibit hall which can experience othreopened in 2011, er park resources visitors can see including the monuan overview of ment’s paleontology, the wall from the geology, wildlife, upper level, as scenery and cultural monument staff sites like Fremont showcase the rock art or historic different fossils homesteader cabins. embedded in From the center, the stone. visitors take a trip On the lower back in time to the level several fossil time of the dinodisplays showcase saurs at the Quarry species that have Exhibit Hall. In been found in the summer, shuttle ‘Wall of Bones’ is now housed in a brand-new building, allowing visitors to get the monument, buses leave the including a meatvisitor center every up-close and personal with dinosaurs. eating allosaurus 15 minutes for the and one of the few baby stegosaurus fossils ever found.

Quarry Exhibit Hall. At other times of the year, rangers Vistors can also get up close and personal with some of the lead car caravans to the Quarry on a set schedule. Check the monument website for more information. www.nps.gov/ fossils. It’s one of the few places in the world where people are allowed – even encouraged – to touch real dinosaur dino. bones.

The quarry is known for its wall of bones. The rock face displays hundreds of dinosaur fossils, ranging from huge

Monument Fees

Monument visitors are required to purchase a recreational use pass upon entering Dinosaur National Monument.

Dinosaur National Monument participates in the congressionally authorized Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement Act. Funds generated by the fees are used to accomplish projects the parks have been unable to fund through annual Congressional allocations. Entrance fees help support projects in the monument to improve the experience for visitors. For more information, call 435-781-7700.

Entrance fees are valid for seven consecutive days.

Private vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less): $20.

Motorcycle: $15 Per person (walk-in or bicycle): $10 Youth 15 and under admitted free.

Annual passes and Lifetime passes: Dinosaur National Monument Annual Pass: $40 Interagency; multiple federal fee areas: $80 Interagency senior (age 62 or above): $10 Interagency access (permanently disabled): Free Commercial Tour Fees: Commercial tours are required to pay an entrance fee based upon the capacity of the vehicle.

Check with the monument for the rate for your vehicle. (435) 781-7759.

The monument accepts cash, credit cards, traveler’s checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, gift checks, personal checks and business checks.

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Become a Junior Ranger at a dino park

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n ongoing program at Dinosaur National Monument allows youth, ages 5-12, to experience nature and connect to national parks in a fun and interactive way by giving children the opportunity to learn what park rangers do.

The Junior Ranger Program is a way to give kids a learning experience to know a little more about the area, guide their visit and earn a badge after being sworn in as a ranger after tasks have been completed.

“Any day we are open the kids can come and request an activity booklet,” Park Ranger Sonya Popelka said. “They do a certain number of activities, depending on their age, so the older kids do a little more. The program is all year round.”

The activity book is designed to be self-guided and can be done at the youth’s own pace. During the summer there are extra activities offered to youth involved.

“We have thousands of young visitors who become park rangers every year,” Popelka said. “Everyone has fun, even the park rangers have fun helping the kids. The motto is: Explore, Learn, Protect.”

Popelka said her favorite part of the program is when the kids are sworn in as junior rangers, and in the book children can draw anything that caught their eye, anything they have learned.

“It is so fun for the staff to see what the kids come up with,” Popelka said. “It is to make it relevant for children of all ages.”

Popelka said if there is a desire to be a park ranger, there is a way to do it, such as with an online program where the youth can become “web rangers” and learn about parks in all areas of the world. The program targets children 5 years to 12 years, but it is possible to participate and be sworn in at any age.

The program is available at most national parks, about 400 parks in all. Popelka said even though the badge is just a piece of plastic, it helps kids to connect to the park, which is important to her because the children participating will be the ones voting and having a say about park issues when they are adults.

The Junior Park Ranger Program is free to the public.

The only fees are the entrance to the park – $10 per car, or $20 for an annual pass.

For information on becoming a web ranger, visit nps.gov/ webrangers.

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The near-vertical “Wall of Bones” was once a streambed where hundreds of dinosaur bones were washed into.

Dinosaur National Monument operating hours

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lanning a winter visit? Don’t worry – Dinosaur National Monument is open all year, though certain roads and facilities are closed during the winter months.

Operating hours for Quarry Visitor Center, North of Jensen, Utah

From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, the visitor center is open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Operating hours for the Quarry Exhibit Hall (Wall of Bones)

During the winter, open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (last caravan up to the fossils is at 4:00 p.m. See information below) Also closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Access to the Exhibit

Hall from Oct. 19, 2015 until late Spring.

Due to both lower visitation and reduced staffing levels, access to the quarry is by car caravans. Rangers guide car caravans to the exhibit hall at the following times: 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.

If you arrive after the previous group has departed, you may have to wait up to an hour before the next departure. There is a 12 minute film, exhibits, and

a bookstore in the visitor center to occupy your time while you wait. Last caravan goes to the quarry at 4 p.m.

Canyon Visitor Center, Dinosaur, Colo.

Open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. until Oct.18.

(Visitor center may occasionally be closed during lunch).

Closed from late fall through early spring. The center will reopen in late April 2016.

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‘Rock stars’ awe in Dinosaurland

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Attractions such as petroglyphs should be on any scheduled road trips in the Uintah Basin.

bout 1,000 years ago, the Fremont people lived in this area leaving evidence of their presence in the form of petroglyphs (patterns chipped or carved into the rock) and pictographs (patterns painted on the rock).

In general, the Fremont people lived in small bands or family groups, grew crops to supplement native foods, but did not build large permanent dwellings.

In the Dinosaur National Monument area, archaeological evidence of the Fremont dates from about 200 A.D. to about 1300 A.D. The Fremont relied heavily upon native plant foods, such as pinon nuts, berries, and cactus fruits, and also on game, including mule deer, bighorn sheep, smaller mammals, and birds.

The fate of the Fremont culture is unclear. Recent theories suggest that the Fremont’s lifestyle may have changed because of drought or other

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Summer 2016 climatic factors, dwindling natural resources, or the influence of other neighboring cultures.

Whatever the case, it is difficult to trace the Fremont as a distinct culture in the archaeological record after about 1200 A.D. The Fremont petroglyphs and pictographs, however, survive as a vivid reminder of these ancient people.

Fremont images include both petroglyphs and pictographs. Pictographs are relatively rare here, perhaps because they weather more easily. Some petroglyphs show traces of pigment, which possibly indicates that many designs originally included both carved and painted areas.

Sandstone cliffs darkened with desert varnish - a naturally formed stain of iron and manganese oxides provided an ideal canvas for petroglyphs. Most of these images are outlines, but some are completely pecked

to form solid figures. A few consist of small holes in closely-spaced rows.

The style and content of Fremont images vary throughout the region.

The “Classic Vernal Style” predominates in Dinosaur National Monument. This style is characterized by human-like figures, animallike figures, and abstract designs. Human figures

typically have trapezoidal bodies, which may or may not include arms, legs, fingers, and toes. Elaborate decorations on the bodies suggest headdresses, earrings, necklaces, shields, or other objects. The animal figures include recognizable bighorn sheep, birds, snakes, and lizards and more abstract animal-like shapes. Purely abstract or

geometric designs, such as circles, spirals, and various combinations of lines, are common.

Why did the Fremont create these images and what did they mean?

Perhaps the designs served some ceremonial or religious purpose, related to hunting activities, identified clans, or simply expressed the artist’s imagination - or perhaps all or none of these.

Attempts to interpret the designs by comparing them with recent Native American groups may provide clues, but the true meaning remains a mystery.

Several petroglyph and pictograph sites in the monument are fairly easy to access and allow up-close viewing. They are very fragile however. Touching the petroglyphs or pictographs can damage them by leaving oils behind that abrade the rock. Tracing and rubbings can damage the soft sandstone designs.

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Monument boasts lots of lizards crawling

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inosaurs may have lived millions of years ago and are now extinct, but there is a creature from some 30 million years ago that still exists today. That creature is known as the lizard.

According to Sonya Popelka, park ranger and interpretive operations supervisor for Dinosaur National Monument, lizards occur at Dinosaur National Monument in a variety of forms.

“Lizards can occur as fossils, as petroglyphs, and as living members of the modern environment,” she said. “Six species of lizards live here today. They are the western whiptail lizard, common sagebrush lizard, greater short horned lizard, plateau lizard, tree lizard and side-blotched lizard.”

Popelka said birds, however, are more closely related to dinosaurs than lizards are.

“While many people think that lizards are the modern relative of dinosaurs, it is modern birds who share the closest relation to the Jurassic giants Dinosaur National Monument is so famous for,” she said.

Dan Johnson, chief of interpretation and visitor services for Dinosaur National Monument, said there are different places to encounter lizards throughout the park.

“They are very common along the Fossil Discovery Trail, Sound of Silence Trail and many south facing rocky slopes,” he said. “In addition to the lizards listed above, the following snakes, which are the eastern racer, Great Plains ratsnake, milksnake, striped whipsnake, gopher snake, midget faded rattlesnake and prairie rattlesnake, are found in the monument. These species of snake are relatively shy, and visitors rarely see them. All wildlife including lizards and snakes are also protected in the monument.”

Johnson said the types of snakes or lizards we have today were not around during the time of the dinosaurs.

“Our modern-day reptiles descended from species and families of animals that came along long after the time of the dinosaurs,” he said. “The closest relative of dinosaurs that is still alive today are birds. Discussions of our modern day species and their lineage would fill an entire college textbook.”

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The Utah Field House Museum of Natural History hosts such specimens as the Diplodocus dinosaur and a model of a woolly mammoth. The museum is located at 496 E. Main in Vernal. Its hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday.

Dig in at the Utah Field House Museum

T

he Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum allows visitors to experience life as a paleontologist. A short video explains the digs the museum participates in, how some of the exhibits were quarried, where they came from, and how they were delivered to the museum. Guests can also volunteer to help on summer digs.

“These digs are connected with the Scientific Outreach Program and require one week minimum commitment. Volunteers, ages 12 and older, are needed each summer. Most of the work isn’t technical; it’s just getting your hands dirty and removing dirt,” said Mary Beth Bottomley. Contact Dr. Steve Sroka at the Utah

covers the eastern flank State Field House Museum of the room. More than 40 for more information. scientists were involved In an interactive muin prying layers of fossils seum youth center, visitors loose from where they had can dig through specially developed near formulated the Green River “dirt” to disapproximately cover fossil 47 million years models just ago. Guests will like paleonsee petrified mud tologists do textures, colors, in the field. plants and a fish “After in the display. successfully

Step back removing in time as you the items, walk through the guests can figure out Dinosaur Garden Scan this code what they for more Information of the museum. have found Look at a full-size by taking the fossils to a replica of a 20-foot tall Tyrannosaurus with six inch, key and comparing them to knife-like teeth or a feropictures, descriptions and cious, four-foot, meat-eating characteristics,” Mary Beth Coelophysis. Guests of all Bottomley said. ages will enjoy the seven In the Eocene Fossil teen life-size prehistoric Gallery, a striking mosaic replicas lining the garden of individual plant fossils

paths, small waterfalls and beautiful foliage.

The Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum is located at 496 East Main, Vernal. It is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. Admission Prices are $6 for adults, $3 for children 6-12, those under 6 are free and seniors (62+) are $3.

Two junior scientist programs are offered for younger visitors age 4 – 12 and offer a fun way to learn about museum exhibits while earning a patch.

Annual state park and senior passes may be purchased at the museum as well non-resident OHV/ Snowmobile permits. For further information, please call the museum at 435-7893799.

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World Class Trails in the Uintah Basin

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f you really want to ride world-class trails… Visit Dinosaurland, Vernal, Utah.

You can pick your pleasure: Slick Rock, Alpine Forests, or Desert Canyons.

We have it all.

When the winter months bring snow to the mountains, biking in the Uintah Basin is still a daily happening with small crowds and great trails.

The trails in Vernal are quite simply some of the best in the state, maybe the west coast, but don’t just take our word for it. BIKE McCoy Flats west of Vernal. magazine commented after interviewing and riding the trail system with Altitude Cycle owner/trail builder Troy Lupcho, that Vernal’s trails could rival Fruita as the best single track in the west.

Trails range in ability from the easier single tracks such as “Got Milk and Cookies” and “Combo”, or advanced trails such as “Fire Sale” and “Handsome Cabin Boy” which

are part of the McCoy Flats Trail System. If fast flowing single track isn’t your thing, take your skills to Red Mountain where you can challenge the climb before ripping back down, or do the shuttle up the North Face leaving you with over five miles of truly amazing room to huck.

The trails new Red Fleet Resevoir will also challenge your skills with a mix of sweet single track and some slick rock.

If you come early enough in the season you can treat yourself to a fall ride in the Flaming Gorge or Dry Fork Canyon area.

Not only will you have a great ride but you will experience the amazing colors of the changing seasons.

Finding the trails is also a lot easier now with websites that provide interactive maps like trailforks.com and www. blm.gov.

The mountain biking season runs from Jan. 1, through Dec. 31. Yes all year. There are easily 60 plus miles of

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Flaming Gorge Area Bear Canyon Bootleg Trail, Browns Park Dowd Mountain King’s Point Outlaw Trail Red Canyon rim Dry Fork Area Dry Fork Canyon Dry Fork Flume Trail Ashley National Forest East Park Loop Elk Park Trail

For more trail information, Scan this code for trail maps maps, and diRed Fleet rections please contact Uintah County Area Travel and Tourism at 800Jazz Cromoly 477-5558 or www.dinoland.

Handsome Cabin Boy com, or Troy with Altitude Jumps and Ladders Cycle in Vernal at 435-7812595 or on Facebook Red Mountain Area Rojo Red Mountain Downhill

The trails new Red Fleet Resevoir will also challenge your skills with a mix of sweet single track and some slick rock.

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Hunt Dinosaur tracks near Red Fleet

Red Fleet State Park offers grand, sweeping vistas and kayak, paddleboard and canoe rentals

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ed Fleet State Park is located in the heart of Dinosaurland, 12 miles north of Vernal on Utah Highway 191.

The park name was inspired by three large Navajo sandstone outcrops jutting up from the landscape as if a fleet of ships.

At an elevation of 5,600 feet, Red Fleet offers camping, picknicking, swimming, fishing and boating.

Red Fleet State Park is also known for the Dinosaur Scan this code Trackway.

Two hundred for more Information ago, this area million years looked like the Sahara Desert.

And like the Sahara, the area had oases of shallow desert lakes called playas. Dinosaurs journeyed to the small playas among the dunes. We know this from the tracks left behind in the wet sand. Hundreds of dinosaur tracks now lay exposed for you to see in the Navajo sandstone.

Juniper, sagebrush, native grasses, and cactus dominate

Red Fleet State Park is also known for the Dinosaur Trackway. the area. Red Fleet is home to mammals such as rabbits, ground squirrels, bobcats, badgers, coyotes, and mule deer.

Golden-eagles can be seen sunning themselves on sandstone cliffs.

Other birds include magpies, hawks, mountain bluebirds, pinion jays, vultures, owls, and an occasional osprey. Bald eagles visit the area during winter months.

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The creativity of Fantasy Canyon

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fashioned by nature into some of the most unique geologic features in the

t’s a Rorschach test world. rendered in stone. Immense According to information gray stone shapes in fantason the BLM website, the tical shapes rise high from rocks of Fantasy Canyon the ground against clear were deposited during the blue skies. It’s Fantasy CanEocene Epoch, and the age yon, a wonderful day trip for of the rocks date around Basin travelers.

38 to 50 million years old.

A lot of scenery is packed In that far-off time, Fanonto a comparatively small tasy Canyon was along the patch of Bureau of Land eastern shore of Lake Uinta, Management ground. Apwhere the sediments eroded proaching the canyon, the from the surrounding high surroundings don’t quite lands. prepare you for what you Be sure to bring along will find there. a camera. Even the most There are hiking opporinexperienced photographer tunities in and amongst the Part of the allure of Fantasy Canyon is guessing what fantasy can grab some great shots stone goblins. Some have character or scene the rock sculpture represents. with such awesome material. been designated names, but More experienced shutterit’s much more fun to come bugs will want to take any of up with your own. The trail practically a million snapshots that reveal themselves with is unimproved, and small children need to be watched to every turn along the path. avoid injury.

There is no gate and no entry fee. A sign and a pamphlet Near the entrance to this 10-acre marvel are covered picnic tables, so bring a lunch or snack along. dispenser are your introduction to this unique playground

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River rafting offers a thrilling getaway

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hether you’re looking for relaxation or exhilaration, you can find it on the waters of the Green and Yampa rivers of Dinosaur National Monument.

The Uintah Basin is a country shaped by its rivers. The Dinosaur National Monument itself is located on the bend of an ancient riverbed. Long ago, dinosaur corpses washed down the river to a place where it eddied in the shallows.

They were deposited there, and gradually covered with silt over time. This resting place for prehistoric carcasses gave us the Dinosaur National Monument we know today.

Rivers remain an important part of the monument.

Rafting down the Green or Yampa rivers is a great way to explore some of the remote areas of the Uinta Mountain Range and Dinosaur National Monument.

The Yampa River crosses through the Colorado side of Dinosaur National Monument. It is the last major

undammed river in the western United States.

Because its flow is not regulated by dams, the peak season for rafting down the Yampa fluctuates depending on snowfall. A typical peak rafting season on the Yampa River runs from May 11 through July 11.

The Green River crosses through the monument on the Utah side, and is the most popular of Dinosaur National Monument’s rivers for river rafting trips.

Because the flow of the river is regulated by the Flaming Gorge Dam, the Green River enjoys a longer peak rafting season, from May 11 to Sept. 11 of most years.

There are two ways to enjoy a river trip on the Green or Yampa rivers. If you prefer to leave the planning (and the rowing) to someone else, guided river trips are available from multiple companies.

For more information on arranging a professional guid-

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ed river trip, visit www. nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/ commercialguidedrivertrips.htm If you prefer to strike out on your own, and have the experience to do it safely, private rafting permits can also be obtained for both rivers. Single or multi-day permits are available on a lottery system. Applying for a permit costs $15. If your application is approved, a singleday permit costs $10 and a multi-day permits cost $185.

For more information, or to apply for a permit, visit www.recreation.gov.

The Green and Yampa rivers hold something fascinating for all river runners. Class III and Class IV rapids such as Warm Springs and Hells Half Mile offers challenges for even the most experienced whitewater rafters, while locations such as Rippling Brook or Island Park offer

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Rafters approach the Tiger Wall on the Yampa River. Rafting on the Green and Yampa rivers is a great way to experience the wilderness of Dinosaur National Monument. sandy beaches and slowmoving waters that are perfect for relaxation.

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Landmark Inn & Suites Our Amentities Include:

•High Speed Internet •Complimentary Hot Breakfast •Fitness Center •Meeting Room •Guest Laundry Facility •Close to Vernal Airport •Close to Western Park Convention Center

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Summer 2016

Recreation Plentiful at the Gorge

I

The Flaming Gorge National Rec t is so beautireation Area ful up here.” is located in “I wish Germany the northeast had Utah’s deserts corner of Utah and mountains and and the southsunshine.” west corner of These comments Wyoming. are plentiful when Flamtalking to Flaming ing Gorge is Gorge visitors and north of Vernal in this case, two visiand extends tors from Germany, into Wyoming Torben Schipper and between Rock Kirstin Fuchs, who Springs and started a two-week Green River. vacation in Salt Lake

The area City after renting is a mixture a motorhome and of climate, traveling through topography, Bryce, Zions, Arches, and recreation Flaming Gorge and The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is located in the northeast corner of opportunities Yellowstone. And Utah and the southwest corner of Wyoming. well suited to a they like Flaming variety of sumGorge so much they mer and winter returned there to finish off their vacation before returninterests. ing to Germany.

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Summer 2016

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ing better With than normal 43 campcrowds to grounds the lake. hosting “Whether more than you are a 700 individfisherman ual campor you just sites and 27 want a great group sites, family vacaall spread tion, then over nearly Flaming 91 waterGorge is the miles (with place to be,” 360 miles Scan this code said Wilson. of shore for more Information But Wilson line) plus doesn’t stop countless with just mountain promoting the Flaming retreats, there is plenty of Gorge area. He talks of room for everyone. what people can experience There is also the opfrom Fort Bridger and the portunity to set up “primiWildhorse loop on over to tive” camping for those the White Mountain area wishing a more secluded north of Rock Springs, adventure, or river camps down to Browns Park and for those extending their the outlaw heritage there, river runs for more than a going south to Dinosaur day. Close at hand are the quaint communities of Ma- National Monument and nila and Dutch John, Utah, finishing up in Nine-Mile Caynon. to offer accommodations and other services for more “We have some fascinating attractions in our traditional vacationers. area,” said Wilson. “We “The great thing about have some very compelling Utah is that there is so reasons to come on out much to experience and here to visit and vacation. the Flaming Gorge area Our ability to offer an offers much,” said Mark amazing vacation here is Wilson, president of Red unparalleled and they are Canyon Lodge. not restricted to the sum Wilson explained that mer months only. We are a this year the fishing atyear-round destination.” traction of Flaming Gorge has been great in attract-

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Summer 2016

10 Fun things to do in the Basin

1 Play like a Paleontologist

Better make sure you have your Dinosaur Hunting License, cause there’s so much dinosaur tracking to do in northeastern Utah’s-Dinosaurland.

For starters there’s Dinosaur National Monument Quarry, Utah State Field House Museum, Dinosaur Gardens, and Red Fleet State Park dinosaur tracks.

Stop by the BLM office and find out where you can do a bit of digging for fossils yourself!

2 Take it to the Gorge

Whether you like to boat, fish, bike or hike, make your way up the Flaming Gorge-Uinta’s National Scenic Byway.

Stop by Red Canyon Overlook, drive the Sheep Creek Canyon Loop, and get a good look inside the Flaming Gorge Dam. Rough it or live it up. Either way, make sure you leave time for some serious star gazing.

3 Picture This

Dinosaurland is home to the longest corridor of Fremont Indian petroglyphs (carving in rock) and pictographs (printing on rocks) in the world. Explore McConkie Ranch in Dry Fork Canyon, Jones Hole, Echo Park, Nine Mile Canyon and you’ll discover these ancient wonders. Some over 200 feet high.

4 Run the River

Easy or Wild-a river trip down Dinosaurland’s Green or Yampa Rivers is a thrill you’ll never forget. Make it the perfect family vacation-or scream for extreme adventure.

Whatever your choice, our guides and outfitters can get you and your family down the river in style.

5 Take a Hike or Bike

Trail, trails, trails, and more trails. In Dinosaurland, you can cruise through mountain meadows, blaze across high desert canyons, or climb alpine forests. Need another reason to head northeast? BIKE magazine commented “Better than Moab?” When the summer months bring sizzling temperatures to the valleys below, biking in the Uinta’s is at its best, with small crowds and great trails.

6 Hook a Warm

Catch record-breaking trout at Flaming Gorge. Fly-Fish at Jones Hole. Cast a line into our 600 lakes and rivers.

The bottom line is- Dinosaurland is the Fisherman’s Reel Deal.

7 Stir-Up the Wild West

From rodeos to pow wows, from outlaw trail rides to professional bull riding, the Wild West is alive and strong

in Dinosaurland, and so is Western Hospitality. Come join in the fun as we celebrate our diverse cultures and western heritage.

8 Nuke a Marshmallow

With so much open space and public land, it’s hard not to find a place to camp in Dinosaurland. Don’t forget to bring the marshmallows and camp fire stories.

9 Dig up the Past

Shop at John Jarvie’s general store where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid stocked up on supplies.

It’s only one of our many historical museums in the local area. Make sure you visit the Western Heritage, Daughter of the Utah’s Pioneers, and Utah Field House of Natural HistoryState Park, for tales of the pioneers, outlaws, and rugged mountain men of the American’s old west.

10 Get Wet

With three State Park reservoirs in Dinosaurland, you are sure to get wet. Hitch onto the boat or pack your swim bags for a day on the beach at Steinaker. You can have your boat launch and gliding across the water in 15 minutes from the center of town. There’s plenty of water at Red Fleet, Steinaker and Starvation for everyone.

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Summer 2016

Moonshine Arch an awesome local wonder

S

destination.

We had lots of time to explore,

tone arches climb and take inspire wonder. photos to our Carved by nature hearts’ content. when conditions Anare right, they are other pleasant something special to surprise is that behold.

Moonshine Stone arches Arch is a perfect abound in Utah. frame for SteinThere is even Arches aker Reservoir National Park, which far below. This is home to a great is not a national many of these solid park and there and graceful sculpare no fences, tures. railings or So sure, you could improvements, drive 230 miles to leaving you free Moab and go to to wander and Arches, pay your fee climb, but do and be awed. You will so at your own also be surrounded risk. It would by crowds who seek The view framed by Moonshine Arch. not be a pleasthe same experience. ant trip down if Or, you can make injured. a very easy day trip Respect nature’s handiwork and leave this special -- an eight mile drive from downtown Vernal – hike about treasure as you find it – a pristine and awe-inspiring secret a mile and a half in some scenic and serene landscape and known mostly to Basin residents alone. experience the splendor of our area’s very own Moonshine Arch.

Directions: It seemed a little tricky to find the entrance from Driving north on Highway 191, drive about one-half Highway 191 (see directions in box). The road is primitive, mile past the entrance to Steinaker State Park; about midrutted and not advised when wet, and is best taken by a point in the curve of the highway there will be a dirt road four-wheel drive vehicle with a high clearance. Cars and to the left, which is a little hard to see from the highway.

SUVs can make part of the trip by road, and find a place The gravel road crosses a small wash before coming to a to park if the road seems too rutted, wet, or sandy for your metal gate which you should close behind you after passing vehicle to travel. through. About one-half mile from the highway turn left Once you reach the general vicinity of the trailhead you from the gravel onto a wide dirt road, then follow the signs will soon be directed by metal signs pointing the way. After parking at the trailhead you will take a pleasant hike to the for about a mile. Travel as far as safe for your vehicle to traverse; four-wheelers with a high clearance will probarch. There are a few places of somewhat steep elevation ably make it all the way to the trailhead. If you get to the gain, so wear good, sturdy hiking shoes and be sure to have trailhead, park there and follow the signs, otherwise walk plenty of water in warmer weather. The trail to the arch is to the trailhead, respecting the fences of private property. surrounded by private land, which is clearly marked and fenced. Be respectful of the private land and stay on the trail.

You will know you’re on the right path, but until you actually make the last turn you won’t see Moonshine Arch.

Coming around the bend, I bet you can’t suppress a “Wow.” The massive arch is about 85 feet in length, about 40 feet above the sandy ground. (These are guess-timates... forgot to stash a tape measure in the backpack.) The stone arch curves down, wide in the beginning and flowing to a slender terminus. Nature seems to be working to carve a second arch right behind the first, and there are caverns to explore behind the arch.

Same On an Easter weekend one year, there were just a few Shaved Ice • Everything Coffee visitors to the arch. In about three hours, we encountered Americano • Pasteries • Lattes one group coming out who reassured us we were on the right track as we drove in, and just as we were leaving the Breve • Big Breakfast Burritos OPEN Mon - Sat 5:00 am - 7:30 pm • Sun 7:00 am - 5:00 pm arch we said hello to another group just getting to their

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Summer 2016

Ashley Regional Announces

Level IV Trauma Designation

Ashley Regional is proud to announce their first Trauma Designation.

This designation comes after more than a year of preparation for the staff and physicians. Level IV Designation requires full time surgical and orthopedic staffing and specific training for all the nurses and physicians involved. A trauma team must be designated with the ability to call the team into action at any given time.

You can rest easy knowing that the team at Ashley Regional Medical Center is highly trained and ready to handle any emergency you may encounter.

Ashley Regional M E D I C A L

C E N T E R

150 West 100 North Vernal, Utah 84078 435-789-3341 • 866-725-2862

Visit our website at www.ashleyregional.com