This is the thirteenth in a series of articles that offer suggestions for your 1999 camping/ vacation destinations. The articles share our personal experiences at these great places and provide links to more explicit information on attractions, parks and campgrounds.
Like the mighty Colorado into which it flows, the Green River is an amazing sculptor. Along its twisted course-from the high Wind River Mountains of western Wyoming to its confluence in southern Utah-dramatic rugged gorges and colorful canyons have been carved. Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area owes its existence to the work of the Green River-plus some human intervention. With the addition of Flaming Gorge Dam in 1963, a fantastic 91-mile long reservoir was created, and Lake Flaming Gorge was born. Half water-half land, the scenic National Recreation Area (NRA) offers a variety of outdoors enjoyments and unforgettable adventures.
About Flaming Gorge
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area spans the border between western Wyoming and eastern Utah and is managed by the Ashley National Forest. The NRA covers 207,363 acres of diverse land and cool, clear water. Its northern terminate is in Wyoming's high desert country, about eight miles south of the city of Green River. In the south, the Recreation Area (Rec. Area) climbs Utah's Uinta Mountains and borders on Highway 44. The surface of Lake Flaming Gorge is at 6,040 feet above sea level. Magnificent Ashley National Forest encompasses 1.3 million acres and ranges in elevation from 6,000 to 13,500 feet. This region is America's fabled "Wild West" and is indeed the place where "the deer and antelope play!" It is rugged, wild country that is easy and refreshing to the eyes.
The NRA can be accessed from I-80 via Wyoming Highway 530 at Green River to Manila, Utah (west side) or on U.S. 191 south at Exit 99 to Dutch John (the east side). From the south, take U.S 191 north from Vernal, Utah. The southern approach, however, is very mountainous road with many curves. Not an easy route if you are towing.
Recreation Area Attractions and Activities
More than anything, this area is rich in fishing and boating-watersports opportunities. The lake provides world class trout fishing. Below the dam, Blue Ribbon Trout are plentiful and most often willing!
Boating on Lake Flaming Gorge is simply outstanding. There are three commercial marinas and two Forest Service boat ramps. Other watersports include water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming.
There are two Scenic Byways and two Scenic Backways within Ashley National Forest. The Utah section of Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is in spectacular mountain country, with narrow canyons and awesome cliffs. Dense forests of aspen, lodgepole and ponderosa pine crowd the roadways and snuggle-up to the reservoir's shoreline. Wildlife is abundant with elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope frequently seen by visitors. Sheep Creek Geological Area, adjacent to the Rec. Area, should also not be missed.
The copyright of the article Camping '99 Destination Series: Flaming Gorge Nat. Rec. Area in Camping is owned by . Permission to republish Camping '99 Destination Series: Flaming Gorge Nat. Rec. Area in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
2.
Sep 3, 1999 1:02 PM
Thanks Sherri, Glad you enjoyed them. I use photos that we have taken of an area. We have a lot of albums full of pics we have taken across the U.S. and western Canada. Flaming Gorge NRA is really a ...
-- posted by Tom_Stephens
1.
Sep 2, 1999 7:58 PM
Your photos really portray how beautiful the area is. Thanks for giving me the glimpse!
-- posted by jerrib
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