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Utah > Dinosaurland

Destination Locator: (11 options)

Dinosaurland

Ashley National Forest- The Ashley National Forest, with headquarters in Vernal, Utah, comprises 1.3 million acres located in the northeastern portion of Utah and southwestern portion of Wyoming.
Dinosaur National Monument- Dinosaur National Monument is located in northwest Colorado and northeast Utah, straddling the border of these states. The Dinosaur Quarry serves as the area's museum and encloses the fossil-bearing rock layer.
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area- The reservoir is located on the Utah/Wyoming border. Situated at 6,040-foot elevation in a partial timber setting with 42,000 acres of surface area.
Ouray National Wildlife Refuge- The Ouray NWR is located in northeastern Utah in Uintah County along the Green River. Over 200 species of birds are found on the refuge.

Past management emphasis has been on waterfowl production and providing feeding/resting areas for migratory birds. Potential changes in management philosophies include reduced emphasis on waterfowl production, increased emphasis on spring/fall migrational habitat and riparian restoration.

The Green River and it's floodplain are designated critical habitat for four endangered fish species of the Upper Colorado River System. The Ouray NWR potentially has some of the best flooded bottomlands habitat in the river system and may be a critical link to establishing self-sustaining populations of these fish. Modifications of Refuge protective dikes to benefit endangered fish and cottonwood regeneration is currently under consideration.

The Ouray National Fish Hatchery is physically located on the Ouray NWR; it's purpose is to propagate endangered fish as genetic refugia and for research purposes.

Issues of concern are improvement of water delivery systems, selenium contamination and clean up, mosquito abatement and invasion of nonnative vegetation.
Red Fleet Reservoir- Red Fleet Reservoir is located in the western part of Utah, 10 miles northeast of Vernal, Utah. The reservoir is situated at an elevation of 5,600-feet and has a 520-acre surface area. Preferred activities include boating, fishing, and swimming.
Red Fleet State Park- This site lies in northeastern Utah with its developed areas on the shores of Red Fleet Reservoir. It is best known for excellent boating and year-round fishing opportunities.
Starvation Reservoir- Starvation Reservoir is situated at 5,710-foot elevation with a 3,300-acre surface area. This site is located in the western portion of Utah. Preferred activities include motorized boating, camping, and fishing.
Starvation State Park- This state park is best known for water-oriented activities on the 3,495-acre Starvation Reservoir. It is open year round for fishing and camping with limited services in the winter.
Steinaker Reservoir- Steinaker Reservoir and Steinaker State Park are located in northwestern Utah near Vernal. The reservoir is situated at a 5,520-foot elevation in an open setting, with shade trees on the shoreline and an 800-acre surface area. Preferred activities include fishing, motorized boating, and camping.
Upper Stillwater Reservoir- Upper Stillwater Reservoir is located in western Utah, north of Duschesne. The reservoir is situated in a timber setting at an 8,170-foot elevation with a surface area of 330 acres. Preferred activities include fishing, camping, and hiking/mountain biking.
Utah Field House of Natural History Museum- This state museum is open for day-use only. The site consists of a garden filled with life-sized dinosaur replicas and a natural history museum with variety of exhibits.

Activity Locator: (256 recreation options)

All Dinosaurland Outdoor Recreation Activities

General Information

Description - Dinosaurland gets its title from the many Jurassic Period remains that have been found east of the Uinta Mountains. Two parks in this area highlight the paleontologic finds that have occurred during the last century. In addition this area contains the eastern Uinta Mountains and the Flaming Gorge Dam.

Attractions - Visitors to Dinosaurland will have no shortage of interesting landscapes or activities to pursue. The Ashley National Forest and High Uintas Wilderness Area provide high summits and forests for those attracted to the mountains. Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area crosses the Utah-Wyoming border, with most of its facilities in Utah. This colorful canyon provides a myriad of recreation opportunities both water and land oriented. Further south is Dinosaur National Monument. At this federal facility visitors will find an information center, campground and hiking trails. The Green River leads through this region en route to the Colorado River.

Recreation - Recreation opportunities abound in every season in Dinosaurland. Visitors can enjoy camping, picnicking, hiking, biking, swimming, boating, water skiing, fishing, four-wheel driving and off-road vehicle use during the warmer months. Many facilities in this region are open for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice skating, ice fishing and snowshoeing during the winter.

Climate - Mountains and high plateaus exist in this region of Utah. Elevations range from 4,800 feet to 13,500 feet. The climate varies with the elevation and seasons. Expect hot summer days at lower elevations, with temperatures reaching 95 degrees F. Summer in the higher elevations is mild with high temperatures reaching 85 degrees F. Winter can be very cold, especially at higher elevations. Visitors to the mountains can expect temperatures between 35 to 50 degrees F during the day and near 30 degrees F at night. Winter temperatures at lower elevations are milder than in the mountains. The lack of moisture in the air makes low temperatures much more bearable. Utah is an arid state with much of its precipitation reaching the ground in the form of winter snow and summer thunderstorms.

Location - Dinosaurland lies in the northeastern corner of Utah, where the borders of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming meet. U.S. Highway 191 leads north/south through the region connecting Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area to Ashley National Forest and Dinosaur National Monument.

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More Information

Contact Information:
Utah Travel Council, Council Hall , Salt Lake City, UT, 84114, Phone: 801-538-1030

Additional Information:
Utah Travel Regions - Utah offers a huge range of attractions for the outdoor enthusiast. The state has been broken into seven travel regions to facilitate your search for the ideal outdoor recreation site.