Camping Among The Dinosaurs

Sept. 10-13.  Up and out of the canyon and a bit east through the Strawberry Valley we go.  I will say it again, that was quite the adventure driving through a canyon and not knowing what was around the bend.  Thank goodness it stopped raining the evening before we left.  We had a clear pretty day to drive out of the canyon to HWY 40 and head to Dinosaur National Monument.  A bit muddy on the dirt road out of the canyon but not enough to worry about getting stuck.  It was rather fun to drive beneath the tall towering cliffs and notice all the different formations.  Felt just like the old west when outlaws hid in a canyon!

    

And who remembers the song that fits the name at the top of this sign?  I do!  So of course we both started singing the song!

We had about a 100 mile drive further east to Dinosaur National Monument.  We drove through more open country on a bright blue sky day as we headed to the town of Vernal, the gateway town to Dinosaur National Monument. 

   

Vernal, UT, is in the Uinta Basin.  In 1861 President Abraham Lincoln set the area aside as the Uinta Indian Reservation. Vernal itself lies in Ashley Valley. Tourism also plays a role in Vernal's economy due to the town's roots in the old west and being a large site of ancient  dinosaur fossils.   Dinosaur national Monument is located on the southeast flank of the Uinta Mountains on the border between Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. 

As we headed out of town, we could see the icon landmark of the national monument.   The colorful jutting rock formations in the monument area are seen for several miles.   The park itself is 6 miles from the highway and about 15 miles from Vernal. 

 

WOW!  What a campsite inside the national monument!  We arrived early so we had our choice of sites.  The loop we were on was non-reservable so I think we chose the best site in the whole campground!  The campground is down along the green river, about 3 miles from the monument area.  The campground was less than half full and closes at the end of Sept.  What a view right from our windows!   It was so private, quiet and serene.  We even had our own path through the brush to the river.  It was 4 beautiful days of boon-docking under fabulous skies, but what fun to be just plain old camping.  We still enjoy doing that once in awhile. 

 

 

The views from our site were just so gorgeous, you wouldn’t even think of using a sun shade or awning! 

   

The rich blue sky and big white fluffy clouds made for the perfect photo opportunity!  I got out the tri-pod and just clicked away each day! 

  

With this setting, we just had to cook outside and have a campfire.  Fantastic scenery, blue skies, cool breezes, and hamburgers on the grill-it just doesn’t get any better than that!!

Even the sun setting slowly down the face of the mountains was so pretty.  I took the pictures standing in my doorway. 

 

What a wonderful place!  If ever in this part of UT again, we will certainly return!