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Please click here for - Part Four
Dinosaur!
We sprayed off the undercarriage and washed the truck in Rock Springs, Wyoming. The Lady handles the cell phone and checked on weather forecasts. South looked best for warmer and dryer so we headed south on highway 430. It was “our kind of road” because there was virtually no one else on it. We crossed into Colorado and the road turned to dirt. We crossed a high point and dropped into Irish Canyon on a downstream run toward the Green River. We made a short stop at the Irish Canyon Petroglyph Site. The petroglyphs are from the Fremont Culture.
We arrived at Dinosaur National Monument in the early afternoon. We found the campground mostly empty so we took the most private and shady campsite available. It was 80° and it felt very warm to us. But the quiet, shade, and breeze along the Green River made it very pleasant.
The Gates of Lodore - and Lodore Canyon - is a place of mystery. How did the Green River cut through a mountain range? Here’s a good discussion on – The Curious Case of the Green River in the Uinta Mountains. There is a half mile hiking trail to the Gates of Lodore and the beginning of Lodore Canyon.
The prickly pear cactus were in bloom among the juniper trees.
The trail climbs and provides a nice view north of the Green River and the campground alongside. The campground mostly serves as a put in for rafting the Green River through the National Monument and most rafters – there is a permit system – overnight prior to launching the next morning.
Note – the Green River’s flow was low as it appears the upstream Flaming Gorge Reservoir is taking much of the water.
It was minor but still annoying. There was a group of 5 couples, early thirties in age, the grandparents probably had the kids for the weekend; it was a reunion of some sort. Two of the biggest complaints at campgrounds are about dogs and group size. Here, a group of five couples took 5 campsites, a campsite per couple. But they gathered and partied as a group in one campsite. The campsite occupancy limit is 8. This group had no interest in the surroundings or where they were, this was only a convenient place to meet up. Alcohol was consumed, the noise level increased. The loud, silly antics of one woman really irritated the Lady. Oh, how we prefer campground neighbors that smoke pot instead of using alcohol. They get quiet, mellow, and slowly tip over in their chairs. The dope smokers don’t get into arguments or fights or abuse their partners. We just have to stay upwind.
The short version is that we took advantage of the trail to the Gates of Lodore and stayed away – as much as possible – from camp and the inconsiderate neighbors and their barking dogs.
If you are getting together with a group of friends or family, rent a group campground.
It cooled nicely as sunset came. The light was so much nicer than at midday.
We retraced our steps in the early morning with our mugs of Peets
coffee. We were quiet and did not want to disturb others in the campground. Rafters and late night partiers tend to sleep in.
We got an early start the next morning and enjoyed the quiet drive south to intersect with highway 40. We turned off of highway 40 at Elk Springs onto dirt county roads to access the Yampa Bench Road. The Yampa Bench Road is 18 miles in length but the total distance from Elk Springs on dirt is 42 miles. On this Sunday, we saw only one other vehicle along this route.
After a couple of hours of driving we entered the National Monument. This area was burned several years ago.
We stopped at the Fray Baker Cabin.
The best part of the Yampa Bench Road was the west end and the marvelous overlooks into the Yampa River Gorge. The first was Wagon Wheel Point.
With her see mores, the Lady spotted a raft group below.
The side canyons were also spectacular.
As we pulled out from Wagon Wheel Point the Lady noticed dust from a vehicle on the road. We pulled to the side to allow a one ton dually long bed 4x4 pickup pass. The driver was in a hurry and showing his truck no mercy. At around 35 mph the back end of the truck was bouncing crazily from side to side. Yeeha! There is a private inholding down in the Yampa Canyon, a ranch. Could he have been late for church or ran out of beer?
Surviving our encounter with the only other vehicle, we stopped at the Harding Hole Overlook where the Yampa River below makes large gooseneck bends.
The final stop was the Castle Park Overlook.
A couple of miles before intersecting with the Echo Park Road we encountered a massive mud hole in the road. One side had standing water three feet deep. There were only old tire tracks, nothing recent. Dare we try it or should we back track? We took our time scouting and looking it over and evaluating our options and chances. I drove and the Lady spotted me on the best route.
At the intersection we turned right and drove the 4 miles down to the incredible Echo Park and the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers. The campground was mostly empty. After choosing a campsite, we made ourselves comfortable and at home.
After dinner and as the day cooled – it was 82° when we arrived – we hiked out to and beyond the confluence. We had the place to ourselves.
We sat out alongside the Yampa until almost dark, then we slowly made our way back to camp.
Surrounded by soaring sandstone cliffs, the next morning was breathtaking.
Evening primroses were in bloom.
We stopped at three places as we drove out from Echo Park, Whispering Cave, Pool Creek Petroglyph Site, and the Chew Ranch.
We climbed out to the Harpers Corner Road and turned south to continue our adventure. The Mormon crickets were waiting for us.
Our adventure continues. Please click here for - Part Six.
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