Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is home to the famous Flaming Gorge. This area is brimming with tons of activities for almost everyone. From hiking to fishing and more, the area is well worth visiting. Read on to find out more.
Location of Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is home to the massive Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Part of it is located in the northeastern corner of Utah just off route 191. The reservoir is 91 miles long. The other part extends far north into Wyoming.
There are two types of terrain surrounding the gorge. In Utah, the gorge is located in a mountainous area that includes canyons and forests. In Wyoming, the gorge is set in a desert. These two very different landscapes are homes to very different types of fauna. There is also a diverse variety of wildlife due to the differences in terrain.
History of the Gorge
John Wesley Powell explored the area in 1869 on an expedition down the Green River. The river is lined with vibrant sandstone cliffs. It eventually was named Flaming Gorge because of the beautiful sandstone cliffs. If you would like to learn more about the geological history and Powell’s expedition, click here. The Flaming Gorge became a reservoir in 1964 when the Flamming Gorge Dam was built. If you would like to learn more about the dam, you can visit the Upper Colorado Basin website. In 1968, congress established the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.
Activities in Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
When the reservoir is at full capacity, it holds 3,788,900 acre-feet of water. Its surface area is 42020. As a result, there are a lot of amazing activities to do in the area. First, there is world class fishing. Second, if you want to ride on the river there is motor boating, jet skiing, canoeing, and kayaking. Third, the land activities are numerous. Hiking and biking are plentiful in the recreation area, and camping is abundant. There are organized campgrounds and dispersed camping nearby. Fourth, winter in Wyoming offers a wide variety of snow and ice related activities. Ice related activities include ice climbing, ice fishing, and ice skating, Of course, there is cross-country skiing in the gorge area. Finally, those with a need for speed can go snowmobiling, on a sleigh ride, or dog sledding in the area. The opportunities are endless no matter when you chose to visit.
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