31 July, travel day RMNP to Dinosaur National Monument

We made our exit from Moraine Campground at 7 AM, and by 8 o’clock we had passed the summit of 12,183 feet, the highest road in a National Park. I spotted a large bull elk, sporting a full rack, busting a move.  

We climbed up through the mist of clouds and drizzle on a road with no shoulder and a big drop off into the abyss.  At the summit we stopped at the Alpine Visitor Center for some pictures before heading back down the other side.

Wow! So glad we chose to go over the pass - the drive was so beautiful!  Misty mountains with occasional clear vistas of valleys, glaciers, and mountain tops.

 

Arriving in Steamboat Springs before 11:00, we walked around town for an hour enjoying the architecture, bridges over the Yampa river, and ski town ambiance.  

Mountain Tap Brewery

At noon the big glass garage doors of the Mountain Tap Brewery  rolled up (it used to be a Utility Truck garage) and we had lunch, artisan pizza from a wood fired oven, and craft beer by the Yampa River.  

Walking through town, back to the camper, we saw purple bruised clouds, and lightning followed by thunderous….well thunder.

Back on the road, sprinkles and clouds helped to keep the temperatures manageable (low-mid 80s).  We stopped at the Canyon Visitor Center near Dinosaur, CO.  We’d intended to boondock nearby, but changed our plans and continued on the the park entrance near Vernal, UT.  Here we were able to camp by the river at Green River Campground for a couple nights so that we could spend the next day jetting about on KT to the sites we’ll want to see.  

 Green River Campground

Tip: loop B is by reservation only and has the best sites.