2 Aug, Monday, travel Day Dinosaur NM, Heber City, Salt Lake City, Elko, Winnemucca

We got an early start because Dave wanted play pickleball in Utah, that over hiking the “Sound of Silence” through Moab-Wave-like rocks that I preferred - such tough choices.  

Dave, Isabel, Lezley and Ginger in Heber City

We arrived in Heber City at 10:00 to find a busy, active pickleball scene even though it rained last night and was overcast with the occasional light sprinkle.  The park features six beautiful courts, each fenced, plus another three in an adjacent area that was previously a tennis court.  All this is surrounded by beautiful mountain views. We played two hours with great people (Maria, Craig, Isabel and Ginger).  Isabel let us know there are many places to play in nearby Park City, where she lives, but the rain prevented play there.

Back on the road, we headed for the nearest brewery.  Many were closed Mondays, or opened late afternoon, so we found ourselves in downtown Salt Lake City at Red Rock Brewery.

Red Rock Brewery with a wood fired oven

The thing about SLC, it’s pretty expensive.  Parking at $8 a space (we took up 2+), lunch offerings at $20+, but the brewery was OK. I had a great citrus pale ale (after I asked for a taste and was later charged for the privilege).  $60 + tip later, we were off to the dump station at the Granger Hunter Improvement District in West Valley City..and it was free.

One of the infamous painted boots of Elko

All set for boondocking, we headed past the Salt Flats (our favorite spot) because it was still early and continued to Elko for dinner at La Fiesta .. but it’s closed on Mondays.  So we hit another little Mexican Taqueria, fueled up and continued on.  We made it as far as Winnemucca where we found a spot at the very popular BLM Water Canyon Recreation Area.

1 August at the Dinosaur National Monument

The Dinosaur National Monument park is very interesting; it’s reminiscent of Moab.  The rocks are interesting and diverse, as is the weather and the skies.

Viewing petroglyphs 

The places a KTM can take you…

So many petroglyphs to view

We started the day with a moto ride out to one of the petroglyph sites, Cub Creek Petroglyphs.  It was a nice trail with many pieces of art.

Zoom in to read about a fascinating woman

Heading further down Blue Mountain Road we came to Josie’s cabin.   

After viewing the homestead property, we headed up Box Canyon.  

Box Canyon

Well maintained NP trails

Another beautiful short hike into the heart of different eras of rock.  At one point, we found a rock with a hole to climb through, and that (with a little imagination) looked like two people kissing, and at the base, Dave spotted a #kindness_rock waiting to be relocated.  I passed it on to another hiker to take and reposition.

Peaking trough

Kissing rocks

Heading back, we stopped at a second area, Swelter Shelter, and third area, farther east along the Cub Creek site, with many petroglyphs and a longer hiking trail (3/4 mile) that took us to the top of the rock walls where the views were impressive.

Petroglyphs 

After returning to the campground to move our camp to a shady site (A-18) and grab a bite, we set off for the visitor center, a nice structure with well organized informational displays. 

The Dinosaur Quarry

 

Your allowed to touch some of the bones

 From there, one can take a shuttle to the top to view the exhibition center where there is a “log-jamb” off dinosaur bones partially excavated and housed in a modern 1954 structure that preserves the site.  

More hikes with petroglyphs 

Split Mountain campground at Green River

Hmmm…

We hopped back on KT for another short hike, this time past a tremendous display of petroglyphs.

Finally, we checked out the other campground in the area, Split Rock Campground that includes day use and a boat ramp and is a pull-out location for rafters.

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.