CO: Dinosaur Nat'l Monument (pics: dial-up caution)
 

Hope everyone had a nice Labor Day weekend. I ended up leaving last Thursday afternoon so I could make it up to Dino Land, which is in the far northwest corner of the state, before it got totally dark. This has been a favorite place of mine (note that I have many!) since my first journey to the area. For those that aren't totally familiar with this region, about a third of the monument lies in the Utah side and is the only place where the bones are dug up. The fossil quarry is out of Jenson. The Colorado side is extremely awesome desert sandstone canyon country, where at the heart of it the Green and Yampa Rivers join. I have a more detailed write-up on my site which is also duplicated on another site I frequent, here.

As for this 4-day trip, it was 1,010 miles worth of driving (none reserved for wheelin'), many clicks of the shutter(s), the usual "oohs" and "ahhs", and the fact that I was in the most remote part of the state where only but a few should travel to on this getaway weekend for many. I even managed to improve upon my tan, though I guess I'm not for sure about that as it could be dirt covering it up! :pig: I won't know 'till I wash up later tonight.

Enough of my gibberish, onto the pics!

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My campsite on the first night at one of the 3 main overlooks. Also on display here (if you can make it out) is my newer screen "mod" which worked very well.



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Driving the Yampa Bench Road as it parallels the Yampa River



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At the eastern end of the Yampa Bench Road as it ascends and leaves the monument



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I took a day to travel up to, and camp at, the Gates of Lodore, which is at the northernmost section on the northern arm of the monument. Here, the Green River makes a dramatic entrance to the monument. I say "dramatic" as the river flows on flat land prior to this. Only room for so many pictures.



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As taken at the Gates of Lodore Ranger Station



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A few miles further up the road from the Gates, lies Browns Park Wildlife Refuge. Just took a quick snap here for my own log. Just off the screen to the right, about 8 miles from here, is the Utah border. Wyoming's border is 10 miles to the north.



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Back on the Yampa Bench Road on another day, here I am having problems staying on the road! It rained quite a bit on this day and the previous night, and made for some really slick travel on the clay surface. I almost got stuck in the "ditch" a 4Runner length back from where it sits here. Ooey-gooey stuff! Needless to say, this drive added the all the mud that you see on the rest of the pics.



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At one of the fine overlooks (Harding Hole), and the only one you can drive right up to.



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Same spot as above



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At the end of one of the side canyons



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Castle Park Overlook as taken this morning



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I did manage to get some crawlin' in! Sadly, this would be the extent of it as these rocks are serving as a road block to the above overlook.



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Looking up into Sand Canyon from the road that leads into Echo Park (I'm highly aware by now that none of the names I've been throwing out are meaning a heckuva lot! Though, I guess there is a chance someone else might be familiar with the area.)



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Whispering Cave. Nope, I couldn't hear any voices! Probably a real good thing! The cool thing about this is that even on a hot summer day, as soon as you get within about 3' of the opening, there is a cool draft that is present. The tallest part of the opening is about 5'. I also took about a half-hour worth of batting practice up against this wall using a tennis ball! No worries about hitting it over this BIG monster!



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In the cave hoping that it decides not to fall apart right about now. I really have no idea how that center section is anchored in!



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Last but not least, one of the coolest places--Steamboat Rock at Echo Park. Just to the right of Steamboat Rock and just this side of the far butte, is the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers.



Here are a few panos from the 3 main overlooks along the Yampa Bench Road:

Castle Park Overlook

Harding Hole Overlook

Wagon Wheel Overlook


And here's another from the main road in the monument that has overlooks off to either side. This one is a view of the area I spent the most of the time in. Steamboat Rock is viewable on the bottom left of this image, and the main overlooks noted above are further off to the right, and no doubt off the screen.

Well, that about does it. I work two days then I'm heading out somewhere else for another 4-day weekend! We'll see what awaits . . .

Happy trails

As always Darren, your pics are spectacular.
Glad you had a great time.

http://www.deephousepage.com/smilies/jawdrop.gifStunning trip!

Batting practice against that wall would have been so much fun!

Great Pics!!! Stellar as usual!

Awesome report Darren. You are doing the trips I dream of! Soon I will have my fun! Thanks for the inspiration and sharing!

that is sweet. that looks like some nasty clay tho...my locker would struggle...yikes! your 4runner looks great like always and glad you had a fun, safe trip.

what are you using for a camera? those photo's are AMAZING

Awesome shots, Darren!
Everytime I see your trail reports it makes me yearn for a road trip out to the Rockies :D

So,do you make postcards? ;)

You probably should.

Awesome pictures! The scenery is beautiful.

Awesome pics as always Darren. I will add this trip to the list as always. Thanks for sharing. :)

Awesome pics, once again you're making me jealous for leaving CO!

Good eye, great adventure!

Thanks, gents! Glad you enjoyed it.

Kyle, mine almost stuggled with that clay! Not a whole heckuva lot you can do if you're wearing racing slicks. For a brief moment, I thought I might be camping there on the edge of the road for a night!

DJ, if those pics are "AMAZING," then I'm REALLY looking forward to getting my good stuff (film) back! Thanks for the compliment. Those were taken on my Canon S45. Details on all the junk I use can be found here. Fortunately, I am blessed to live in an area, and able to travel to many others easily enough, where if I accidentally dropped the camera anywhere and the shutter happened to be tripped, I would still end up with a great shot!

AWD, nope, no postcards! Marmot asked me on another one of the last reports that he wants a calendar. Funny guy, even though he said he was serious! I'm always out taking more trips. Can't ever stick around long enough to actually get anything done, let alone get my film developed.

Rich, just close your eyes or don't bother to click on any of my threads! I still have no idea how you did it (moved)!


Thanks again, guys!

darren is it me or does your truck have a lower stance look to it on that clay embankment picture. I wonder why. thats a neat picture.

Well, I agree that it does appear to look low in the picture. Part of it is from the way things appear on camera, and part is because I'm only sitting at about 1.5-1.75" up front because of my fatigued springs/loss of fluid in the coil-overs, which need to be overhauled--and soon. Just haven't gotten around to it yet. Trust me, I am not going for the lowered look! Also, my tires in that picture look like 12.50's, but they are nowhere near that width.

yea i figured it was the angle of the hill along with all the clay stickin to the tires. Still looks bad ace!

Darren,

You have made me oh so jealous! I want to go back there sooooo bad!

About 8 years ago, while I was still in high school, my family took a road trip from KS to CA to visit family. We took our time driving out there and back and saw the sights along the way. We drove up to Harper's Corner Overlook and were in awe of the beauty of all the landscape. I think we all agreed that was even more amazing than the dinosaur quarry (which we also visited). We also took the time to visit Flaming Gorge just across the border in Utah. Again, simply spectacular! I really want to take my wife out there camping and sightseeing, because there is just so much scenery to see. If only it were simply a day trip up there for my wife and I.

So Darren, did you camp down in Echo Park? Are you allowed to camp anywhere you like along the 4x4 only paths? Is there plenty of hiking around there? My wife and I want to travel to these locations, use the truck to get places, but also hike around to sample the scenery by foot.

Regards,
Joel

As always Darren,
You do a great job of letting the rest of us know where we want to take our next trip.
Thanks!

Great pics once again Darren.

Have you been down to the San Juans yet this Fall? If so, how are the Aspens turning?

I'm planning on being down there next week. :D