After getting up far too late, I drove to Vernal on Saturday morning. Many motels were already fully occupied, so I ended up in the local Days Inn.
Far too expensive, the bed made but the sheets were stained and didn't look that they have been changed after the previous customer left. So I slept in my clothing that night and left a dime as the tip to the maid. I hope she gets the message. For the rest of the room: well, clean is something different, there was a nice colony of dust bunnies behind every desk...
What a difference the Dinosaur Monument made. Even though they closed the visitor centre (which exhibits a rock with large dinosaur fossils) for security reasons (it was built on a sliding foundation) it is still a great place to go hiking. I haven't found the fossils on the Fossil Discovery trail, but the Sound of Silence trail and the Desert Voices trail are really beautiful. The whole area is quite scenic, there is a rough and raw beauty to it, and it is quite different than the National
Parks further south, as it is a cold desert. The different types of sandstone and the rock formations caused by erosion through wind and water, are most spectacular.
Split Rock Area
The Sound of Silence trail has its name for good reason: it is very silent especially within the maze of clay hills. In fact, all the trails let you experience relief from the noise of civilization which you wouldn't believe being possible if you're comming from Central Europe. Both trails together are approximately 6.5 miles long, the Sound of Silence trail being quite difficult.
On Sunday, I drove to
the Colorado part of the Monument. Unfortunately, most of the Canyon Area scenic drive was still closed for winter, but what could be seen was very beautiful and two short trails led to some amazing view points. Capturing it with a photograph proved to be near impossible, though. Thus, I drove back to Utah and took the 1.8 mile river trail along the
Green River. Since it wasn't a round trip, I hiked it in both directions. Also, I took the trails at the lodge, the Hog Canyon trail is more beautiful than the Box Canyon trail.
With plenty of time left I went to a half-day road trip through the Flaming Gorge recreational area and through the southwest of Wyoming. I took a few pictures at the reservoir and on top of plateau in Wyoming.
Bridge of US 189 over the Flaming Gorge reservoir
Plateau near Rock Springs
Very scenic drive, it goes through various climate zones and a large variety of vegetation.
While Dinosaur Nat'l Monument probably isn't as spectacular as, for example, Bryce Canyon, Zion or Arches, it is definately worth a visit, even without the visitor centre. It is the right place for one who seeks silence, enjoys hiking and is interested in geology. Fortunately, it is isn't as overrun as the more popular parks. Best time to visit would be
late spring, as it can become quite hot there in summer.
Comments
zefirodragon.livejournal.com 17 years, 8 months ago
Very nice journeys you're taking. Can nearly make me jealous :)
You enjoyed the nature all alone?
Link | Replywoelfisch.livejournal.com 17 years, 8 months ago
Apart from the other occasional hikers: yes. I would not have been able to do all this in such a short time together with others (especially as it hard to find someone with interest in hiking, a similar pace and comparable stamina among my colleagues.)
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