Flaming Gorge

On the Road Again Day 9 | More aspens and red rocks

A day on the road, heading for Wyoming. We stopped at Dinosaur National Park to see the new quarry bones exhibit, then stopped in town for gas and caffeine. My favorite antique shop wasn't there any longer, so we headed north. We've always gone 'round Flaming Gorge on the east side; this time we drove up the west side, and found a very cool side road through the Sheep Creek Canyon geological area.

The road looped through timber and aspen trees, ranchland, then dropped down into a steep canyon with a view to a spectacular rock cliff. I could only speculate that the main canyon must have looked like this, before it was flooded by the dam. The road out was down a narrow canyon that was wide enough only for the twisty road and a creek.

There was once a campground here, until a flash flood filled the canyon and killed the campers there. Today's a bright sunny day with no rain in sight: the narrow road we drove was washed with sand and gravel from a recent overflow, and I was glad when we escaped the mouth of the canyon and got back on the main road.

The Flaming Gorge reservoir is huge, and cold, and a mecca for fishermen (those with a boat, anyway). Because of the depth and the elevation, trout flourish here. Maybe one day we'll come back with the fly rods.