When the summer sun beats down on the red rocks of northeastern Utah, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the cool waters of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and the Green River along the Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway. Bring your swimming suit and sunscreen so you can swim, paddle, or ride skis or innertubes in the wake of your boat amid the breathtaking “flaming” red rocks and shimmering water found on this byway in the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.
No matter how much time you spend on the water, you’ll find plenty of visitor services at the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Three full service marinas on the reservoir offer boat launch, storage and maintenance facilities. Stay at one of the many campgrounds found throughout the area, many of which also have boat launches and are well developed with flush toilets and picnic tables, or camp with your boat at one of the three seasonal campgrounds accessible only by water. You can even sleep on the water in a rented houseboat, spending your days enjoying the bright Utah sun and your nights the refreshing breezes over the cool water. The perfect time for water skiing, wake boarding, and water tubing is early in the morning or late in the evening when the water is smooth and glassy. You may encounter choppy water if you wait until afternoon.
One of the top scuba diving locations in Utah is along the Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway. Dive into Flaming Gorge Reservoir and discover a whole new perspective as you swim past underwater rock formations and look for treasure lost by swimmers. When you swim along the cliff, watch for crayfish along the bottom, and keep an eye out for bass and the occasional trout swimming through their underwater world. Although there are no scuba shops at the reservoir, you can find scuba services in Vernal at the southern end of the byway.
Rafting on the Green River Below Flaming Gorge Dam (UT) [3]
Canoeists, kayakers and whitewater rafters will also find their niche along the Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway. Paddle your way down the rapids of the Green River or maneuver your boat into the reservoir's narrow 1000-foot deep red rock canyons. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, you may want to plan your kayak or canoe trip for the middle of the week when fewer motorboats are on the reservoir.
In addition to the Flaming Gorge itself, the Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway offers boating, swimming, fishing, and other water recreational opportunities at Steinaker State Park and Red Fleet State Park just a few miles north of Vernal, as well as access to numerous other lakes and streams in the Ashley National Forest. Whatever your destination on the byway may be, you will find unlimited opportunities to get out on the water and have fun!
