Flaming Gorge

Historic Country

Flaming Gorge is located in truly historic country. The dammed-up waters of the Green River have created a breathtaking lake extending upstream for 90 miles (144.8 km). The resulting playground ... the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area ... couldn’t be more appropriately named.

It was near this point where Major John Wesley Powell and nine men put their small wooden boats in the water in 1869. The hardened one-armed Civil War veteran embarked on his voyage into the unknown. He bet his life ... and those of his men ... on a generalization he had made based on his knowledge of geology.

He was told there must be huge falls down the Green River and on the Colorado River to follow. It was inevitable. Powell said no. If he was wrong, he and his men would probably end up dead.

Once they entered the canyon, there was no turning back. He believed that a river that was so loaded with silt and erosive material would have long ago worn the riverbed to an almost even grade. He was right but it was still a wild ride.

Other legends followed and got their start in this area. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. Jim Bridger. This is definitely an area rich in western folklore.

Why Was It Named Flaming Gorge?

Powell’s second journey was much better equipped than his first one. Frederick S. Dellenbaugh accompanied him and authored the expedition’s story. He wrote, “we could see high up before us some bright red rocks.”

Because of these bright red rocks glowing in the sunlight like a flame above the gray-green of the ridge, the major bestowed the name of Flaming Gorge on this area. The name stuck and is now synonymous … even famous … with this amazing playground that covers 207,360 acres.

The Green River

The magnificent Green River starts as a trickle in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains. By the time it has joined the Colorado and ends at the Gulf of California, it will have cascaded through six National Parks or Forest Service units. The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is the first one of the six.

Where Is Flaming Gorge?

The Gorge is tucked into the northeast corner of Utah and southern Wyoming. According to what I can tell, Flaming Gorge is about equally divided between Utah and Wyoming. From what I have read, the most dramatic scenery and the best places to visit are in the southern Utah end.

What To Do At Flaming Gorge?

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is defined by its uncommon beauty … towering red cliffs mirrored in deep-blue water … and by the wildlife that thrives in those wide, untamed spaces. It is not unusual to round a bend and spot a mule deer browsing in an open meadow, a band of pronghorn ever-ready for a sprint across the flats, or a lone elk silhouetted against the sunrise.

Big-game sightings can feel almost routine at Flaming Gorge. Cougars shadow the canyons. Black bears forage in high forest pockets. Bighorn sheep pick their way along sheer walls. An occasional band of wild horses still roams the open benches above the lake.

Then there’s the fishing. The Green River tailwater below Flaming Gorge Dam is legendary … cold, clear, and packed with trophy rainbows. Up on the reservoir, anglers chase lake trout that regularly top thirty pounds.

In other words: spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, carefree boating and truly world-class fishing all rolled into one unforgettable place. I say care-free about boating but a boat-owning friend once told me “a boat is just a hole in the water to pour money into.” Even so, most boaters look like they’re having fun.

Even though Lake Powell in southern Utah draws more visitors, there is much more to do at the Gorge. In fact, it may have no equal.

• Raft and fish on the Green River below the dam. Some of the best trout fishing on the planet is right here. Even during mid-summer, the surface water is relatively cool. That means it’s a haven for trout.  It is one of the best tailwater fisheries in the world. But the Green was an endangered river not too long ago. We won that battle.
• Boat and fish on the 91-mile-long reservoir. Also world-famous for fishing. But for lake trout. Trophy lake trout. Many 30+ pounders are caught here every year. The Utah record ... caught right here ... goes over 51 pounds. There are bigger ones yet to be caught.
• Camp at one of 43 developed campgrounds. They are scattered around the reservoir and along the Green River corridor. Together, they offer approximately 600 drive-in, tent and RV sites. This is in addition to a few boat-in and group areas.
• Stay at one of the comfortable lodges.
• Watch and photograph some of the wildlife mentioned above.
• Backpack into the nearby High Uintas Wilderness Area.
• Take a tour of the dam. It is immense.
• Visit some of the interesting historic sites.
• Mountain bike all over this area.  Also enjoy:
• windsurfing
• houseboating
• camping
• snowmobiling
• cross-country skiing
• The Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway
• RVing
• and ... one of my favorites ... photography

The Best Time To Visit Flaming Gorge?

The Gorge is extremely popular but it rarely seems crowded. Except for busy summer weekends when the three places renting rafts near Dutch John sell out.

The ramps get very crowded. Get a reservation on the busy summer weekends. The river is fantastic for rafting. And the fishing is world-famous.

Early fall may be the best time to visit. The leaves are changing. It is cool during the day and chillier at night. The bright red Kokanee Salmon are spawning up the tributaries.  There is even an annual Kokanee Salmon Day.

What About The Dam?

The construction of the dam was started in 1958  and completed in 1964. The dam rises 502 feet (153 meters) above the bedrock and 455 feet (139 meters) higher than the original river channel. The surface level elevation is 6,040 feet (1843 meters).

The nearby town of Dutch John was established as a base camp during the dam’s construction. It is now essentially an administrative site. A pretty much meaningless fact for you.

A fellow worker of mine ... a laid-off office manager ... was named the mayor (that’s right) of Dutch John back in the late 1980's. Not a bad place to be laid off to.

Flaming Gorge Fishing

We’ve talked above about the world-class Lake Trout fishing this lake is famous for. As illustration, the Utah state record for a lake trout is 53 pounds, 15 ounces caught at Flaming Gorge on July 17, 2020.

The Green River below the dam is also world-famous for fly-fishing. The ice cold water and perfect structure make for an ideal trout water especially for rainbow and brown trout.

You don’t need a permit or a guide to raft below the dam although first-timers might want to try one. You can rent a raft at three different locations.

How About Going For A Drive?

One of my favorite ways to experience the jaw-dropping beauty of this area is through a scenic drive. And what a place for a scenic drive!  The beautifully paved Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway is now one of my favorite road trips.

Many roadside exhibits and short nature trails allow you to experience the Flaming Gorge and Uintas area from many different perspectives. A scenic drive is a great way to see as much as possible in a limited time.

Why Flaming Gorge?

As I said earlier, Flaming Gorge gives you the opportunity to enjoy panoramas that are almost too big to fit into the lens of your camera.

It offers unlimited year-round recreational activities with great facilities. The main season runs from May through September. But a few facilities remain open for cross-country skiers, snowmobilers and ice fishermen.

Once again, when it comes to outdoor recreation, the Gorge may be unequaled.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Wasatch Mountains

Lake Powell

Zion National Park

Arches National Park

Great Salt Lake

Monument Valley