Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway
Encyclopedia
The Flaming Gorge - Uintas Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway
in the state of Utah
. It spans approximately 80 miles (128.7 km) as it travels from Vernal, Utah
northward through the Ashley National Forest
and the Uintah Mountains to the area around Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
in the northeastern corner of the state.
, Uintah County
at the intersection of US-40 and US-191. From there, it travels north on US-191, enters Ashley National Forest
, and passes Steinaker State Park
and Red Fleet State Park
as it starts to climb into the Uinta Mountains
. It continues north on its climb, encountering several switchbacks before topping out close to 8400 feet (2,560.3 m) in elevation. As it gradually starts to descend it enters Daggett County
before it enters Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
. Just inside the recreation area boundaries, the route splits in two.
Taking the right branch continues on US-191 to the northeast, passing over an inlet to Flaming Gorge Reservoir
via a suspension bridge
, before crossing Flaming Gorge Dam
, and passing by the town of Dutch John
. From here the route curves back around the southwest portion of Flaming Gorge reservoir, travelling northwest to Dutch John Gap, turning north through the gap, and turning to the northeast again after exiting Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, continuing until the Wyoming
state border.
Taking the left branch, the route follows SR-44 westward, which forms the southern boundary of the recreation area in this area, roughly following the southern rim of Flaming Gorge
, passing a turnoff to the Red Canyon Overlook and Visitors Center. As SR-44 approaches the western edge of the recreation area, it starts to turn in a northerly direction overall, descending in a series of turns as it approaches the southwestern tip of Flaming Gorge Reservoir and passes through Sheep Creek Gap. From this point, the route turns north, exits the recreation area, and continues a few miles further before it ends at the intersection of SR-43 in Manila
.
The scenic byway was formed in 1988 as Utah's first Forest Service Byway. It was added to the National Scenic Byways system on June 9, 1998.
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
in the state of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. It spans approximately 80 miles (128.7 km) as it travels from Vernal, Utah
Vernal, Utah
Vernal, Uintah County's largest city, is located in eastern Utah near the Colorado State Line, and 175 miles east of Salt Lake City. It is bordered on the north by the Uinta Mountains, one of the few mountains ranges in the world which lie in an east-west rather than the usual north to south...
northward through the Ashley National Forest
Ashley National Forest
Ashley National Forest is a national forest located in northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming. Within the Forest’s bounds are of vast forests, lakes, and mountains, with elevations ranging from . The Forest covers portions of Utah; Duchesne; Uintah; Daggett; and Summit counties in Utah and...
and the Uintah Mountains to the area around Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a United States National Recreation Area located in the states of Wyoming and Utah. The centerpiece of the recreation area is the 91 mile long Flaming Gorge Reservoir, a reservoir created by the Flaming Gorge Dam along the Green River in 1964...
in the northeastern corner of the state.
Route description
The south end of this route starts out in VernalVernal, Utah
Vernal, Uintah County's largest city, is located in eastern Utah near the Colorado State Line, and 175 miles east of Salt Lake City. It is bordered on the north by the Uinta Mountains, one of the few mountains ranges in the world which lie in an east-west rather than the usual north to south...
, Uintah County
Uintah County, Utah
This page deals with the Utah County. For the Wyoming County, see Uinta County, Wyoming.Uintah County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000 the population was 25,224 and by 2009 was estimated at 31,536. It was named for the Ute Indians, the tribe that lives in the basin. Its...
at the intersection of US-40 and US-191. From there, it travels north on US-191, enters Ashley National Forest
Ashley National Forest
Ashley National Forest is a national forest located in northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming. Within the Forest’s bounds are of vast forests, lakes, and mountains, with elevations ranging from . The Forest covers portions of Utah; Duchesne; Uintah; Daggett; and Summit counties in Utah and...
, and passes Steinaker State Park
Steinaker State Park
Steinaker State Park is a state park and reservoir of Utah, USA, located north of Vernal in Uintah County, Utah.Steinaker State Park opened to the public in 1964. It lies at an elevation of in northeastern Utah, south of the Uinta Mountains. The climate is arid with hot summers and cold winters....
and Red Fleet State Park
Red Fleet State Park
Red Fleet State Park is a state park of Utah, USA, featuring a reservoir and a fossil trackway of dinosaur footprints. The park is located north of Vernal.-Geography:...
as it starts to climb into the Uinta Mountains
Uinta Mountains
The Uinta Mountains are a high chain of mountains in northeastern Utah and extreme northwestern Colorado in the United States. A subrange of the Rocky Mountains, they are unusual for being the highest range in the contiguous United States running east to west, and lie approximately east of Salt...
. It continues north on its climb, encountering several switchbacks before topping out close to 8400 feet (2,560.3 m) in elevation. As it gradually starts to descend it enters Daggett County
Daggett County, Utah
Daggett County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Utah. The population was 1,059 at the 2010 census. It was named for Ellsworth Daggett, the first surveyor-general of Utah. Its county seat and only municipality is Manila. There is one other small community, Dutch...
before it enters Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a United States National Recreation Area located in the states of Wyoming and Utah. The centerpiece of the recreation area is the 91 mile long Flaming Gorge Reservoir, a reservoir created by the Flaming Gorge Dam along the Green River in 1964...
. Just inside the recreation area boundaries, the route splits in two.
Taking the right branch continues on US-191 to the northeast, passing over an inlet to Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a reservoir in Wyoming and Utah, on the Green River, created by Flaming Gorge Dam. Construction on the dam began in 1958 and was completed in 1964...
via a suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
, before crossing Flaming Gorge Dam
Flaming Gorge Dam
The Flaming Gorge Dam is a concrete thin-arch dam in the Flaming Gorge of the Green River, a major tributary of the Colorado River, in the U.S. state of Utah. One of the largest dams in the American West, Flaming Gorge Dam forms the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, which extends into southern Wyoming,...
, and passing by the town of Dutch John
Dutch John, Utah
Dutch John is a small census-designated place located in eastern Daggett County, Utah, United States, about northeast of the Flaming Gorge Dam on U.S. Route 191. The population was 145 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. From here the route curves back around the southwest portion of Flaming Gorge reservoir, travelling northwest to Dutch John Gap, turning north through the gap, and turning to the northeast again after exiting Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, continuing until the Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
state border.
Taking the left branch, the route follows SR-44 westward, which forms the southern boundary of the recreation area in this area, roughly following the southern rim of Flaming Gorge
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a reservoir in Wyoming and Utah, on the Green River, created by Flaming Gorge Dam. Construction on the dam began in 1958 and was completed in 1964...
, passing a turnoff to the Red Canyon Overlook and Visitors Center. As SR-44 approaches the western edge of the recreation area, it starts to turn in a northerly direction overall, descending in a series of turns as it approaches the southwestern tip of Flaming Gorge Reservoir and passes through Sheep Creek Gap. From this point, the route turns north, exits the recreation area, and continues a few miles further before it ends at the intersection of SR-43 in Manila
Manila, Utah
Manila is a small town located in at the northern edge of Daggett County, Utah, just south of the Wyoming border. The town is at the junction of State Route 43 and State Route 44, and is the county seat of Daggett County...
.
History
For the histories of this route's constituent highways prior to its scenic byway designation, refer to:- US-191
- SR-44
The scenic byway was formed in 1988 as Utah's first Forest Service Byway. It was added to the National Scenic Byways system on June 9, 1998.