Red Fleet Reservoir, in northeast Utah, remains off the radar of many Coloradoans. It is nonetheless a gem that makes a worthy destination for a long weekend getaway. Red Fleet has a variety of exciting features--including slickrock shorelines, winding canyons, towering sandstone alcoves, and even dinosaur tracks--all packed into an easily explorable lake.
 |
| Red Fleet Reservoir |
About 6 miles north of Vernal, Utah, the trip from the Front Range Red Fleet is comparable travel time to Moab. Like Moab, the Vernal area has great desert mountain biking, a large meandering river (the Green) and nearby access to a high, forested mountain range (the Uintas).
 |
| Vicinity Map |
Location Info [key]:
Scenery: 5
Shoreline Interest: 5
Use: Moderate-high
Fee: $10/vehicle
Access: Paved
Full elev = 5610
Weather
Access
Recreation at Red Fleet Reservoir is managed by Utah State Parks. The park has formal water access via boat ramp and adjacent day use parking. There is also a developed campground with reservable, albeit dense, camping sites.
 |
| Slickrock cove at Red Fleet |
There is also dispersed primitive camping in BLM land north of the reservoir. This area is accessed from Donkey Flat Road, about a mile north of the Red Fleet State Park turnoff from U.S. 191. Donkey Flat Road features shoreline access, a mountain bike trail network, and hiking access to the dinosaur tracks on the northern lakeshore. The spur road to shoreline (at 3.3 miles from U.S. 191) crosses the state park boundary and the day use fee applies for facilities within the park.
Features
Perhaps the most well known attraction is the dinosaur track cluster directly across the channel from the main boat ramp. Fortunately for paddlers, the tracks are very close to the water's edge and have ample landing space--just aim for the red sandstone slab that dips into the water.
Another of the lake's unique features is almost directly below the dinosaur tracks. The uderlying red sandstone slab extends out of a ledge that overhangs the water and forms a cave below. It is possible to paddle into the cave, which can be a nice shady respite on a hot, sunny day.
Further west, the lake extends through a sandstone stratum, with rounded slickrock shores. The incline of the sandstone culminates in a vertical, concave alcove that towers nearly 200 feet over the water.
 |
| ☆ Cliff Alcove (beyond) |
Beyond the giant alcove, the channel bends north and meanders through even more sandstone fins and waterside cliffs. It is a very photogenic area! Furthermore, the modest width of the lake and the wind protection provide by the surrounding sandstone make for reliably calm waters in the region west of the dinosaur tracks.
 |
| ☆ Meandering Canyon |
 |
| ☆ Meandering Canyon |
There are more areas to explore--with fewer visitors--in the eastern part of the lake. Although there may be larger waves and motorboat wakes in the main bay, there are plenty more protected coves and fingers in the waters beyond.
 |
| Red Fleet Reservoir |
Nearby Diversions
The BLM land around Donkey Flats Road features a great collection of mountain bike trails that can be linked in multiple ways to create loops of varying difficulty. Terrain ranges from twisting, red-dirt singletrack to ledge-side traverses to aggressive, blocky pitches up and down. The trails are especially convenient if camping along the Donkey Flats Road. The Vernal area has plenty of other mountain bike trails to explore as well.
 |
| Cart Creek at Flaming Gorge |
The Uinta Mountains and the Flaming Gorge Reservoir are a short drive north on U.S. 191. This region has many other hiking, biking, and paddling opportunities that will likely be featured in a future post. There are also great mid-summer camping sites among the pine forests, open meadows and aspen groves of the Uintas to escape the heat of the desert.
Northeastern Utah has lots of lesser known surprises--both on and off the water--that provide a nice change of scenery from ever-popular Moab. Whatever your chosen activities, have fun and stay safe!
No comments:
Post a Comment