Location: Utah's northwest corner, near the Colorado and Wyoming borders
Length: 82 miles (132 km)
Time To Allow: 2 hours, 45 minutes

Description/Highlights/Points of Interest

The byway winds over the eastern flank of Utah's Uintah Mountains and through the Ashley National Forest and Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. View wildlife in their native habitats along the byway. Visit nearby Dinosaur National Monument and Quarry Visitor Center. Experience the "real West," as passed down through western folklore of early explorers, homesteaders, mountain men, outlaws and cowboys. Visit the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam for blue-ribbon fly fishing experiences.

Suggested Itinerary

Driving on the byway from Vernal, Utah, don’t miss the Utah Field House of Natural History, on the north side of Main Street in the heart of Vernal. An entrance fee is charged to see 18 life-sized dinosaurs and artifacts from the Fremont and Ute Indian cultures.

On a more leisurely visit, take Hwy. 40 and travel 20 miles (32 km) east of Vernal to visit the famous Dinosaur National Monument. Here, over 2,000 fossil bones are exposed as they were found and it is one of the largest fossil bone quarries in the world.

Continue on the byway, which is also known as the Drive of the Ages to Hwy 191 and visit the Flaming Gorge Dam and Visitors Center, 6 miles (9.7 km) from the Greendale Junction (U.S. 191 and U-44). There are picnic sites and other visitor facilities available to the public for no charge. Be sure to take the guided tour through the dam.

Make a U-turn back on U.S. 191 to travel west on State Route 44. On a longer visit, stop at the Swett Ranch and partake of pioneer history. Continue on your way to the Red Canyon Overlook and Visitor Center in the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, about 5 miles (8 km) off State Route 44. The caves and ledges of this scenic wonder offer stories into the ancient history of this area.

Continue on Route 44 and turn left onto the Sheep Creek Loop Drive to see the Ute Tower which is a working fire lookout tower. The tower also offers a panoramic view of the Flaming Gorge area and northeastern Uinta Mountains.