In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Salt Lake City over the 3,260-metre Bald Mountain Pass to the red reservoir of Flaming Gorge and on to the bone wall near Vernal: a route for campers who want mountain air, moose and silence.
The spirit of the route
Beyond Kamas the Wasatch valley disappears in the rear-view mirror, and the Mirror Lake Highway winds up through spruce forest into the Uinta Mountains, the only major mountain range in the USA that runs east to west. Up at a good 3,000 metres, dozens of small lakes lie like scattered shards of mirror between granite domes, the evenings smell of resin and cold, and from the open sliding door you can see moose on the shore. Then the landscape drops away: on the Wyoming plateau the sky opens up, and near Manila Flaming Gorge Reservoir appears, a turquoise ribbon winding through red sandstone walls. US-191 leads past Dutch John and the dam down to Vernal, where the desert begins. In Dinosaur National Monument, 150-million-year-old bones lie exposed in a rock wall, and at Harpers Corner the view drops some 760 metres to the Green and Yampa rivers. A route of contrasts: high mountains, high plateau, canyon country.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Salt Lake City to Mirror Lake (Uinta Mountains) (approx. 135 km)
- The drive
- From Salt Lake City take I-80 and UT-248 to Kamas, then the Mirror Lake Highway (UT-150), a National Scenic Byway: a well-built, winding mountain road that climbs in hairpins and long ramps to about 3,260 m at Bald Mountain Pass. Pure driving time is about 2.5 hours; with stops, allow half a day to a full day. The road is seasonal and closes when snow falls, usually from late autumn to early summer; dates vary, so check the status with UDOT (Traffic) and the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. There are fuel stations only in Kamas and Salt Lake City, none on the road itself. A recreation fee applies in the Mirror Lake Highway corridor (pass at the fee stations, or an America the Beautiful Pass; check amounts on site).
- Highlights & must-sees
- Bald Mountain Pass: the highest point of the road, with a car park and a view of the high ridges of the Uintas; a short, steep climb leads up Bald Mountain. Because of the altitude and wind, take a jacket and plenty of water.
- Provo River Falls: a small waterfall right on the Mirror Lake Highway above Kamas; worth a short break even without hiking boots.
- Mirror Lake and the lakes around Trial Lake and Moosehorn: lake shores, granite and spruce; at dusk moose often stand at the edge, so keep your distance. The best time for colours is mid to late September.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Several Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest campgrounds lie directly on the road, such as Soapstone, Mirror Lake, Moosehorn and Trial Lake; some can be reserved via Recreation.gov. Most sites are basic (toilets, water partly only from hydrants, no hook-ups) and close after the Labor Day weekend or during September; check the end of season, water status and length restrictions with the Forest Service beforehand. In the shoulder season, better have a plan B in Kamas.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Dispersed camping is generally allowed in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, usually for up to 14 days, but not in designated day-use areas and only at a distance from water and the road. There are local restrictions on the Mirror Lake Highway; follow the signs. Fire bans are common in dry years; check the fire status with the Forest Service office.
- Insider tip for campers
- At 3,000 metres there is often frost at night, even in summer; check the Truma heater and the water lines for frost protection. If you come from Salt Lake, fill up with fuel and water in Kamas. Acclimatisation: don't sleep higher than necessary on the first night, and keep your fluid intake high.
2Stage 2: Mirror Lake to Manila (Flaming Gorge) (approx. 175 km)
- The drive
- On the east side the Mirror Lake Highway descends gently towards Evanston in Wyoming; after that you take WY-414 and UT-43 via Mountain View and Lonetree to Manila on Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Mostly two-lane highways with pasture fences and ranch land, speeds 55–65 mph. Driving time is around 3 hours; with viewpoints, half a day. Evanston has fuel stations and supermarkets, Manila small shops; between Evanston and Manila there is nothing larger.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Evanston, Wyoming: a Union Pacific railway town and a practical supply stop with supermarket, fuel stations and propane.
- Flaming Gorge Reservoir near Manila: the first view of the reservoir, which stretches 91 miles through red canyons (Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Ashley National Forest); free viewpoints along the road.
- Sheep Creek Geological Loop (Utah): a 13-mile loop through upturned rock layers, with viewpoints and, in late summer, often kokanee salmon in the creek; narrow, seasonal, unsuitable for large motorhomes; check the condition and opening with the Forest Service.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area (Ashley National Forest): near Manila, for example, Lucerne Valley Campground on the lake and Antelope Flat Campground; facilities (electricity, water, dump station) vary by loop, and some can be reserved via Recreation.gov. According to the Forest Service, Antelope Flat is open from May to September (with dump station, drinking water only from about mid-May to mid-September); other sites also mostly close in September or October. Check the end of season and length restrictions with the Forest Service beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Flaming Gorge NRA, dispersed camping is possible on Ashley National Forest land outside the lakeside campgrounds and protected areas (usually for a maximum of 14 days); lakeshore areas and marina zones are partly excluded. Check the Forest Service map (MVUM) and stay on the tracks.
- Insider tip for campers
- Since 1964 Flaming Gorge Dam has held back the Green River; the lake has over 360 miles of shoreline, so sunsets on the water are plentiful. After rain, unpaved access roads to lakeside campgrounds quickly become slippery; have tyres and levelling ramps ready.
3Stage 3: Manila to Vernal (approx. 125 km)
- The drive
- On US-191, the Flaming Gorge–Uintas National Scenic Byway, you follow the lake to Dutch John at the dam; after that the road runs through pine forest and down long descents to Vernal. Wide bends, warning signs for lorries and trailers; use engine braking. Pure driving time is about 2 hours; with stops, half a day. Fuel stations in Manila, Dutch John and Vernal.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Flaming Gorge Dam and Dutch John: the dam wall and visitor centre (check opening hours and tours beforehand); below it, a popular fishing stretch on the Green River.
- Red Canyon Overlook (Red Canyon Rim): a viewpoint about 1,300 ft (roughly 400 m) above the lake; this is where the red sandstone looks best, most beautiful in evening light.
- Red Fleet State Park near Vernal: dinosaur tracks in red sandstone by the lake, reached by a hiking trail; depending on the lake level, access is more or less easy; follow the park's advice.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Utah State Parks near Vernal: Steinaker State Park and Red Fleet State Park with basic campgrounds; facilities and length limits as per the Utah State Parks reservation system; fresh water and dump station partly only in season. Alternatively Lodgepole Campground (Forest Service, on US-191 about 26 miles north of Vernal, May to September according to the Forest Service, with dump station for a fee). Check the end of season beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Ashley National Forest allows dispersed camping on many forest roads, usually up to 14 days. Near Vernal there are BLM lands (Vernal Field Office) with dispersed camping; check the official rules and access roads beforehand.
- Insider tip for campers
- Utah State Parks often allow motorhome access up to a maximum length, which varies; check when you reserve, before arrival. In Vernal there is a water point on the edge of town and several dump stations; supermarkets in town, none between Dutch John and Vernal.
4Stage 4: Vernal to Dinosaur National Monument (Quarry, Utah) (approx. 50 km)
- The drive
- Take US-40 east to Jensen, then UT-149 north to the Quarry Visitor Center of Dinosaur National Monument. Well-built road, hardly any bends. Driving time is about 45 minutes; the rest of the day belongs to the park. Fuel stations in Vernal and Jensen.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Quarry Exhibit Hall: a rock wall with about 1,500 Jurassic dinosaur bones (Morrison Formation), seen in situ; in summer, because parking is scarce, a free shuttle runs from the Visitor Center to the hall, otherwise you drive there yourself (about 3 minutes) or walk the Fossil Discovery Trail (1.2 miles one way); check opening hours and road access with the NPS.
- Journey Through Time Scenic Drive (Cub Creek Road): about 10 miles one way (the first 8 paved, the last 2 unpaved) past Fremont petroglyphs, canyons and the Josie Morris ranch; observe the length restrictions for motorhomes, as the road is narrow in places.
- Utah Field House of Natural History State Park in Vernal: a museum with dinosaur reconstructions in the town centre, good for a rainy day.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Green River Campground (National Park Service) in the Utah part of the monument, among cottonwoods and willows on the river: basic sites, flush toilets and drinking water, no hook-ups at the site; according to the NPS open until mid-October, Loop C without reservation, Loops A and B via Recreation.gov until 1 October, afterwards also first-come, first-served; check length limits with the NPS. Alternatives are Steinaker or Red Fleet State Park.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Inside the monument itself only campgrounds and backcountry with a permit; on BLM land and forest land north of Vernal dispersed camping is possible. The boundary between NPS and BLM is signed; do not camp wild inside the monument.
- Insider tip for campers
- For US national parks, visitors without US residence have since 2026 in some cases faced higher fees or surcharges; check current amounts at nps.gov. The America the Beautiful Pass is worthwhile if several parks are on your programme. Heat in summer, cold at night in late autumn.
5Stage 5: Dinosaur National Monument (Quarry) to Harpers Corner (Colorado) (approx. 120 km)
- The drive
- Back via Jensen to US-40, then about 30 miles to Dinosaur, Colorado; the Harpers Corner Scenic Drive begins at the Canyon Visitor Center: 31 miles of paved road across the high ground of the Colorado Plateau. Driving time with stops is about 4 hours; the way back is on the same road. Fill up in Vernal or Rangely; there is nothing on the road.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Harpers Corner Trail: 2 miles there and back, little climbing, and at the end a drop of about 2,500 ft (roughly 760 m) to the Green and Yampa rivers; the view is most beautiful in evening light.
- Plug Hat Butte, Iron Springs Overlook and Echo Park Overlook along the Scenic Drive; pull-outs with information boards.
- Echo Park Road: unpaved and unsuitable for motorhomes, impassable after rain; only for off-road vehicles and only after checking the weather and getting NPS information; according to the NPS (as of 30 September 2026) it is impassable from Chew Ranch to Echo Park Campground after storm damage.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: For motorhomes in the Colorado part: the town of Dinosaur offers basic options; in the monument are Deerlodge Park (no drinking water, first-come, first-served) and Echo Park Campground on unpaved access roads; according to the NPS the access to Echo Park is currently impassable, and Rainbow Park Road has been closed since 25 September 2026 because of storm damage. If you drive a large vehicle, you are better off returning to Green River Campground or to Vernal. Check all information on roads, campgrounds and season with the NPS beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Dispersed camping outside the monument is possible on BLM land near Rangely or Maybell (Colorado); check vehicle rules and road conditions.
- Insider tip for campers
- Take black thunderclouds in the afternoon seriously: flash floods in the canyons and slippery clay roads. Take water and provisions for the whole trip; mobile reception drops out.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Dispersed camping is generally allowed on National Forest and BLM land in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado, usually for up to 14 days in one place; protected areas (wilderness, day-use areas, shoreline zones) are excluded. Keep to existing tracks when driving in.
- Fire bans are common in Utah and Colorado after dry summers (Stage 1 or 2); gas flames may be permitted; check bans and penalties with the Forest Service or the municipality. Campfires only in existing fire rings and never unattended.
- Wildlife: black bears, moose and cougars live in the Uintas; keep food and smells sealed, stay at least about 25 yards (about 23 m) away from moose and much further from bears. Bear spray is customary in the backcountry.
- Apps and maps: iOverlander, Campendium, The Dyrt; Recreation.gov for federal land and the Utah State Parks reservation system for state parks; Forest Service MVUM maps for permitted roads.
- Altitude: Mirror Lake and Bald Mountain lie above 3,000 m; allow for acclimatisation and for weather changes with thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Fresh water: drinking water at the State Parks and larger campgrounds, on the Mirror Lake Highway partly only from hydrants and only from the start of the season; keep a canister ready.
- Dump stations: at the Utah State Parks and partly for a fee at fuel stations in Vernal, Evanston and Kamas; check the maps at sanidumps.com.
- Fuel: Salt Lake City, Kamas, Evanston, Manila, Dutch John, Vernal, Jensen; between the towns there are sometimes long stretches without a fuel station.
- Propane in Vernal, Evanston and Salt Lake City; European bottles need an adapter, rental motorhomes have permanently installed US tanks.
- Shopping: larger supermarkets in Salt Lake City, Evanston and Vernal; Manila and Dutch John have only small shops.
- Electricity: sites with hook-ups offer 30 or 50 A, basic Forest Service sites have no hook-up; a leisure battery and solar help.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits in mph: motorway up to 65–80 (Utah partly 80 mph on I-80), country roads 55–65, mountain roads much lower. Trailers and lorries sometimes have lower limits; follow the signs.
- Fees: recreation fees for Flaming Gorge NRA and the Mirror Lake Highway; the America the Beautiful Pass is accepted; check amounts on site. For visitors without US residence, higher fees have applied since 2026 in some NPS areas; check current amounts at nps.gov.
- Dimensions and lengths: Forest Service campgrounds in the Uintas sometimes have narrow access roads and length restrictions; the legal maximum height in Utah is about 14 ft. Check the length and height details of the campgrounds before departure.
- Season: the Mirror Lake Highway is usually open from late spring to autumn, with winter closure when snow falls; Flaming Gorge campgrounds mostly May to October. Check road status with UDOT and Wyoming WYDOT.
- Traffic law: right turn on red after stopping is permitted unless prohibited; open alcohol containers in the vehicle are prohibited; mobile phones only hands-free. A German driving licence is sufficient for tourists; an international one is often recommended.
- Time: Utah, Wyoming and Colorado are on Mountain Time and switch to daylight saving time in summer; daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November.
- Emergency: 911; mobile reception drops out in the Uintas and in the monument; download offline maps.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Warm layers, hat and gloves: on the passes of the Uintas it freezes at night even in summer, and the high mountain lakes lie above 3,000 m.
- Binoculars for moose, bald eagles and bighorn sheep at Flaming Gorge; in Dinosaur National Monument, also a magnifying glass or torch for the bone wall.
- Level 2–3 levelling ramps and a tyre inflator: Forest Service campgrounds are often sloping and slippery after rain.
- 20 l fresh-water canister and a water filter for sites without drinking water, and as a reserve when hydrants are closed.
- Offline maps and a paper map: in the monument and in the Uintas mobile reception drops out; check the traffic status from UDOT beforehand.
- Bear-safe storage (canisters, bags) and bear spray for hikes in the Uintas.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
