A hidden valley filled with glassy water, fun hikes, and big fish (if you can catch them)!
Fun for the whole family: fishing, wakeboarding, cliff jumping, waterskiing, hiking, tubing, sun bathing, swimming, camping, wake surfing, snorkeling, and incredible scenery for miles
Anne visited Flaming Gorge with a friend's family when she was younger, and convinced Mike to make the trip last summer. It was a hit and will now be a family tradition.
We stayed on the Dutch John side of the lake, at the Flaming Gorge Resort. For a small fee we moored our boat at the Cedar Springs Marina. We really feel like we lucked out by picking the best side of the reservoir. We were within minutes of the dam, and lots of great places for cliff jumping (do this at your own risk, there are lots of dangers associated with cliff jumping). We also played mainly in Red Canyon where it seemed like there was endless glass.
We visited at the beginning of August, this also was a lucky break, we had wonderful weather and the water was just the right temperature. Because Flaming Gorge is so high in elevation, you would need a wet suit if you planned your trip before mid-July. The nice part about the weather, you could sunbathe all you wanted without ever really getting too hot. We heard the saying, "if you get cold, get in the water." We didn't need any AC (nicer for the environment), and we didn't have any rainy days either. After a bit of a sunburn, we were grateful for jackets early in the morning and in the evening.
If you want to be a bit more rustic, there are lots of great campsites all around the reservoir. A younger Anne stayed at the Sheep Creek Bay boat camping off Kingfisher Island. It might take a few trips to get all your stuff from the car to the boat campsite, another incentive to pack light. This site has lots more information about campsites on and around Flaming Gorge. Boat camping can be a lot of fun, but you need to remember whatever you pack in, needs to be packed out. There are toilets available even for boat camping, so it's not too primitive. One other note of caution, only stay in designated campsites. The campsites have been prepared by rangers who know the land and staying in the designated sites will help preserve the rest of the landscape.
If camping isn't quite your style, there are several Air BNBs around the area, they book quickly, so plan your trip well in advance. Even when staying in the homes or hotels, remember to set the thermostat (if possible) to an away setting or even turn it off. Conserve electricity in the home while you are out enjoying the many sights and pleasures of the reservoir. While you are on your boat you can conserve fuel by turning off the engine whenever you are stopped. Take along a good book (or two), because cell coverage is limited and listening to music may not be possible.
We've shared our secret now, and hope to see you up there with us next summer!
Komentarze