Dinosaur National Park

Smoke plums north of the Canyon

This is our fourth visit to Dinosaur National Park. We decided that instead of going to the fossil quarry and other sights near there, we would head to the Canyon Area in the central portion of the park. A paved road goes in about 30 miles from U.S. 40. It has numerous awesome view points of the colorful canyon formations. We also could see the smoke plumes from another fire north of us. We were tempted to take the 13 mile dirt road to Echo Park, but because of the time, we’ll have to try that next time (combined with an earlier start).

The Road to Echo Park

After having many varied canyon formations, we reached the end of the road. Here there is a 2 mile hike that culminates the trip. I headed out on a peninsula high above the canyons. First you get a view of the settlement in Echo Park. Next comes a view of the twisting Yampa River heading into the park. Then a view of  Whirlpool canyon of the Green River. Around you are water-shaped red rocks similar to those deep in the canyon. The rocks change to black sedimentary rock with shell fossils showing. Finally you're at the point of this peninsula of land looking at the joining of the Yampa  and the Green with Steamboat Rock hiding the junction. This hike was as picturesque as Angel's Landing in Zion National Park, but the trail was a whole lot easier to hike.