 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
          
|
|
| |
    
|
|
 |
Scenic Backways
Nine
Mile Canyon Scenic Backway
Red Cloud/Dry Fork Scenic Backway
Sheep Creek/Spirit Lake Scenic Backway
Browns Park Scenic Backway
Jones Hole Scenic Backway
Home to what is believed to be the greatest concentration of
Fremont Indian Rock Art in the world, Nine-Mile Canyon is famous
for its petroglyphs (carvings) and pictographs (paintings) of
animals, hunting scenes and classic trapezoidal figures. This
scenic backway highlights buff-colored canyon cliffs, balanced
rocks, window arches, ancient cliff granaries, and a deserted
saloon. Enjoyed best as an all-day outing, the backway is 80
miles long. The road is mostly unpaved, but well graded. Although
not recommended for vehicles longer than 22 feet, a passenger
car can make it easily, except during the most severe weather.
With no gas stations or convenience stores along the route,
Nine-Mile Canyon remains a real western frontier experience.
For maps and additional information, check out the National
Scenic Byway Website.
http://www.byways.org/travel/byway.html?CX_BYWAY=15780&CX_STATE=UT
Views of towering mountains highlight this route accessed 14
miles north of Vernal from US 191. The byway travels through
aspen groves, open meadows, lodge pole forests, and numerous
fishing streams. Stop and explore the Fremont Indian rock art
at McConkie Ranch. Trails take you up close and personal to
figures 9 feet tall. The petroglyphs are on private land. Visitors
are asked to obey all signs and respect the sites. Driving time
through this 45-mile route is approximately 2 hours. The road
surface varies between paved and gravel. Some portions closed
in winter months.
Tour Map www.dinoland.com/images/tour2map.jpg
Dramatic scenery isn't the only reason to keep your camera
ready on this backway. Expect to catch a glimpse or two of Utah's
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep as you wind through Sheep Creek's
awe-inspiring rock spires. Beginning 15 miles west of US Hwy
191/Utah Hwy 44 intersection, Sheep Creek Loop runs for thirteen
miles alongside the visually dramatic Uinta Fault. It returns
to Utah Hwy 44, five miles south of Manila. Spirit Lake road
is a 17-mile spur off Sheep Creek Loop, winding through forests
and meadows to Spirit Lake. Returning from Spirit Lake requires
backtracking to Sheep Creek Loop. The round trip covers 48 miles
of paved and gravel road. Allow 2 hours travel time. The backway
is closed in the winter.
Tour Map www.dinoland.com/images/tour8map.jpg
Departing from Diamond Mountain Plateau on the Jones Hole Scenic
Backway, this backway travels north across Diamond Mountain,
down Crouse Canyon, and into Browns Park. It continues into
Colorado, crossing the Green River via a one-vehicle-at-a-time
suspension bridge. A short side trip takes you to the John Jarvie
Historic Site, a preserved remnant of the frontier west. Before
ending at US 191 five miles north of Dutch John, the backway
passes through the narrow, winding and steep Jessie Ewing Canyon.
Approximately 50 miles, the backway requires two hours travel
time. This route is closed in winter months and should not be
traveled during the heavy rain.
Tour Map www.dinoland.com/images/tour6map.jpg
This route begins four miles east of Vernal, climbing 2,600
feet to Diamond Mountain Plateau. From there it travels east
toward Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery, dropping dramatically
into a narrow, rugged canyon with spectacular colorful cliffs.
After visiting the hatchery, walk over to Jones Hole following
Jones Creek down the canyon. This four-mile trail, packed with
Fremont Indian pictographs, lush streamside vegetation, and
spectacular rock walls rising hundreds of feet above the canyon
wall, is part of Dinosaur National Monument. All in all, its
an 80 mile round trip, holding secrets of Dinosaurland worth
every bit of the 2 hour drive. Higher elevation portions of
the route may be impassable in winter.
Tour Map www.dinoland.com/images/tour6map.jpg
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|