Indigo waters, colorful canyons, towering buttes, lush rivers, and forested mountains all make Flaming Gorge a treasured destination within the intermountain West. The reservoir’s 91mile length holds hundreds of miles of diverse shoreline that run from the subalpine terrain of northern Utah to the highdesert plains of southwestern Wyoming. This unique National Recreation Area offers a lifetime of discovery both on and off the water. Here are a few suggestions in creating an exceptional weekend at the Gorge.
One of the very best ways to experience Flaming Gorge is by water. There are many ways to enjoy an aquatic outing: boating or paddling, water skiing or wakeboarding, stand up paddleboarding, or reeling in trophy lake or brown trout. Flaming Gorge has several boat launches, developed and primitive, and three full service marinas that make accessing the water easy. Hourly boat, stand up paddleboard, and kayak rentals are available at each marina where they also offer services and supplies. Launch then explore— solitude and adventure are quickly found within this attractive environment.
Time spent on the emerald waters of the Green River below the Flaming Gorge Dam is a real treat. There are reported to be over 14,000 fish per mile in the section known as Little Hole. This zone is the perfect place to watch osprey hunt for fish and see river otters as you cast your fly from the river trail or float your boat through this length of mellow whitewater. With the average fish caught being 15 inches long, anglers will love time spent on the Green.
The alpine lakes of Browne, Sheep Creek and Spirit, found in the neighboring north slope of the Uinta Mountains, offer a cooler retreat during the warmer summer months. Fishing, hiking, backpacking, or viewing wildlife are all fantastic options found in the Flaming Gorge high country. This is an area that is perfect for unplugging and reconnecting with nature.
Some of the best camping at Flaming Gorge can only be reached by water. There are several remote, full service sites that offer a camping experience unlike anywhere else in the west. Whether you reach them by motorboat, paddle out to them by SUP, or kayak, it makes no difference, just load up your gear and head out. Check out the sites on Kingfisher Island or in Hideout Draw.
For those who prefer moving water, choose from one of 32 riverside campsites found along the banks of the Green River. These sites are located throughout a 20mile section beginning below the dam and ending in the mountain basin of Brown’s Park. This boat/camp will require a car shuttle. Launching from the dam you will float through mellow whitewater. No permits are required for boating this section of the river, but reservations for these sites and the ones found on the lake are recommended. All camps are equipped with tables and fire rings.
Sunrise and sunset are magical times in Flaming Gorge. During dawn and twilight, long light reflects brilliantly off the red, orange, and green in the surrounding environment. You will see how the place gets its name.
This area is known for its dark night skies. Schedule your adventure for the new moon to maximize stargazing and to be wowed by the Milky Way as it paints its way across the heavens above. On the flipside, come during a full moon and witness your moon shadow as you cast for nocturnal fish or simply enjoy the sounds of jumping fish, frogs singing, and birds swooping overhead.
If roughing it isn’t your idea of a weekend getaway don’t worry, Flaming Gorge is home to several great lodges. Rocky Ridge Outpost near Manila offers a true western experience with handcrafted cabin, yurt, and teepee rentals. They have a pond for pedal boats, swimming, and fly casting. Red Canyon Lodge is located near the edge of the scenic Red Canyon overlook and offers cabin rentals, a restaurant, Greens Lakes, a kid’s pond, horseback riding, and hiking. For a more remote retreat you can make your way to the Spirit Lake Lodge. Located in the high alpine zone of the Uinta Mountains, reaching this lodge requires a drive along a stunning scenic byway, passing peaks, creeks, streams, and lakes before arriving. Set on the banks of the pristine Spirit Lake, the lodge is home to a store, grill, and offers rustic cabins for rent.
For an added bonus, schedule your getaway for the holiday weekends of July 4th and Labor Day as visitors to Flaming Gorge will be treated to festivities. July 2nd is the Freedom Festival in Dutch John. September 2 5 are Daggett Daze with daily events, including a fireworks show September 3rd in Manila.
Despite being located in the center of a natural playground, Flaming Gorge is one of the least crowded destinations in the west. Folks travel from all around to revel in its wild scenery, trophy fishing, abundant boating, convenient camping, and comfortable lodging. Some come for the water sports as others come for the hiking and biking, but all who visit will have the opportunity to find a solitude that will allow them to unplug, unwind, and truly relax.
Flaming Gorge – A Boating Paradise
If you haven’t yet boated Flaming Gorge, you are missing out. This 91mile reservoir, established in 1962, is located within a diverse geologic region that is as dramatic as it is beautiful. Spanning from the mountainous forests, benches, and canyons of northeastern Utah to the rolling sage prairies of southwestern Wyoming, its position within the narrow course of the Green River presents boaters with endless opportunities to explore glassy waters in isolation. From water sports, cruising, fishing, and paddling, the potential for fun on this picturesque reservoir is unlimited.
The guarded position of the lake set low within narrow canyons makes Flaming Gorge a prime destination for water sports. As water temperatures climb into the 70s by late summer, water skiing, wake boarding, and jet skiing are extremely popular here. Access to this colorful playground has been made easy via any number of boat launches, campgrounds, and marinas surrounding the lake.
The deep and fertile waters of the lake have also made it one of the premier fisheries in the United States where trophy fish are reeled in year after year. Seasoned anglers from around the globe troll for brown and lake trout as well as kokanee salmon at depth. Families cast for rainbow trout and smallmouth bass closer to the surface.
Kayaks, canoes, and stand up paddleboards offer a peaceful and quieter way to explore Flaming Gorge, and have grown in popularity in recent years. From short jaunts to multiday excursions, you can build a paddling adventure of any size.
It’s recommended to start from the Lucerne Marina and cross the open waters of Linwood Bay south to the peaceful and wakefree zone of Horseshoe Canyon. From Sheep Creek Bay you can paddle east to Kingfisher Island. Keep your eyes peeled for herons and egrets. And from Cedar Springs Marina, follow the south shoreline into the wakefree Cart Creek Canyon for a great excursion that takes you beneath the suspended Cart Creek Bridge.
But you really can’t go wrong with whatever activity or route you choose. From its deserts to its mountains, Flaming Gorge offers numerous vistas that are not to be missed. On the north end of the lake above the confluence of the Black Fork, be sure to check out the Firehole Canyon, where stone pinnacles of North and South Chimney Rocks, remnants of an ancient volcano, tower over the surrounding sagecovered badlands.
Southwest of Linwood Bay is the area after which Flaming Gorge was named. Despite the actual gorge being submerged below the lake’s surface, one can still see the sunlight reflecting off the varnished red and orange sandstone above. Horseshoe Canyon, a side canyon of Sheep Creek Bay, is an incredible looping canyon that takes you through a narrow waterway with striking cliffs looming high on both sides. The gorgeous Red Canyon begins south of Kingfisher Island and runs to the dam. This narrow section of Flaming Gorge is where the water course turns east and makes its way beneath craggy walls of quartzite that loom 1,400 feet above the lake’s surface. Bighorn sheep are often seen grazing among these brugundy cliffs.
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area also has several campgrounds so you can extend your adventure along the shores. The campgrounds range from fully developed sites with tables, fire rings, water, and toilets, to primitive sites that have few or no amenities. Opting for one of the scenic boatto camps on Fisher Island in Hideout Draw or deep in Red Canyon is highly recommended. Either will give you an experience not commonly found in the Intermountain West.
Boaters and paddlers also have the option of primitive camping or anchoring somewhere along the 350 miles of Flaming Gorge’s shoreline. With so much space, you are certain to find solitude within this stunning environment. Check out Carter Creek and Trail Creek in Red Canyon for some particularly beautiful and secluded sites.
Flaming Gorge is a National Recreation Area requiring a dayuse fee. Visitors may purchase passes at various kiosks surrounding the lake and at the campgrounds, marinas, and boat launches. There are nine boat launches and three fullservice marinas from which to begin your boating adventures. House boats, power boats, fishing boats, tug boats, canoes, pontoons, kayaks, and paddleboards are all great options for exploring the vastness of Flaming Gorge. Reservoir visitors will need to inspect their boats for invasive mussels and weeds before launching.
Boat rentals are available at the three marinas: Buckboard Crossing Marina on the north end, Lucerne Marina toward the center, and Cedar Springs Marina near the dam. All the marinas at Flaming Gorge offer supplies, fuel, and boat rentals. Gas can be found at any of the marinas and at the dam (diesel is not available).
Whether you come for the water sports, the fishing, or the elbow room, boating on Flaming Gorge offers everyone a chance to unwind and experience the same magical light, color, and country that John Wesley Powell’s Expedition found nearly a century and a half before.
Fishing with the Family in Flaming Gorge
Fishing with your family is one of the least expensive ways to spend time together in nature and Flaming Gorge is the perfect place to do it. It’s true that people come from near and far to hook trophy kokanee, lake, and brown trout at Flaming Gorge, but don’t let that keep you and your family away. The worldclass fishing found at the reservoir and in the surrounding waters is not just for seasoned anglers. These fisheries are practically overflowing with a variety of aquatic game (smallmouth bass, channel catfish, burbot, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout) that ensure that there are more than enough fish to go around. The scenic country of Flaming Gorge is filled with opportunities to make fishing memories that will last a lifetime.
To get started, you’ll need to acquire the basic necessities. A spinning rod with line and needle nose pliers (to safely remove the hooks), lures and bait (worms, small marshmallows, cheese, powerbait), mediumsized spinners, spoons, or rapalas, and 1/8 to 1/4 oz. brown or black marabou jigs, plus a bobber or two, extra hooks, sinkers, nail clippers, and a tackle box to carry it all. Most of this may be purchased for around $50 and can be found at your local sporting store or at any of Flaming Gorge’s three marinas, where you will also be able to get local advice and knowledge.
Next, you will need to purchase a fishing license. Since Flaming Gorge Reservoir straddles the border of Utah and Wyoming, it would be helpful to plan ahead to determine where you may want to fish. Young children in either state fish for free. In Utah, kids 12 and under are not required to have a fishing license. Threeday, sevenday, or annual licenses are available online at www.wildlife.utah.gov. For Wyoming licenses visit http://www.wgfd.wyo.gov/applyorbuy where you may purchase single days and annual permits. Wyoming residents under the age of 14 do not need a license. Nonresident Wyoming kids under 14 do not need a license if in the presence of an adult with a Wyoming license. If you plan on fishing back and forth across the state line, you will need a reciprocal fishing permit from the other state ($10).
The following areas are easytoreach places that are ideal for kids. At the south end of the reservoir sits the 500foottall Flaming Gorge Dam. Next to it lies an ADA accessible fishing pier stretching out over the deepest part of the lake. Easy access makes an ideal place to cast your line. Try dropping a nightcrawler three to four feet below a bobber, then casting out from the pier where healthy rainbow trout are sure to take the bait. Before leaving be sure to take the free tour of the dam (9am 3:30pm, MondayFriday) and enjoy the view of the Green River as it spills south from the dam.
Moose Pond is a small reservoir found along Highway 44 that is annually stocked with rainbow trout. Surrounded by mature lodgepole pines it is easily accessed, has a paved trail, and if visited near sunset, affords ample opportunities to view deer and moose foraging near its shores. You can easily hook a fish by using powerbait, worms, or casting and retrieving a spinner.
The free Kid’s Fishing Hole at Red Canyon Lodge offers great catchandrelease angling for rainbow and brook trout. Its grassy shores are perfect for young anglers to get the hang of casting. In the evenings, you stand a good chance of seeing deer watering at this pond. Don’t pass up the chance to stop in for lunch or dinner at their restaurant and make sure to head out to the Red Canyon overlook and visitor center.
The blue ribbon waters of the Green River are a must visit for budding anglers. Little Hole is a section of river located in the steep and scenic canyon below the Flaming Gorge Dam. Here you are given easy access to miles of troutfilled water where the average fish caught is over 15 inches long. This part of the river is closed to bait fishing, so try casting and retrieving spinners, jigs, and rapalas and see if you can land a beautiful cutthroat trout. Floating this section of mellow river is highly recommended and is open to boaters with intermediate skills. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled as river otters and birds of prey are often seen here.
Buckboard, Lucerne, and Cedar Springs Marinas all offer great beach/shore side fishing where any method will get the job done. Maximize fun time on the water by fishing from standup paddleboards or tandem kayaks. All of the marinas offer hourly boat rentals for maximum convenience.
During warmer weather, drive up to the Uinta Mountains where the brook, cutthroat, and rainbow trout are so hungry they practically jump out of the water at Browne Lake, Sheep Creek, and Spirit Lake. Bait, spinners, and jigs—all methods will work equally well. For an awesome mountain retreat that your family soon won’t forget, consider renting a rustic cabin at the historic Spirit Lake Lodge for the duration of your stay. Watching the fish leap over the glassy waters of Spirit Lake late in the day just might become an annual tradition.
Picture this: after a funfilled day spent reeling in the bounty, relax at any number of campgrounds around the lake or on the porch of a cozy mountain cabin. And there, with the smell of juniper in the air, under a starstudded sky, in the center of the natural playground that is Flaming Gorge, your kids will be recounting the day’s events again and again, where their fish grow bigger with each telling of the tales.
