Dinosaur National Monument•Colorado

00:14     Echo Park   
02:53     Castle Park 
05:52     Harding Hole    
09:01     Wagon Wheel To Dinosaur, CO 
17:51      Little Snake River BLM  
18:47     Deer Lodge Park 
20:30     Cross Mountain Canyon BLM & CO Parks 
22:54     Gates Of Lodore 

​The road to Echo Park and the very lengthy Yampa Bench 4x4 trail are located in the Colorado side of Dinosaur National Monument. Harpers Corner is right next door and an alternate road goes to this popular destination. The road to Echo Park is rated for only high ground clearance vehicles and there are trailer restrictions. The dirt road to Echo Park starts off deceptively smooth, but all it takes is a little bit of rain to turn this pathway into an impassible muddy mess. For this reason it is best to check the weather forecast before taking on the journey to Echo Park and the Yampa Bench 4x4 trail.

The classic way to arrive at the Echo Park is to begin the trek in the main body of Dinosaur National Monument near Jenson, Utah. Blue Mountain Road is the scenic route to look for and this long 4x4 trail ends at Harpers Corner Road next to the Echo Park access. This makes the Echo Park campground an ideal spot for rest and recreation before starting the lengthy 42 mile tour of Yampa Bench Road through the eastern end of the park. The entire Blue Mountain, Echo Park and Yampa Bench 4x4 tour adds up to about 100 miles of rough dirt road driving, so the trip can be done with one full tank of fuel. The reward is experiencing majestic landscapes that few others will ever see and there are several more camping opportunities along the way.

The first section of the road to Echo Park basically runs straight downhill and there are some great places to take in the views of this magnificent landscape along the way. After Yampa Bench Road reaches the lower elevations, the canyon landscape takes over. There are a few historic homesteading pioneer sites to explore near the start of Echo Park Road that are a good learning experience for visitors of all ages. The old Rial Chew Ranch cabins and the shepherd wagon are very photogenic, so be sure to pack a camera. 

Soon the Echo Park Road follows a creek through the canyons. The cottonwoods provide some shade along the lush creek bed and it is easy to picture this area as being a prime hunting and food gathering spot in the past. These thoughts will soon be confirmed when the ancient rock art site appears by the roadside. These petroglyphs incorporate a rare pecking technique that is a form of dot artwork and it does take time for the eyes to adjust. Once the first rock art is spotted, it will be easier to find more. A little further up ahead is the Whispering Cave, which is another natural attraction that is well worth checking out. A breeze constantly flows through a narrow cavity in this small pocket cave to produce a whispering sound that is easily noticed inside the opening.

The journey to Echo Park is half the fun and plenty more awaits at the Echo Park Campground. Steamboat Rock and the confluence of Green River and Yampa River are nearby, while the towering vertical cliffs surrounding the campground certainly do produce some loud echos. There is some ancient rock art way up high on the bluffs, but it is nearly impossible to see from ground level. By following the foot paths for a short distance, a very picturesque area of the mighty Green River can be viewed. This section of the river makes a sharp bend around Steamboat Rock, which can be seen in its entirety. The confluence of the Yampa River and Green River is a short distance upstream, which guarantees that this river bend is indeed a good fishing spot. 

There is a limited number of drive up camping pads and each is equipped with fire ring chargrills. Bear safe food storage lockers are nearby. and some of the campsites have picnic tables, while the ones close to the river offer shade trees. Drinking water is available onsite, which is a real plus for those who intend to explore the Yampa Bench. There is a small boat launch clearing for kayakers and river rafters, while wading in the shallows is comfortable during the summer season and this is what the fly fishermen prefer to do. The Echo Park Campground certainly is a great place for an extended getaway and it is a good starting point for the very lengthy Yampa Bench Road 4x4 tour through the eastern end of Dinosaur National Monument.

Starting at the Echo Park Campground in Dinosaur National Park, the Yampa Bench Road goes 42 miles east to the paved highway at Elk Springs. The town of Dinosaur, Colorado is near the end point, so there is a place to fuel up and stock up after the bumpy ride is done. Beginning the Yampa Bench Road tour by camping at Echo Park is the best choice, because it will be easy to get an early start on the day.

Yampa Bench Road is rated only for 4x4 high ground clearance vehicles, because there are a few tricky spots that will absolutely leave an ordinary passenger car stranded. Getting stuck in this remote end of the park can result in a dangerous survival situation, so it is best to make sure the 4x4 vehicle is ready for the task. This road climbs and drops in elevations several times, but most of this route runs along the flat geological bench that overlooks the Yampa River basin. There are a few silt pits and rough dry washes to pass through that require minor technical skills. Getting lost is not a problem since most of the side roads only go to scenic overlooks by the river. Primitive camping is allowed at some of these picturesque spots, which is good to keep in mind if you are not in a hurry.

The Castle Park Overlook is the first stop on Yampa Bench Road going east and in my own personal opinion, this truly is one of the most beautiful places on this planet. The unobscured views of the Yampa River and the white color canyon bluffs are simply amazing to see. Many of the bluffs do resemble castle fortifications and the sheer vertical cliffs certainly are intimidating. Castle Park definitely is a landscape artist's dream come true and the best times for photographers are early or late in the day. This is also an incredibly good place for night landscapes or night sky photography, since there are no major cities for hundreds of miles around.

The Harding Hole Overlook is just a few miles further east past Castle Park near the halfway point. When gazing at the Harding Hole bend in the river, the mind will naturally attempt to figure out how this geological feature was created, but the longer one looks, the more complicated the thinking process will become. The surrounding white sandstone canyons and towering buttes add to the confusion. Nowhere else on earth will a visitor see anything that remotely compares to the puzzling, yet captivating beauty of Harding Hole!
 
A few more miles further down the trail is where the Wagon Wheel rock formations are located by the Yampa River. The views from the high ground on the geological bench are astounding to see and this is yet another place where a landscape artist will feel right at home. Wagon Wheel is some of the last white sandstone formations to be found when going east and it is a memorable way to end the Yampa Bench tour. Parts of Wagon Wheel can also be viewed at the neighboring Harding Hole.

From the end of the geologic bench at the base of the mountain, Yampa Bench Road runs through a stretch of picturesque rolling sagebrush hills and meadows. The dirt road continues to an uphill grade that goes through a mountain pass where views of the entire region can be taken in. From the apex it is an easy downhill ride to the highway near Elk Springs. From there it is either back to Jensen or onward to the north end of Dinosaur National Monument, so the grand tour does not have to end once back on the pavement.

Deerlodge Park is located in the far eastern end of Dinosaur National Monument along the Yampa River and there are a couple of ways to get to this picturesque area, which include river rafting. Deerlodge Park is a large day use area that offers world class fishing, open space recreation areas and a cozy river rafter campground. The tall cottonwoods provide plenty of shade for relaxation and the tent campsites are equipped with chargrills. Basic facilities with drinking water are available during the warm weather seasons and there is a boat launch ramp onsite. This is high desert sagebrush country and the towering mountains harbor a wide variety of wildlife, so practicing bear safe food storage will be necessary at the campsites.

The Gates Of Lodore is where the river rafting adventures begin in the north end of Dinosaur National Monument. This destination is where the Green River runs through Lodore Canyon, which is quite a magnificent landmark to see. The landscape in this area shifts from a lazy river flowing through a grassy sagebrush valley to a seemingly impenetrable wall of towering mountains, but there is a narrow gap that allows small craft boaters to pass through. From the Gates Of Lodore it is over 100 miles of floating on the river to Jensen, Utah, where the park visitor center is located. All along the way there will be majestic views that few others will ever see and there are several campgrounds to be found along this lengthy section of the Green River.

Kayaking and river rafting float trips through Dinosaur National Monument is what the Gates Of Lodore is all about, so be sure to pack the appropriate gear. This site is a staging area for organized float trips and this is where the local watercraft rental companies fulfill customer requests. There is a large beach launching area and there are plenty of picnic tables under shade trees. A campground is located next to the water, which is the best option for river rafters that want to get an early start. Basic facilities, chargrills and drinking water are available onsite, but the closest places to stock up food and fuel is a few hours away, so it is best to top off everything prior to arrival. There is no cel phone service anywhere in this desolate region and this can complicate group outings, so communicating before hitting the road is best to do.

Separate articles are indexed for the Little Snake River and Cross Mountain Canyon destinations, which are part of a complete Dinosaur tour!