Journey To Echo Park ~ Dinosaur National Monument

​Flickr album link: Yampa Bench Road To Echo Park

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 an an alternate road goes to this popular destination. Harpers Corner is much easier to access with a passenger car, because the road to Echo Park is rated for only high ground clearance vehicles and there are RV trailer restrictions. In fact, the downhill run is so steep that drivers of heavy RV camper should skip this trip altogether, since the motor will likely overheat when climbing the steep incline back out during the summer months. 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 journey starting point 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 to Elk Springs and onward to Highway 40. 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 amounts to experience 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 and Echo Park Road soon appears. There are a few historic homesteading pioneer sites to explore near the start of Echo Park Road that will be a good learning experience for visitors of all ages. Viewing the old Rial Chew Ranch cabins and the shepherd wagon will provide clues as to how making a living in these parts was an overwhelming challenge.

Soon the Echo Park Road follows a creek through the canyons and where there is water there is wildlife, so be sure to keep a camera handy. 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, so it is best to set aside some extra time for viewing this ancient sacred place. 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 natural wonders become more frequent along the road from this point on, since the namesake echo effect can be heard between the canyon walls.

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. More information about the campground and the complete Yampa Bench Road tour will be featured in upcoming articles. Until then, the journey to Echo Park is what dreams are made of, so be sure to just plan on experiencing the majestic Colorado side of this big park!