Little Snake River ~ Colorado

Flickr album link: Little Snake River​
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The far east end of Dinosaur National Monument definitely is worth experiencing. For those who wish to escape from the big crowds, there will be plenty of peaceful solitude to be found in this region. Deerlodge Park lies within the boundaries of the national monument and this Yampa River recreation area is a nice place to set up a basecamp. A few miles east is where the Cross Mountain Takeout is located on Park Service Road and this famous Yampa River scenic area is best toured with a kayak, canoe or raft. In between these two destinations is where Colorado State Road 25 can be found. CR 25 is a dirt road that follows the Little Snake River north into the high desert wilderness and ranch territory.

The Little Snake River is a tributary of the Yampa River and the picturesque confluence can be viewed from the intersection of Park Service Road and CR 25. Following the Little Snake River north for a few dozen miles will present an opportunity to capture magnificent landscapes and spot wildlife, so taking a tour of CR 25 is well worth it. There are a few dispersed campsites to be found along this river and there are some good fishing holes, especially near the bridges. Some of this land is managed by the BLM and there are private ranches along the way, so it is best to use a detailed map to determine whether a camping spot is okay to occupy. Most of the visitors that tour this neck of the woods tend to be seasonal hunters, so for the rest of the year these lesser known campsites are usually wide open. 

A good navigation system will come in handy when heading north on CR 25, because there are many options for going further into the back country. CR 10 intersects with CR 25 about 15 miles north and this dirt road actually is a major thoroughfare that goes by many lesser known points of interest on the way to the Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge on the Colorado-Utah Border. Green River rafting access points, like the Gates Of Lodore, can be found up this way and float trips starting here go through the entirety of Dinosaur National Monument. These dirt roads are fairly and nearly any high ground clearance vehicle can pass through with ease. For this reason, it is best to chalk the Little Snake River CR 25 tour high on the list when planning a Deerlodge Park venture!