Vernal Travel Guide, Utah

Vernal and the surrounding area offer spectacular outdoor activities in a beautiful setting. Whether you prefer hiking in secluded mountains, fishing or water sports activities, Vernal has what it takes to keep visitors happy and busy.

Vernal and the surrounding areas offer many opportunities for river running. Both self-guided river runs and guided tours can be found in the Vernal area. There are plenty of hiking opportunities in areas like Dinosaurland, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Uinta Mountain and Dry Fork Canyon.

With so many parks and recreation areas one will find it difficult to decide what to choose but the best option would be to visit them all and try out everything as it is well worth it. Among the best parks are the Steinaker State Park and Red Fleet State Park where you can find great opportunities for fishing, boating and more and the good thing is that they are only minutes away from the city.

Steinaker State Park is located seven miles north of Vernal and attracts visitors with sandy beaches, swimming, boating, waterskiing and fishing which is appreciated for rainbow trout and largemouth bass. There are facilities like boat launching ramp, individual campsites, group-use pavilions and modern rest rooms.

10 miles north of Vernal is Red Fleet State Park, another park just as full of outdoor recreation possibilities and facilities to make your vacation happen. Besides recreation you can also learn a few things about dinosaurs as there’s a dinosaur track way in the area.

There are attractions that serve as a good introduction to the compelling geologic and natural history of the area. More information about dinosaurs can be found at Dinosaur National Monument where you can see the fossils of the largest land animal that once lived here. At the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum you can see a huge dinosaur skeleton and other 18 life-size models of dinosaurs and the setting is similar to the era in which they lived. There are also other exhibits on palaeontology, geology.

You can also marvel at some rock art and since the area including Dinosaur land is the best for white water rafting water sports fans can’t miss getting a bit wet while paddling along beautiful and wild scenery. The fun is not destined only to experts but to all who want to have a thrill on water. The less experienced ones can choose guided tours.

There are some other museums like the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum tracing the history of the area; the Western Heritage Museum informing about prehistoric Fremont Indians with displays including Ute artifacts, historic rifles, clothing fashions, early horse-drawn wagons and more.

A scenic place to visit is the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area to be found nearby the city and it is a must for all those who happen to be in the area. The clear blue waters of the reservoir and the varied recreational activities lure visitors to the place every year. The list of outdoor activities that await you is endless. From fishing to jet skiing there is something for everybody. The construction of the Flaming Gorge Dam has brought a lot of tourists to the area, but the beautiful red rock mountains, the possibility to see Petroglyphs and the place where the Fremont Indians used to live is also a big attraction. The recreation area also offers many campgrounds and hiking areas.

From those who just want to admire the beautiful setting to the adventure seeker, to those who want to take in all the major museums and attractions, this city can satisfy your every request.