Leece's Most Excellent Road Trip 2019: Craig to Green River

We went west from Craig to the north end of Dinosaur National Monument and the Gates of Lodore. It was cold and drizzly, with snow at the higher elevations. From the Gates of Lodore, we visited Brown's Park National Wildlife Refuge. Both Lodore and Brown's Park would be worth visits in their own right, but we were pushing on through Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area to Green River, and only made brief visits.

Coming down alongside the Green River, with the Gates of Lodore in the distance.

Gates of Lodore. They rise several hundred feet above the Green River.

Looking west, along the Green River, in Brown's Park NWR.

Crossing the Swinging Bridge. The Utah line is about one mile to the west. The unpaved roads on the south side of the bridge cut about an hour off the trip to Vernal, as well as being quite scenic.

The Swinging Bridge, from the campground just to the west.

At the state line, CO 318 becomes UT 1364. 1364 is paved most of the way, except over the top of a low pass, about 7300 feet MSL. Though the unpaved section was quite slick and icy, we had no problems making it over.

Leece takes a shot at Sheep Creek Bay.

Overlooking near Sheep Creek.

Storm over the prairie, just south of Green River, WY.

Leece's Most Excellent Road Trip Spring 2019: Salida to Craig

Late in May we departed The Holy Land for Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. We went by way of Salida, up to Craig, then over to Green River by way of the Gates of Lodore  , Brown's Park National Wildlife Refuge,and the Flaming Gorge. From Green River, we visited Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, and then on to Jackson, Wy. We spent four days in Yellowstone and the Tetons before crossing Wyoming through the Wind River country, to Scottsbluff National Monument, and back down to The Holy Land.

It was, indeed, a most excellent trip.

Coming up to Craig, we passed Mt Elbert, and then crossed over Tennessee Pass.

Mt Elbert, Colorado's highest peak

Another shot of Mt Elbert

At the Green Bridge Overlook, near Red Cliff

The world-famous Green Bridge