Flaming Gorge by motorcycle
Northeast Utah's big ride. From Vernal, US-191 climbs past roadside signs naming each rock layer, over the eastern Uinta Mountains to a reservoir in red canyon walls. Riders call the road condition excellent, from tight switchbacks to long rolling straights (Motorcycle Roads).
The route at a glance
- Start: Vernal, where US-191 meets US-40 (Main Street) (Wikipedia)
- Roads: the Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway: US-191 north to Greendale Junction, then two branches: US-191 east past Flaming Gorge Dam and Dutch John to the Wyoming line, or SR-44 west past Red Canyon to Manila (Wikipedia)
- Distances: Vernal to Greendale Junction about 35 miles; Manila is mile 62.7 on the SR-44 branch (Wikipedia)
- High point: close to 8,400 ft in the Uintas (Wikipedia)
- Time: Visit Utah says allow at least 5 hours with stops for the round trip from Vernal (Visit Utah)
Getting to Vernal
From Salt Lake City: I-80 east past Kimball Junction, then US-40 to Vernal (Recreation.gov). About 3.5 hours (estimate; check your map app). This is a two-day trip from the airport: ride out, stay in Vernal, ride the byway.
Mile by mile
The Drive Through the Ages. About 3.5 miles from Vernal's town center a board marks the start of the geological tour. Signs, nearly every 100 yards in places, name each rock formation as you climb, and a brochure is available at the start (Visit Utah).
Steinaker and Red Fleet. Steinaker State Park is at mile 5.6 and Red Fleet State Park at mile 10.1 (Wikipedia). A 2.5-mile hike from a pull-out north of Red Fleet Reservoir leads to dinosaur tracks (Visit Utah).
Over the Uintas. The byway enters Ashley National Forest at mile 17 and climbs through aspen and ponderosa pine (Wikipedia; Motorcycle Roads). Watch for elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep (Motorcycle Roads).
Greendale Junction. At about mile 35 the route splits (Wikipedia). The classic ride does both: east to the dam, back, then north to Manila (Motorcycle Roads).
Flaming Gorge Dam. Six miles east on US-191 from the junction (Motorcycle Roads). There is a visitor center and dam tours are offered (Motorcycle Roads). Past the dam the road runs through Dutch John to the Wyoming line (Wikipedia).
Red Canyon Overlook. On SR-44, about 3 miles off the highway, the overlook stands 1,700 ft above the reservoir, with a visitor center (Visit Utah; Wikipedia).
Sheep Creek and Manila. SR-44 passes through Sheep Creek Gap on the way down to Manila (Wikipedia). The 15-mile Sheep Creek Canyon Geological Drive is a side trip; it includes about 1.5 miles of rough unpaved road to the Ute Tower fire lookout, so skip that spur on a road bike (Visit Utah). Manila has restaurants; Dutch John and Red Canyon have one each (Motorcycle Roads).
Before you ride
- Recreation pass: Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area charges fees: $5 a day, $15 a week, $35 a year. Passes are sold at Ashley National Forest offices and local vendors, not online (USDA Forest Service). The page does not say whether riding straight through needs one; buy one if you plan to stop at the overlooks.
- Season: the main road is open all year and kept clear, but winter snow can be a problem (Visit Utah). Riders warn it can be cold up high in spring and fall, and of lightning and heavy rain on the switchbacks into Vernal (Motorcycle Roads). Watch the forecast.
- Fuel: no fuel stops are listed on the route (Motorcycle Roads). Fill up in Vernal and check your range.
- Rules for visiting riders (helmets, eye protection, lane filtering): Riding in Utah.
Keep going
- On the way out: US-40 passes through Heber. See Park City and Heber for Wolf Creek Pass and Provo Canyon.
- Back near the airport: Salt Lake City and the Nebo Loop.
Rent a bike
Booking opens soon. Until then, use the ride guides to plan your trip.