If you are coming to Montrose from the north or departing in
that direction, you might want to include a visit to Dinosaur National Monument
and the Flaming Gorge Recreation Area.
Some of the world's most significant dinosaur fossil quarries
and museums are clustered along this route, in the midst of a forbidding but
stunningly beautiful landscape. The earth, fractured and stained, coughs up a
rare collection of treasures. Ancient stone rises to the surface after eons
underground; skeletons buried 100 million years ago now bleach in the desert
sun. The byway traverses high mountains and barren plateaus, with stops at two
national parks, two national monuments, and two great rivers of the West (the
Colorado and Green). This dramatic maze of rocks and bones defies the
imagination.
This scenic byway also includes routes in Utah, but included
here is the route from Grand Junction to Rangely to Dinosaur and the Dinosaur
National Monument.
Things not to be missed at the monument are the road to
Harpers Corner and the Dinosaur Digs just out of Jensen (UT).
If your trek can bring you this way, the Flaming Gorge National
Recreation Area has some great roads for riding. In particular, US-191
climbs out of Vernal with awesome sweepers and twisties through beautiful treed
areas, with pullouts provided beautiful views of the surrounding country.
After cresting the mountains the road drops down to Flaming Gorge -- be sure to
take the road down to the dam, to Flaming Gorge Lodge, to Red Canyon, and over
to Manila. Lots of good riding here for sure.
White River Riding:
In addition to the primary route to Flaming Gorge, Dinosaur NM,
and Grand Junction, CO-64 follows the White River from Rangely to Meeker -- a
nice set of sweepers, continuing on south of Meeker on CO-13 to Rifle and I-70.
