Park of the Week: Red Fleet State Park
Everybody loves a good hike, especially one with beautiful scenery; but how many hikes can you think of that involve 200-million-year old dinosaur tracks. Here at Red Fleet State Park, that is exactly what you can do.
Long ago, dinosaurs inhabited the land in and around what is present day Vernal, leaving Red Fleet State Park as the home of numerous dinosaur tracks. From analyzing these tracks, paleontologists have discovered these specific dinosaurs were three-toed and walked on two legs. The tracks range from 3-17 inches at once site and 4-5 inches at another.
You can reach the tracks by hiking a 3-mile round-trip trail leading to the track site. This trail is not for the faint of heart, as it can be somewhat strenuous with multiple uphill and downhill sections. The best time to visit these tracks is in early morning or late afternoon, and can be somewhat difficult to see when the sun is directly overhead.
We’re all about dinosaurs here at Red Fleet. The park even has a geo-cache set up, and one hint to its location is: think dinosaurs. The following are the coordinates to its location and are listed 3 different ways depending on your GPS:
N 40.586246 E -109.437945 – degrees
N 40 35.180′ E -109 26.272′ – degrees / minutes
N40 35’10.80″ E -109 26′ 16.36″ – degrees / minutes / seconds
We may not have dinosaurs out on the water, but we do have paddle boards! Come join us on June 17-18 for the 2016 Paddlefest, our yearly paddle board event. With the sandy beaches, warm sun, and cool water, you’ll be sure to have a day to remember.
Local boaters refer to the 750-acre Red Fleet Reservoir as Little Lake Powell. Spectacular sandstone cliffs and secluded sandy beaches await. Boating, waterskiing, and swimming are popular activities during the summer months.
Swimmers should use caution, as water may be extremely deep just offshore. Jumping or diving from rocks or cliffs is prohibited. Canoe and kayak rentals are available at the park.
Reservations are available for individual campsites. Reservations may be made a minimum of two days in advance of the arrival date and up to 16 weeks in advance from the park check-out date. To make a reservation, call toll-free 1 (800) 322-3770. Reservations are always recommended. Unreserved sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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