From Grand Lake, we traversed the next range of mountains to the west and began to track the Yampa River Valley north and then west. The Yampa joins the Green River (which eventually joins the Colorado) near Dinosaur National Monument in North Western Colorado (also North Eastern Utah). We stayed for several days at the Green River Campground near Jensen Utah. It was very hot during our stay, so hiking was out of the question. We enjoyed several car trips to the main visitor centre of the park, along various park roads, and a few trips in to Vernal, Utah.

The massive anti-cline along the green river. This is the geologic process that lifted sedimentary rocks up to the surface where the dinosaur bones were found.The campground is to the bottom right, the Green river stretching left to right, and the anti-cline in the background.Dinosaur laden rock wall preserved from the elements in the visitor centre.An interesting feature near the visitor centre that appears to be a giant dinosaur backbone (locally called the stegosaurus). Just rocks, however, no bones.Our camp setup. There are some trees, but they only offer limited protection from the sun and heat during the day.One of a great number of (large!) chipmunks that were clearly used to humans and human food!Chipmunk playing 'King of the Rock'. Our local chipmunks in Toronto like to watch from top of rocks too.Sunrise one morning over the anti-cline.Also at sunrise, highlighting some massive bug swarms along the green river's edge.

 

Rocky Mountain NP - 2023
Grand Tetons National Park (+ Yellowstone) - 2023