Driving along Interstate 80 through the high-desert country of southwestern Wyoming delivers sweeping views of big skies with buttes and hoodoos dotting the horizon. This region combines a long mining legacy and historic downtowns, with most of the action in the cities of Green River and Rock Springs.
For spectacular scenery and a deep dive into history, consider a detour through the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, circling the 91-mile-long Flaming Gorge reservoir that straddles Wyoming and Utah. Named for its massive red and golden sandstone gorge—which seems to glow in the right light—the 160-mile loop offers wildlife spotting and peaceful hikes amid a billion years of geologic traces.
Rock Springs, Wyoming
Begin your trip in Rock Springs, which boomed when coal and mineral miners found resources underground. Some of the mines are still under parts of the town today. Learn more at the stately Rock Springs Historical Museum, which once served as the city hall, jail, and fire station. Fuel up and stock up on supplies, then head west on Highway 191 to the Flaming Gorge–Green River Basin Scenic Byway, which is the first part of the loop around the recreation area.
Plan to spend at least five hours doing the full loop, with additional time for hikes and stopping at numerous overlooks. Camping and plenty of water recreation—including boating, waterskiing, swimming, and fishing for trophy trout—encourage a longer stay.
Want to take a break from driving? Reserve a ticket on the daylong guided bus tour from Rock Springs’ cozy visitor center. On the tours, which run from June through September, you’ll be treated to stories about the outlaw gangs that once roamed these hills.
As you enter the recreation area heading southward on Highway 191, you’ll see a vast expanse of rocky cliffs and outcroppings as you wind through the hills, likely with a few pronghorn grazing here and there. Firehole Canyon—about 29 miles away in the Ashley National Forest—makes for a great rest stop; check out the reservoir and chimney rocks, distinct pillars atop cliffs formed by ancient volcanic action.
Dutch John, Utah
Open April 15 to October 15, the Flaming Gorge Dam and Visitor Center is situated three miles southwest of Dutch John, a small town just across the Utah border, created to house workers building the dam. The quiet reservoir is often populated with anglers; visitors can also climb stairs on the dam itself to watch the roaring water pour into the wild river some 500 feet below when the jet valves are open.
The Restaurant at Flaming Gorge Resort, four miles south of the dam, offers daily meals from breakfast omelets to open-faced pot roast sandwiches for dinner. For a hike or cycle on a dirt road with lake and canyon views, take the three-mile round-trip Bear Canyon–Bootleg trail near Flaming Gorge Resort.
Also near Dutch John, on the south end of the reservoir, you’ll find the Red Canyon Visitor Center, which overlooks a stunning ancient canyon formed by water a billion years ago and now layered with red rock. Take one of the short trails that crisscross its grounds to reach overlooks with jaw-dropping views down into the depths of time. The visitor center—at 1,631 feet in elevation—boasts a wall of windows on one end that make for perfect accessible viewing of the Green River below.
Sheep Creek, Utah
Though not a designated town, Sheep Creek Geological Loop, a detour off UT-44 near the Wyoming border, is so beautiful and otherworldly that it’s a highlight for many visitors. The loop runs roughly 13 miles, winding through dramatic rock formations of sandstone, shale, and limestone towering overhead. You’ll see the evidence of geologic upheavals and oceanic activity that formed this area through many millions of years, including Utah’s Uinta Mountains. You’ll want to spend an hour or two here, stopping at overlooks and notable formations, and scanning for bighorn sheep in the hills.
At the end of the loop, the three-quarter-mile Sheep Creek Nature Trail provides a lushly forested stroll on a boardwalk along the creek, especially fascinating when the Kokanee salmon are running in fall.
Manila, Utah
As you make your way north, you’ll be treated to views of the reservoir on the entire trip to rejoin I-80 in Green River. Just north of Sheep Creek, take advantage of the facilities in Manila, the other small town on the route. Enjoy classic burgers and pizza at Browning’s Restaurant and Motel. For snacks or fishing rentals, stop by Lucerne Valley Marina, east of town, or Buckboard Marina, situated 25 miles from Green River.
Green River, Wyoming
Like its neighboring city, Rock Creek, historic Green River is well worth a leisurely stop along the Flaming Gorge Route. Relax at a peaceful riverside park that marks an important expedition of explorer John Wesley Powell, or hit up the excellent Sweetwater County Historical Museum to learn more about Old West folklore and the surprisingly fascinating industry of soda ash mining. Wet your whistle at the Brewery, a friendly dive bar located in a castle-like brick building that once housed Wyoming’s first brewery.