Have you ever been to Flaming Gorge? We spent some time there this past summer while attending a family reunion with my parents, siblings, and their families. It was our first time visiting, but we’ll be back to explore more in depth. While we were there, we also explored Dinosaur NM, which is less than two hours away.

Where is Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area?

Have you ever driven I-80 across Wyoming and seen the exit for Green River? Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area starts just a bit south of Green River and stretches about 90 miles south across southwestern Wyoming and into northeastern Utah. Flaming Gorge NRA is in the Ashley National Forest and is overseen by the US Forest Service.

If you can’t make it to Flaming Gorge this summer because of travel restrictions, your kiddos can still earn their Junior Forest Ranger badge. After they complete the book, they can mail it in and receive a patch, a Junior Forest Ranger pin, and a Junior Forest Ranger card.

What is Flaming Gorge NRA?

Flaming Gorge Reservoir was formed after the Flaming Gorge Dam was built in the late 50s and early 60s. The hydroelectric plant provides power to about 50,000 homes. The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, which includes the reservoir and about 200,000 acres of land around it, was created in October 1968 by Congress. The reservoir has more 360 miles of shoreline.

Where to stay while visiting Flaming Gorge

There 43 campgrounds with more than 700 campsites, including group campsites, dispersed camping, and boat-in sites, around the reservoir. You can find a list here. Hookups may not be available and water may only be available seasonally, so be sure to do your homework when making reservations.

There are also a number of privately owned campgrounds and RV resorts in the area. We stayed at the Manila KOA. Since we were in the area for a family reunion, we needed the flexibility of RV sites, tent sites (including a tipi!), and cabins all in close proximity. The playground was also a nice amenity for the kiddos to run around with their cousins.

Important details to know

There may be day use or parking fees, so bring some cash. Flaming Gorge is fairly isolated, so make sure you have a full gas tank, plenty of water, and food. The visitor centers are at about 6000 feet above sea level, so dress to avoid sun exposure, wear sunblock, etc. We did not reapply sunblock often enough when we were playing at the reservoir and we all got sunburned.

With many services shutdown because of the pandemic, the visitor centers may not be open. Be sure to call ahead of time to make sure they’re open.

5 Things To Do At Flaming Gorge

1. Play at the reservoir

Do all the water things. Swim, rent or bring a boat, kayak, SUP, etc. We hung out at a swim beach and kayaked, SUPed, and had fun with giant floaties. We’d planned on renting a motorboat, but there were none available that day. You may want to reserve one ahead of time during the busy season. You can find swimming areas on this page.

2. Go mountain biking or hiking

There are mountain biking trails on the east side of Flaming Gorge. You can find a list of them here. Most are multi-use trails and you may encounter hikers or ATVs, so be alert when using them.

There are hiking trails on both sides of the reservoir. You can find a list of hiking and backpacking trails here. Be aware that many trails are multi-use and you may encounter mountain bikes, ATVs, dirt bikes, or horses.

3. Raft the Green River

Put in below the Flaming Gorge Dam and float the Green River. There are three sections with 17 boat-in campsites and excellent fishing. Hiking trails also lead to the campsites, but there is no motorized vehicle access. You can bring your own gear or hire an outfitter to take you down the river.

4. Visit the Flaming Gorge Dam and Visitor Center

The Flaming Gorge Visitor Center is open seasonally, from mid-April to mid-October. (when there’s not a pandemic on) You can get a free tour of the dam (including the interior) and check out the informational displays. The Visitor Center is located in Dutch John, Utah at the southern end of the reservoir. While you’re in the area, check out the Red Canyon Visitor Center just down the road for some scenic views of the area.

5. Go for a scenic drive

If you want to do any exploring, you’ll need to get in the car and drive. Check out this page ahead of time for a list of scenic overlooks and drives to incorporate into your schedule.

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And if those don’t sound interesting, there’s also world-class fishing in the reservoir and in Green River, cross country ski trails, horse riding and horse camping, and more.

Have you been to Flaming Gorge? What is your favorite thing to do there? Anything to add to this list?