Sunday, April 30, 2017

Steinaker State Park - Vernal, Utah

Steinaker State Park - Vernal, Utah

Dates of Stay: April 12-19

Our large campsite at Steinaker

Golden-mantled ground squirrel. We thought they were giant Chipmunks!

There were about two dozen turkeys that would wonder around the park every day.

Steinaker Reservoir

Drinking margaritas on the beach...so relaxing

Dry Fork Canyon

The McConkie Ranch (private property) - Through the generosity of the McConkie's, visitors are able to climb into the sandstone cliffs to view Native American petroglyphs.

The shack on the McConkie Ranch where you can 
sign in and pay (suggested donation). You can also grab a walking stick from 
the garbage pail outside. Very thoughtful.

I found the inside of the shack almost as interesting as the petroglyphs. They have a stack of post it notes where you can write a note and press it onto the wall or ceiling. The notes are thank you's to the McConkie's for allowing visitors to "invade" their property to climb in the cliffs to view the artwork. They also had water and pop for sale in the fridge.

A poem someone left in the shack regarding the petroglyphs.

Lots and lots of climbing ahead

 More climbing

Still climbing

 The figures in the cliffs represent the Fremont culture, 
which flourished in this area from about 1-1200 AD

The Native American petroglyphs are world renown, 
found all along 200-foot-high "Navajo Formation" sandstone cliffs. 

 The cliffs were literally covered with artwork

More art

The cliffs from a distance

Dinosaur National Monument



The dinosaur quarry




Cub Creek Road Tour within Dinosaur National Monument

The Cub Creek Road tour has 15 stops. We started with the furthest stop out, which is the ranch of Josie Bassett Morris...
Josie Bassett Morris' ranch house within Dinosaur National Monument
At the age of 40, Josie moved to this area and for 50 years she lived alone in her cabin without plumbing, telephone, or electricity. She had to do everything on this property; she raised and butchered cattle, she planted grapes, orchards, rose gardens, vegetable gardens, chicken coops and turkey pens, and just about everything you needed to survive. She became a fascinating character in the pageant of the west and the story of Vernal. 

A box canyon on Josie Basset's property

A petroglyph stop along the driving tour. 
Dave's the speck up there in front of the cliffs in a light blue t-shirt.

There are lizard petroglyphs on this rock.

Split Mountain and the Green River

Moonshine Arch

Dave standing under the arch

A view of the arch from a cave

Such a pretty spot!

Inside the cave

Dave walking along the cave

The crushed sandstone cliffs make for a sandy walking path

Red Fleet State Park

Hiking to Dinosaur Trackways in Red Fleet State Park

Dinosaur Trackways Hike - this place was a little unimpressive as far as dinosaur tracks go...
especially after seeing the tracks in St. George, Utah and Colorado...but it was a pretty walk to the Red Fleet reservoir.

Red Fleet Reservoir

Kayaking on Steinaker Reservoir

Launching

Our beach at Steinaker


Snow covered mountains in the background

The End

Heading to Antelope Island next...



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