StantonHyde

A girlfriend and I took our 4 kids (ranging in ages 15-11) to Vernal for Fall Break. I have been before and did the Dinosaur National Monument and the Field House etc. So this was a trip to do the things we missed last time. Note that this was a leisurely vacation. If you were more in the mode to get up early and get a move on--you could see more. But--it was in the high 30s, low 40s in the morning so I was happy to sleep in and enjoy bluebird days in the 60s.

We stayed at the Marriott Townplace Suites--great hotel. Nice pool, breakfast, room etc etc. In the same parking lot there is a Subway, Cafe Rio, Little Ceasars, and a KFC--really easy to grab a quick dinner or a sandwich for lunch. The Springhill Suites is also next door. I have stayed there as well and liked it. But I like the space of a 2BR suite with teenagers.

We ate dinner at: Cafe Rio, the Quarry Steakhouse/Brewpub, and Wingers. We had to find places that would appeal to a range of appetites. Cafe Rio is always good for "higher end" chain food. Wingers was ok. The food was fine, the service was ok. The Quarry Steakhouse was awesome!!! Great food, great service, fantastic beer selection. This is a place you could eat at several times in one visit and be happy. I would highly recommend it. We got sandwiches from Subway and I made lunches as well--we had a cooler. Coffee is near and dear to my heart. Usually I love Beans and Brew in Salt Lake, but this place didn't have the same service--we tried it twice. Then we went to Spoof's Drive Through. It took a little longer but the woman really knew her coffee and it tasted great.

Day One--we didn't get started till 2 and we just drove there, ate at Cafe Rios, and let the kids swim.
Day Two:
1. First stop--Fantasy Canyon. It is really cool little canyon to walk through. Very, very doable for young kids. For us, it was a bit short but then we scrambled up onto the hills surrounding it and looked for rocks and the kids had all sorts of fun. It's a bit of a drive--and be careful because some of it is on open rangeland so there are horses and cows on the road.
2. Then we were going to take the Red Wash road to 40 and to the Dino Natl Monument because my friend's kids had not seen it. I GPSed it on the phone and put away the map--something I NEVER do. And I will never do it again. Because the road comes out onto 40--had we turned west (left) we would have been right at Jensen and at the monument. But nooooo-Google maps takes you to the park headquarters in Colorado (20 miles away). And the headquarters was closed in October. aaarrgh. So no monument for us. We went back to Vernal. My friend took the boys kayaking at Red Fleet Reservoir for an hour or so and I took the girls to Walmart to buy craft supplies so they could make necklaces with the rose quartz they had found.

Day Three:
1. First stop--McConkie Ranch. Oh my word. This is THE best place ever to see rock art. I have seen lots and lots of rock art in the Cedar Mesa area--along roadways, way deep in the back country, you name it. This stuff is amazing and it is RIGHT there. You drive about 10-15 minutes out of town to the McConkie Road. There is a sign but its wooden and a lot smaller or less distinct than I thought it would be. So track the miles on your odometer--you can pick up a map at the visitor center. We parked on the road because the lot was full. Paid our $5 donation into the ammo box and then headed off to see the 3 Kings Trail. On the way up the road, a woman motioned me over to her yard. I thought we were trespassing or going the wrong way. Nope, it was the amazing Jean who runs the place. She invites us to come up to the house when were done to see her stuff. The hike to 3 Kings is through a couple of pastures--be sure to shut the gates!! Then along a rock wall with great art until you reach the end and see the 3 kings. It was amazing. Jean said they found 13 kivas on the ground at the base of this big pillar. It was clearly a sacred spot for the Fremont. We walked back on the pasture trail--which skips the wall art but is easy.

Then we went to Jean's shed. From the parking lot---go to where the main trail starts by the porta potties and look to your right. There is a dirt road that goes to the house on the right of the parking lot. There is a shed there with the door open and lots of arrowheads. She has manos and matates on the ground, geodes etc. She came over and told us about these things. I asked more questions and she showed us another shed with pottery and fossils and other treasures. Then on to a few more sheds with old farm implements and antiques. There is even a kiva you can go into--next to her house. And another kiva that is filled in that has been excavated by an archeology team. It was amazing listening to her stories about growing up there and what she would find. She is in her 80s and is a real gem. Go now!!

Then we did the main trail. I was just amazed. such amazing rock art that has not been vandalized and you can stand right next to it. The trail is rough in places but a kid could easily do it. This is just a family must see.

2. Next stop--Red Fleet State Park for kayaking. This place is gorgeous. They have a really large area closed off to large motor/ski boats so you can kayak/canoe and swim. We didn't swim--the water was too cold--but I can imagine that in September and all summer it is great. The dinosaur track way that you have to hike 2 miles to get to?? Well, it's about a 2 minute paddle over there from the boat dock. My daughter and I went over and there was a geology class studying the tracks. We listened carefully and learned a great deal. There are interpretive signs as well. We brought our own, but you can rent canoes and kayaks in season. We spent 3 hours there and had a great time.

Day Four--breakfast, swimming, pack up, check out, head home.

It was an awesome, sunny weekend and lots of fun. I would still go back to hike Moonshine Arch, kayak more, do some hikes, and I would go back to see the petroglyphs again too!!

emalloy

Sounds like a great trip. We visited McKonkie ranch last year, but no one was around. so we put our money in the can and hiked on up. We would have loved to meet Jean and hear her stories.

There are great petroglyphs and pictographs in Dinosaur too. Some nice lizards right near the road past the quarry from the Jensen entrance. Others a bit north in McKee spring area. You can get directions to both in the VC.

Thanks for the report.

StantonHyde

emalloy--yes, last time we were here we saw the McKee spring site. I just loved this site because you can get so close and there is such amazing variety. Plus Jean and all of her collections!!