Guided Day Hikes in Vernal, Utah

Traveling to Northeastern Utah is a great experience with a lot of wonderful things to see and do. Guided hiking tours are an excellent way to see some of the sites in the region. Our hikes depart daily either in the morning or late afternoon/early evening. A typical hiking tour is 4 to 5 hours round trip. The guide will bring along extra water, snacks, a first aid kit and have a wealth of knowledge to share. You will want to bring along a water bottle, camera, light rain jacket (just in case), wear appropriate shoes for hiking and clothing for the weather conditions.
Out two most popular hikes is the Dinosaur Trackway located at Red Fleet State Park and the McConkie Ranch Rock Art Site. Both hikes are intermediate in physical ability and beginner in technical hiking. Along either hike you will see great geology, plant life, birds and animals.
The McConkie Ranch site is one of the finest Native American rock art sites in Utah. Some of these ancient drawings are well over 1000 years old, left behind from the Fremont culture. This site has been featured in National Geographic for its incredible quality and quanitiy of petroglyphs and pictorgraphs.
The Dinosaur Trackway leads you through a beautiful slick rock landscape to the edge of Red Fleet Reservoir. When you arrive at the edge of the lake you will find over a 100 fossilized dinosaur footprints along the shore left in what was once a large mud flat. On this hike I would bring your swimsuit, it is always fun to take a dip in the lake while enjoying the incredible scenery.
All of the hikes we offer are family freindly and great for anyone who likes to get out of the car and explore what Utah has to offer.
Give us a call and let us help you arrange a trip. We can customize your hike with a river rafting trip or mountain bike tour.
1-800-345-7238 or visit our website www.dinoadv.com

UTAH GUIDED SCENIC RIVER RAFTING TRIP

One of the great things about Utah is all of the outdoor adventures that are available for us to enjoy. White water rafting trips are extremely popular and we take 4 and 5 day trips out on the Green River and Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument from May through September. These trips are amazing and well worth taking. If you do not have 4 or 5 days for a river trip a one day scenic float trip on the Green River is a perfect option. When booking a trip in this area ask lots of questions about the trips, you want to have a good idea of where you are going and what to expect. Also consider that we are the only locally owned and operated outfitter in Vernal, Utah and Dinosaur National Monument. This gives us an advantage of knowledge and skill unsurpassed by our competition.
We take a seven mile tour on the Green River from Flaming Gorge Dam to Little Hole almost daily. This trip is offered from Mid May until the first week of August. We depart from our Vernal, Utah location at 9:00 a.m. followed by a beautiful drive on highway 191 to Flaming Gorge Dam where we put on the river for the days float. Typically we arrive back to Vernal by 3:30.
This trip is highlighted by incredible scenery, crystal clear water and really fun class 2 rapids. Each trip is guided with licensed and experienced guides who give interpretive talks, fix a deli lunch spread and show you an all around fantastic time. The Green River section A as this part of the river is commonly called has a mix of calm scenic water interspersed with splashy, fun rapids such as Mother in Law, Roller Coaster and Bridge Rapid to name  a few.
You will see a lot of wildlife. Birds are the most common with a variety of waterfowl, small song birds and Eagles and Osprey. Quite often Mule Deer, Big Horn Sheep, Moose and Elk  will also be seen along the river or the drive to and from the river.
The water comes straight our of Flaming Gorge Dam at approximately 56 degrees. Chilly but refreshing on a hot summer day.
For a daily raft trip you will want to bring clothes that can get wet, sturdy sandals or shoes, a light rain jacket, water bottle, sunscreen and camera. Some people like to bring a towel for the ride home. We have small day dry bags available for you to store your belongings in while floating the river.
You will have several inflatable raft options. We take an oar assisted paddle raft. This raft the guide sits in the back and rows and steers the raft down the river. If you want to help paddle you are more than welcome to. The guide will give you detailed instructions on how to paddle. We also take inflatable kayaks AKA: the ducky. This boat comes in one or two person models and you paddle yourself down the river and through the rapids. A fun option for those that are a little more adventureous.
No matter what your paddling and floating prefrence there is an option for you and your group.
Dates fill up quickly you will want to call in advance to reserve your space on a daily rafting trip. You may also want to consider our combination hiking, raft trips or mountain biking, raft trips. The Vernal area has some of the best mountain biking in the United States and some incredible hiking trails.

Call today and reserve your next adventure 1-800-345-RAFT or visit our website for more details www.dinoadv.com
Visit your photo gallery, Facebook page, Twitter page or read our Trip Advisor reviews for more information on our company and our trips.

Utah Guided Day Hikes

Are you looking for something fun to do while on vacation in Utah? Take a guided day hike with us at Dinosaur River Expeditions. We have several offerings and each hike is great for the whole family or group you are traveling with.
Why choose a guided hike in Vernal, Utah? To start we are the only locally owned and operated outfitter in Vernal. With this great local knowledge we take you to our favorite places sharing a great wealth of information and sharing the secret spots others do not know about.
Here are some photos from one of our most popular day hikes. This is from the Red Fleet Dinosaur Trackway hike. This is a 2 and 1/2 mile hike round trip, has a well marked trail and is good for anyone who likes to hike. The trail takes you to the edge of Red Fleet a local lake popular for water sports, swimming and fishing. One of the great things you will find on this hike is the extensive amount of fossilized dinosaur footprints. The tracks are well preserved in the rocks surface and there are tons of them. While at the tracks you can take a swim and cool off. You can also find a nice spot to sit on the edge of the lake and soak in the view.
Our guides are wonderful they will bring along snacks, extra water, a major first aid kit. Along the hike they will point out some of the geology, flora and fauna and some of the local history.
Give us a call and book a trip today. We have combination trips available as well you can do a hike/raft trip while you are in the area.
1-800-345-7238 or visit our website www.dinoadv.com
https://plus.google.com/photos/117256097993481993371/albums/6039231891370847569

5 Things To Consider For A Guided Whitewater Trip

Here at Dinosaur River Expeditions we take 100's of people a summer on guided adventures. Our most popular trips are the 4 and 5 day Green River Gates of Lodore trip and the Yampa River tour. For those who are unsure of a guided adventure or have limited time we offer daily rafting, hiking and mountain bike tours. There are several things we have learned over the years that will help make your trip a success. Here are five things to think about when choosing a river rafting trip.

#1 - Start your research early, reserve your trip in advance. Look for an outfitter who has a long history in the area you want to go rafting. We are Dinosaur National Monuments only locally owned and operated outfitter. We find that being the local gives us a huge edge up on offering a great vacation. Take a look at our websites about page this will give you a good over view of who we. We also suggest that you book your trip in advance. Our trips fill up quickly and you may not be able to get on a date that fits your vacation schedule.

#2 - Make your travel and hotel reservations early. In Vernal, Utah the hotels fill up fast during the summer. Sometimes getting a hotel room or campsie can be very difficult. We partner with several hotels in our area and can get you a discounted room for booking a raft trip with us.

#3 - Follow the suggested pack list, we have found that it will help make you comfortable on the trip. Don't forget the essentials sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, bug spray, camera, flashlight and last but not least rain gear. Quite often our guests question bringing rain gear, this is a nice item to have in case the weather turns ugly or the rapids make you cold. A decent set of rain pants and a jacket are nice insurance on being cold and uncomfortable.

#4 - Break in any new gear you may have purchased for the trip. It is not fun to wear new sandals and get blisters on the first day of your trip. Set up your new tent and be comfortable with how it sets up and takes down. Be familiar with any of your new gear and understand how it works. It is a bummer to get on the river and not have the right gear or you are unsure of how it works.

#5 - Have a great attitude and be ready for a wonderful adventure. This can be the vacation of a lifetime, one you will remember forever.

Give us a call 1-800-345-7238 or visit our website www.dinoadv.com
Follow us on our social media pages Facebook, Google + and Twitter we post often and this is a great place to find deals on some of our trips.

Utah Guided Mountain Bike Tours

Vernal, Utah is quickly becoming one of the wests premier mountain bike destinations. We offer a great variety of daily guided mountain bike tours from trails for the begginner to expert. Most rides depart in the early am approximately 8:00 or in the afternoon 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. This way we beat try to beat the heat and give you a chance to enjoy our fabulous riding options. We partner with the local expert bike shop Altitude Cycle for all of our bike rental needs. They have a great line of rental bikes in a variety of sizes perfect for most people.
Give us a call today and book your next adventure 1-800-345-7238 or visit our website www.dinoadv.com

High Water And The Yampa River

Colorado's mountains have had a great winter. The snowpack in many places is over 125%, some drainages are reaching 150% of normal snowpack. What does this snowpack mean to us and river rafting? It means great water for river rafting adventures. The current predictions for the Yampa River look really good for a fun high water season. My prediction is peak flows into the mid teens 14,000 to 16,000 CFS. CFS or cubic feet per second is the volume of water passing a single point at one point in time on the river. The higher the number the higher the flows of the river.
The Yampa River of Colorado is the last undammed tributary of the Colorado River system. This freeflowing characteristic makes it a unique river because of its unhibited flow of water. We will see water from mild to high and wild during the 2014 summer season.
The Yampa River is also one of the most popular rivers in the United States. It is the third hardest river trip permit to obtain for the private boating community. Because of this it is often a great idea to hire an outfitter, they have permits, the experience and know how to make a trip excellent.
If you are looking for a great high water river rafting adventure give us a call today 1-800-345-RAFT (7238) or visit our website www.dinoadv.com

Mountain Biking Vernal, Utah

Mountain Biking Vernal Utah

If you like, love or enjoy mountain biking Vernal, Utah is a little known destination you must experience. The local mountain biking community has built a 100 plus miles of incredible single track trails that rival anything in Utah or Colorado. The area is often compared to Moab except there are no crowds you will have the trail all to yourself.

The most popular riding area is McCoy Flats west of town. At the McCoy Flats trailhead you have several options from beginner trails to expert loops. The two most common rides are Milk and Cookies a great beginner/intermediate trail or Retail Sale a intermediate to advanced trail. Both are loops that can be combined with other trails to make them longer if you feel up for it. One thing to keep in mind is the time of year and tempature. Mid June through Mid August the day time tempatures can be quite hot. I would recomend planning your ride early in the day or early evening to have the best tempature. Plus the sunrise and sunsets are not bad either.

Two other riding areas that get a lot of attention are Dry Fork Canyon and Red Fleet Recreation area. Both offer more great single track and an uncrowded riding experience. The Flume trail up Dry Fork Canyon is a unique experience and incredible ride. The Flume is an out and back trail, slight grade up hill for as many miles as you would like to ride up to 15 miles if you are willing. The scenery is beautiful, aspen and pine trees line the trail engulfed by giant sandstone cliffs. This ride also has a lot of wildlife, don't be suprised to see mule deer, moose, elk and a ton of birds and small mamals.

We offer daily mountain bike tours departing from Vernal, Utah. Our guide staff loves the trails, the area and will provide you with an unforgettable experience. We work with the local bike shop Altitude Cycle for all of the bike rental needs. There expert mechanics keep the bikes in tip top shape.

Give us a call today at 1-800-345-RAFT to reserve your space for 2014. You can also visit our website www.dinoadv.com for more information on all the trips we offer. 

Kids 1/2 OFF on select 2014 river rafting trips

Looking for a great summer vacation idea? We have kids 1/2 off with the purchase of an adult on select dates for the 2014 summer season. Call today to book a Green River Gates of Lodore 4 day river rafting adventure. 1-800-345-RAFT or visit our website www.dinoadv.com

Our trips begin and end in Vernal, Utah with an all inclusive whitewater river rafting trip your family will never forget. Dinosaur National Monument is consider by all who visit to be the secret gem in the National Park Service. Once you see these spectacular river canyons you will know why.

The most popular dates fill up quickly so don't delay reserve your space now.

Ten Things To Pack On Your River Trip

We here at Dinosaur River Expeditions are asked on a regular basis what to bring on a river trip. Here is a list of ten things that will make your Green River or Yampa River trip in Dinosaur National Monument a success.

#1 A Water Bottle, 32 ounces is a great size for a hot desert day.
#2 Sunscreen, a sunburn is not a fun way to spend your vacation.
#3 A Hat, a little extra sun protection
#4 Sunglasses, lets continue that sun protection
#5 Swimsuit, it is always nice to take a dip on a hot summer day
#6 Sandals or water shoes, make sure to protect those feet
#7 A waterproof camera, the scenry is unbelivable
#8 A light jacket, you never know when the weather could turn a little cold
#9 Your friends and or family, this is an experience you will want to share
#10 A sense of adventure!!

Now is a great time to book your next adventure, call today 1-800-345-RAFT or visit our website www.dinoadv.com

2014 Utah River Rafting Trips

With summer coming to a close, school back in session and fall just around the corner it is a perfect time to start thinking about your 2014 summer vacation. Now is the time to reserve your space on one of our most popular four or five day UTAH RIVER RAFTING TRIPS. The YAMPA RIVER is the last undamed tributary of the COLORADO RIVER system. This incredible 71 mile stretch of river flows through the heart of Dinosaur National Monument wandering through some of the Monuments most incredible scenery. Scenery is not the only thing that the Yampa River has to offer it also has some incredible WHITE WATER RAPIDS. The most famous of which is Warm Springs a formidable rapid that thrills everyone who rafts through its incredible waves.
Our other really popular trip is the Green River Gates of Lodore.  This section begins in Browns Park Colorado and winds its way for 44 miles to its take out point at Split Mountain campground. The Gates of Lodore has some of the most awe inspiring red rock canyon walls of any river in North America. The splended scenery makes way for great camps with big sandy beaches, fun swimming holes and exciting rapids like Hells Half Mile and Disaster Falls.
Both trips can be done over four or five days and are perfect for anyone looking for a RIVER RAFTING trip in UTAH or COLORADO. The best dates book up quickly I would recommend calling this fall and start planning your trip right away. Give us a call at 1-800-345-7238 or visit our website www.dinoadv.com

What to bring on a one day Green River rafting trip.

We always get great questions about what people need to bring on their one day rafting trip on the GREEN RIVER. At Dinosaur River Expeditions we supply all of the necessary rafting gear that you will need for the day, guides, transportation and a delicious, healthy lunch.
As a guest on our one day rafting trip you will want to bring a few basic items.
#1 - A sense of adventure
#2 - Sunscreen
#3 - Waterbottle
#4 - Hat and sunglasses
#5 - Light jacket
#6 - Camera
#7 - Friends and family (you don't want to have all of this fun by yourself).

We start offering our FLAMING GORGE GREEN RIVER DAY TRIPS the first part of May for groups of 5 or more people and run them into the first or second of September with groups of 5 or more people.

Our one day trip is a great way to get out and see some amazing scenery, have a lot of fun and hopefully get you hooked on the excitement of river rafting.

Call today to book your next great adventure 1-800-345-RAFT (7238) or visit our website
www.dinoadv.com.

Inflatable Kayak on the GREEN RIVER

Grand Canyon Dories on the Yampa River

Dories maybe one of the most romantic boats found on the rivers of the American west. Dories found there fame in the 1950's and 1960's with multiday river trips in the Grand Canyon. These beautiful, colorful boats are a pleasure to look at as they float along the river canyons. The boatmen handle these crafts with grace, ease and treat them like a priceless treasure. Riding on a dory through the rolling rapids of the river is also quite a thrill. The rigid hullls of these boats send them soaring high above the crests of breaking waves, putting you up in the air like a fantastic roller coaster ride.
Today you do not only find dories on the Grand Canyon section of the COLORADO RIVER but its now very famous tributary the YAMPA RIVER in DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT. The YAMPA RIVER is now famous for being the last undammed tributary of the Colorado River giving it a unique wild nature that no other river in the continental U.S. has. At DINOSAUR RIVER EXPEDITIONS we offer a unique early season YAMPA RIVER trip with dories giving you the opportunity to not only see this amazing river at its finest but from the bow of these beautiful boats.
Dories maybe a focus but inflatable kayaks and rafts also make this trip so much fun. Take a trip on the Yampa River it should be on your bucket list of must see and do vacations. Yampa River trips book up quickly I would start making plans as early as possible to reserve your space on these highly valued RIVER RAFTING ADVENTURES. The incredible WHITEWATER, amazing scenery and fanatstic guides will astound you with the great plesures found along this river.
Call today 1-800-345-7238 or visit our website www.dinoadv.com

Top Five Things On A Day River Trip

#1 White Water Rapids
Great rapids make your one day GREEN RIVER RAFTING trip in UTAH a ton of fun.
#2 Scenery
The excellent scenery is a highlight for all river travelers.
#3 Food
The incredible gourmet deli lunch, satisfying for anyone's appetite.
#4 Swimming
The crystal clear waters of the GREEN RIVER below FLAMING GORGE DAM is cold, refreshing and fun to swim in.
#5 Guides
The guides think they should be number one. Somedays they are. Without our amazing guides the one day raft trip just wouldn't be the same.

If you are looking for the best ONE DAY RIVER RAFTING TRIP IN UTAH, give us a call 1-800-345-7238 (RAFT).
Or visit our website www.dinoadv.com

Family Fun and Dinosaur Adventures

A river rafting adventure is a great way to spend time with your family. First of all you lose cell phone signal so the office isn't calling you and your kids cannot text their friends non-stop. Second who doesn't want to float beautiful canyons, raft wild rapids and sit around a campfire enjoying each others company. One of the best areas for a family river rafting trip is DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT. The GREEN RIVER and YAMPA RIVER flow through the heart of this spectacular National Park providing you with the best views possible.

 The YAMPA RIVER is the Colorado river systems last undammed tributary. Making this a top choice for river runners looking for a truly wild river experience. The Yampa River has some great WHITEWATER, Warm Springs rapid can be one of the biggest and funnest rapids in the American west. Some people consider this to be one of the 10 best drops in North America. Rapids are not the only thing that make this trip great there is incredible scenery that will amaze you day after day.

 GREEN RIVER GATES OF LODORE is most peoples all around favorite section of river to float. Flaming Gorge Dam provides a consistent level of water to the Green River all year long giving this stretch of river a chance to thrill you with all of its wonders May through September. This trip has great rapids, wonderful hikes, sandy beach camps and again scenery that will leave you in awe.

Either trip will take you at least four days to have the full and greatest experience. A few suggestions when looking into a trip like this. Find a reputable outfitter, DINOSAUR RIVER EXPEDITIONS is the only locally owned and operated outfitter in the area. They have the first hand knowledge and a history of world class service to make your trip special. Here is a link to there website www.dinoadv.com they have great rates for kids 14 and younger and offer specials quite often for booking in advance. You will also speak with the owners when calling which is a plus when booking your families next adventure. They have some great review on Trip Advisor go take a look at what others have had to say. Here is the link to those top notch reviews from past guests Trip Advisor Dinosaur River Expeditons The best dates fill up quickly so call today and get your space reserved 1-800-345-7238

Dinosaur River Expeditions: 35% OFF Adult Fare

Dinosaur River Expeditions: 35% OFF Adult Fare: On available August 2013 GREEN RIVER GATES OF LODORE trips recieve 35% OFF on regular priced adult fare. This is not valid with any other of...