I heard about two other must-do hikes around Vernal that we had to checkout. The first was Moonshine Arch. This is a quick 2 mile hike that takes you to a beautiful arch. The trail was a little confusing, but you are close enough to town that you still have service and can use AllTrails to make sure you are on the right track. Also, do not use Google Maps to find the trailhead. The trail is dog friendly and very sunny. You could do it in the summer, but I would recommend avoiding the afternoon since it is a desert. Unless, you don't mind the desert heat.
Next, we were off to Fantasy Canyon. This is a very short trail through a unique area. You drive off of the main highway onto a dirt road into an oil mining area. It is sad to see the oil pumps scattered across this gorgeous desert. That is the history of Vernal’s success. It was an oil mining town that has since had to change its economy from oil mining to recreation and farming. It is interesting to see the remnants of what the town once was. Fantasy Canyon is located in the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, because of this the residents living in Ouray had control of the land and did not agree with how it is being used. Once the mining stopped ice created these interesting formations in the dirt that had been dug up.
The other amazing thing about exploring Fantasy Canyon is that it is very close to the Ouray Wildlife Refuge. I have always wanted to see a wild horse and we saw so many, it was unbelievable. I was only able to get a photos of one of them. But I was so grateful to experience watching them run as a herd. We also saw antelope very close to the roads grazing.
All in all, Vernal is an awesome place to go explore. It is super underrated for everything you can do. I would encourage anyone to go and explore Dinosaur National Monument and other local areas. The town of Vernal is accessible and offers many options for food and affordable AirBnB’s. I would highly recommend Vernal Brewing Company.
What You Want to Know
Take Me There!
Moonshine Arch
From Vernal head North on Main Street (US 191), turn left at UT-301 heading South. Look for mile marker #359 and turn left onto the dirt road. Continue on the dirt road for 3/4 of a mile and there will be adorable signs pointing you towards Moonshine Arch. Park at the end of the road. It will be clear it is the last parking area on that road. Again, do not use google for your GPS. It took us down the wrong turn (mile marker #331) and it is no where near the trailhead. It is about 15 minutes from Vernal.
From Vernal, head onto Main Street towards Naples. Stay on Highway UT-45 heading South for about 25 miles. Turn right onto Glen Bench Road for 8 miles then turn left onto Coyote Washington Road. You are in the middle of nowhere and driving through an oil working area. We had service and just let google maps take us there, which I would recommend. There are a few signs leading you towards Fantasy Canyon, but it is not always clearly marked. It is about an hour away from Vernal.
How long is the hike?
Moonshine Arch
This is a 2.9 mile out and back trail. It can be a little confusing to find the right trail. From the parking lot head towards the green gates always stay on the trails to the right. You will be heading towards the closest rock formations. Once you are there to your left you will see a more open area in the distance, that is the wrong way to the arch. Hopefully that helps. We pulled up AllTrails to make sure we were on the right trail.
Fantasy Canyon
This is a 0.5 mile loop. Super easy and quick, but lots to look at and creatures to find so you will find yourself taking some time to look around. There are markers along the trail letting you know what to look for. But we had more fun finding our own shapes and creatures.
What Do I Wear?!
I was surprised by how cold it was in Vernal. I was expecting a little warmer of temperatures in April. I wore pant leggings, my Ahnu Montara hiking boots for the trails and regular street shoes for driving, and a t-shirt the whole time. Sunscreen and water are a must.
Can I bring my dog?
Moonshine Arch
Yes! We didn't see too many dogs on the trail, but we went early in the morning on a colder day.
Fantasy Canyon
Yes! This is in the middle of nowhere. Just make sure you clean-up their waste. Their are trash cans around the parking lot.
Komentarji