Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

State: Wyoming (extends into Utah). Type: National Recreation Area administered by the U.S. Forest Service (Ashley National Forest). Total area: 207,363 acres. Established by act of Congress on October 1, 1968. Centerpiece: the 91-mile-long Flaming Gorge Reservoir on the Green River, formed by Flaming Gorge Dam (completed 1964).

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area straddles the Wyoming-Utah border along the Green River, taking its name from the brilliant red sandstone cliffs that explorer John Wesley Powell described during his 1869 river expedition. The area's centerpiece is Flaming Gorge Reservoir, a 91-mile-long lake impounded behind Flaming Gorge Dam, surrounded by dramatic canyon scenery. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service through the Ashley National Forest, the recreation area combines water-based recreation on the reservoir with hiking, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting on the Green River below the dam. Its blue-ribbon trout fishery and remote, high-desert canyon setting draw anglers, boaters, and campers from across the region.

The recreation area spans Sweetwater County, Wyoming, and Daggett County, Utah, centered on the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The nearest city on the Wyoming side is Green River, Wyoming; the reservoir extends south across the state line into Utah.

The area sits in a high-desert canyon environment with hot, dry summers and cold winters typical of southwestern Wyoming; specific temperature and precipitation figures were not confirmed from the sources reviewed and should be checked against current Ashley National Forest or NOAA data before publishing precise numbers.

Summer is the primary season for boating, fishing, and camping on the reservoir, while spring and fall offer cooler conditions for hiking and rafting on the Green River below the dam; specific seasonal visitation guidance beyond this was not detailed in the sources reviewed.

John Wesley Powell named the gorge 'Flaming Gorge' during his 1869 expedition down the Green River, describing the glowing red sandstone cliffs that line the canyon. Flaming Gorge Dam was constructed across the Green River and completed in 1964, creating the reservoir; the dam's powerplant houses three turbines and generators with a combined capacity of 50,650 kilowatts each. Congress established the surrounding area as a National Recreation Area on October 1, 1968, placing it under U.S. Forest Service management through the Ashley National Forest.

Popular activities include boating and fishing on Flaming Gorge Reservoir (known for large trout), whitewater rafting and fishing on the Green River below the dam, camping, hiking, biking, and rock climbing. The Little Hole National Recreation Trail follows the Green River downstream of the dam and is a noted access point for anglers.

Key features include Flaming Gorge Dam and its reservoir, the red sandstone gorge itself, the Green River corridor below the dam, and the Little Hole National Recreation Trail. The recreation area includes 18 Forest Service campgrounds (four of them boat-access campgrounds), nine paved boat ramps, and three full-service marinas.

Green River, Wyoming, is the nearest city on the Wyoming side and the typical gateway for visitors approaching from the north; the recreation area is reached by road from Wyoming and Utah highway networks. Specific driving distances and airport information were not confirmed from the sources reviewed.

The recreation area itself has no set opening hours as a Forest Service-managed outdoor area, though individual visitor centers, marinas, and campgrounds keep their own seasonal hours; confirm current hours with the Ashley National Forest before visiting.

There is no general entrance fee to Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, but a Recreation Use Pass is required at major boat launches and at the Little Hole National Recreation Trail, priced at $5 per day, $15 for sixteen days, or $35 annually, per Forest Service information. Campground fees vary by site and are separate from the day-use pass.

Most visitors plan at least a full day for boating or fishing on the reservoir, with multi-day stays common for campers and anglers wanting to explore both the reservoir and the Green River below the dam.

Lodging options include Forest Service campgrounds within the recreation area (18 in total, four boat-access only) and a private resort operation near the reservoir; the town of Green River, Wyoming, offers additional hotel options for visitors who prefer to stay off-site.

Dining within the recreation area is limited mostly to marina stores and resort facilities near the reservoir; a fuller range of restaurants is available in the nearby town of Green River, Wyoming. Specific business names were not confirmed from the sources reviewed.

The Green River corridor below the dam, popular with rafters and anglers, and the town of Green River, Wyoming, are the closest related destinations; the reservoir also extends into Utah's Daggett County, connecting to additional recreation sites on that side of the border.

Green River, Wyoming, is the closest sizable town; specific airport and public-transit details were not confirmed from the sources reviewed, so travelers should plan on a personal or rental vehicle.

Because the recreation area is a large reservoir and river system, standard water-safety precautions (life jackets while boating, awareness of changing river flows below the dam) apply. Reference the Ashley National Forest's current advisories for specific hazards.

Sun protection, layered clothing for a high-desert canyon climate, and standard boating or fishing gear as needed for planned activities; a Recreation Use Pass should be purchased in advance or at a kiosk if boating or using the Little Hole Trail.

Purchase a Recreation Use Pass at parking-area kiosks or local vendors/Forest Service offices before using major boat launches or the Little Hole National Recreation Trail. Reserve Forest Service campsites in advance through Recreation.gov during busy summer months.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For general recreation-area information, contact the Ashley National Forest, the managing agency for Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area; a specific direct phone line was not confirmed from the sources reviewed.

Ashley National Forest / Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area (U.S. Forest Service) - https://www.fs.usda.gov/fs-organization/flaming-gorge-national-recreation-area

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.