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Flaming Gorge

Journey map

Approximately:

• from Flaming Gorge campground (A) to Flaming Gorge Dam (B): 12 miles and 0h20 on road
• from Flaming Gorge Dam (B) to Dowd Mountain Overlook (C): 25 miles and 1h on road/dirt road
• from Dowd Mountain Overlook (C) to Manila (G): 30 miles and 1h15 on dirt road/road
• from Manila (G) to Buckboard Reservoir (I): 31 miles and 1h on road/dirt road

J45 - Sunday, June 24

Wake up at 7am, lazy morning!
We leave at 8:40 for the VC by the rim (ride), it's already pretty hot (82 °F). Nice walk among trees, birds and squirrels, and we even perceive a marmot.
Back, always walking, to our camp after getting to know two volunteers of the VC that doesn't open until 10am.

After having returned there by car and after our usual purchase of postcards, we drive with a local map and the location of the nearest gas pump (take care, pumps are rare), towards Flaming Gorge Dam VC; it's 10:48 am.
After visit, we fill in at 0:25 pm and 86 °F.
We take the road towards Manila and soon on right the FR 94, track which leads us to Dowd Mountain Overlook where we arrive at 13h, the track is impeccable (possible with a RV).
On site, a few tables, some in shade and we lunch quietly, alone on the area. The place is worth a visit for the views of the gorge and the tank; we find that this is a "must" do.

Leaving at 1:56 pm and 82 °F; back on the road to Flaming Gorge overlook. We then drive back a little bit and go on FR 218 to drive the Sheep Creek Geological Loop, especially interesting for its geological aspects and one can imagine the outburst the forces of Nature wrinkling, folding, these geological layers.
We find this drive very nice and, the icing on the cake, at the exit of the canyon the road crosses Sheep Creek; just below the road sign, guess what? A Mountain Sheep which let us snap away at it without complaining.

We pass through Manila and enter Wyoming at 3:48 pm with 91 °F. We turn right towards Lucerne Valley Recreation Rd along Linwood Bay, then a loop bringing us on WY-530 N via FS Rd 150 and 164 (SUV mandatory); the goal was to drive along the "reservoir" but ultimately it only offers little interest, apart from driving on sand .
We take again the 530 then a track on right (Forest Service Rd 8), shortly before Buckboard Rd (FS Rd 9). The track is once more impeccable (doable with a RV) and just before the end, we turn right (not sure a RV can, but there is still very large trailers) to arrive on the beach where wilderness camping is allowed; it is 4:50 pm and, with an outside temperature of 95 °F, we find the water very pleasant. Several boats and jet skis criss-cross the lake.
After this good bath, transfer of pictures on the laptop and dinner; a lot of flies but they don't bother us too much. Sleep at 9:38 pm.