On day fourteen of “The Ultimate USA Road Trip” we drive from Utah to Colorado. The route passes through vast areas of plains, mountains, canyons, lakes and nice little spots to stop at.

We ride through the Uinta Mountains, arguably the most important physiographic feature in northern Utah and the central Intermountain region. The Uintas are central to Northern Utah's historical and economic development. They are the source for some of the major rivers and streams on the Wasatch Front, including the Bear, Weber, and Provo. They are also an important water source for Green River, which we will cross a number of times. The Green River is a major tributary of the Colorado River. The Uintas contain Ashley and Wasatch National Forests, as well as the High Uinta Primitive Area. There are several points along the route where you can stop to enjoy the view and take photos.

We stop briefly at Minnie's Gap, a hamlet on US 191 where Butch Cassidy is said to have been hiding from the law. This is a nice place to stop to take pictures of US 191 passing through the two rocks.

From US 191 you have beautiful views of the reservoirs in this area in several places, such as the Antelope Flat and Reservoir, on the south side of the Maury Mountains, which is surrounded by the Ochoco National Forest. It is an irrigation reservoir near the Bear Creek, a tributary of the Crooked River. Another large and beautiful reservoir is Flaming Gorge, a 146 km long reservoir that was created between 1958 and 1964 by the construction of the Flaming Gorge Dam in the Green River. The water surface reaches a maximum height of 1840 m above sea level. The reservoir contains a maximum of 4.6 km³ of water. There are several parking spaces at the Dam with viewpoints on the lake and the dam.

US 191 is a long highway that runs from North to South through several states. Several parts of this Highway have been designated a US Scenic Byway, such as the part we drive through the Ashley National Forest, with beautiful nature and wonderful ascents, drops and beautiful curves.
On this part of the route, if you're interested in caves, you can also visit Little Brush Creek Cave, high in the Uintah Mountains. This is a popular destination for cavers. It is accessible all year round. It is the longest cave in Utah with a length of almost 9.5 kilometers and a depth of 200 meters. It is the 37th deepest cave in the US. The cave is part of a larger caving system and is similar to its brother, Big Brush Creek Cave. In winter, Ice crystal formations up to 30 cm long and ice structures over 20 cm long form a cavern with an amazing winter wonderland. Inside the cave, the passages are narrow and cold.

The next beautiful reservoir we pass is the Steinaker Reservoir in Steinaker State Park. The park opened to the public in 1964. It is located at an altitude of 1,700 m. The climate is dry with hot summers and cold winters. Plant life in the park includes juniper, cacti, and sagebrush. Wildlife includes badgers, bobcats, coyotes, deer, and rabbits. Birds include golden eagles, hawks, bluebirds, vultures, owls, and ospreys. The park is named after John Steinaker, a member of a pioneer family from the region.

Lunch is scheduled in the town of Vernal where you can choose from many restaurants and bars on the Main Street to enjoy a good meal. In Vernal, it's also worth checking out the Utah Field House or Natural History State Park Museum. Located in the heart of Dinosaurland, as this part of Utah is also known, this museum features an extensive collection of dinosaur bones, full-size dinosaur replicas, and interactive exhibits that will take you back in time.

In the last part of this day we pass the State Border between Utah and Colorado. We visit the Quarry Exhibit Hall where visitors can view along a wall of approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones. Here you can look at the remains of countless different types of dinosaurs, including Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus, along with several others. Exhibits, including an 80-foot mural, reveal the story of these animals and many others that lived in the Morrison area during the late Jurassic period. There are even several places where you can touch real 149 million year old dinosaur fossils.
Rangers are available to answer questions and provide occasional Junior Ranger programs or lectures on various topics related to the quarry or dinosaurs during the day during the summer.

After this visit we drive via Harpers Corner Road to the Canyon Overlook where you have a great view of the Canyon and Dinosaur National Monument, where dinosaurs once roamed. Their remains are still visible embedded in the rocks. Today, the mountains, desert, and untamed rivers flowing into deep gorges support an array of life. Petroglyphs refer to earlier cultures. Whether your passion is science, adventure, history or scenery, Dinosaur offers a lot to explore.

After this scenic beauty it is another 60 kilometers to the final destination Rangely where you can spend the night in one of the hotels. For lovers of history and dinosaurs, a longer stay in this region should be considered.