On our way home, we swung through Vernal, UT and used it as a base to see Dinosaur National Monument, CO. We spent a few days relaxing in Steamboat Springs State Park and then met up with friends to camp on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park near Grand Lake.

Sunday, September 13: The visit to Vernal, UT and Dinosaur National Monument was focused on the amazing geology of the area. While the actual Dinosaur NM museum was open with limited reservations, we chose to give it a miss and catch it another time. Meanwhile the drive around the area wandering around old farm steads, climbing up to petroglyphs and taking the drive out to Harpers Corner and hiking along a ridge for more spectacular views provided plenty of entertainment!

Monday & Tuesday, Sepetember 14 & 15: I managed to get a last minute reservation at Steamboat Springs State Park where we did nothing bit sit around and enjoy the scenery and take a few walks around the campground. Sometimes we just need a few days of down time!!

We loved Steamboat Springs State Park, but we heard from camping friends that it was very decimated by pine beetle damage and most of the sick trees were removed. Since we had not been in this area when it was full of beautiful pine trees, we thought the park was beautiful as it was. The park service has planted new trees and they are taking off, the sites had plenty of room and we enjoyed the views.

September 16 – 19: We camped at Winding River RV Resort outside of Grand Lake, CO with our friends, Laura and Bruce Talley and spent time on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Good thing we got some time in there as our campground and where we hiked in RMNP all burned down a few weeks later!

The campground was interesting in that is had quite a few camp sites that had corrals for horses. The whole campground was focused on people bring their horses from other states and camping and riding in that area as well as hiring out horses, ATVs and snow mobiles in the winter. All of that is gone.

We also took a walk up to Adams Falls just west of Grand Lake and then checked out Monarch Lake, just west of Granby Lake.