Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
that lead to the water. Many end at isolated beaches where you can camp for free. There
are also commercial services,
Lucerne Valley Marina
(5570 E. Lucerne Valley Rd., off
Hwy. 530, 435/784-3483,
www.flaminggorge.com
)
and
Buckboard Marina
(Hwy. 530, 25
miles south of Green River, 307/875-6927,
www.buckboardmarina.com
)
, that take visitors
to the recreation area's campsites and docks. If you continue south, heading to Utah, the
road passes
Haystack Buttes,
rocky mound-like formations that resemble haystacks, and
Devil's Playground,
a barren badlands of rough terrain.
The loop can also be started at U.S. Highway 191, heading south from Rock Springs.
This approach is more mountainous and therefore more scenic, but it is also farther from
the reservoir. Early on, a paved road turnoff will take you to
Firehole Canyon.
Here you
can see the rocky spires known as
North and South Chimney Rocks
and other interesting
geological features. U.S. Highway 191 continues south, climbing 8,000 vertical feet, and
has good views of the rolling hills and valleys to the east and west. From here the reservoir
is about 15 miles from the road. However, when crossing Spring Creek, the water becomes
visible, and there is a turnoff leading 4 miles to the shore.
Both routes cross the Wyoming-Utah border and lead to Utah Highway 44, which takes
visitors through the dramatic canyons. One other approach to the loop is from Highway 414,
heading southeast from the town of Mountain View. This road traverses badlands, fields
filled with sage and juniper, and large open pastures and leads to Henry's Fork, the site of
the first mountain man rendezvous in the country.
Known as
Wyoming's Big Show,
the
Sweetwater County Fair,
held annually at the
Sweetwater Events Center (3320 Yellowstone Rd., Rock Springs, 307/352-6789,
www.sweetwaterevents.com
,
$8 adults, free for children under 6), is a 10-day event that in-
cludes rodeo action, 4-H livestock competitions, entertainment, and a carnival. Comparable
in size to the Wyoming State Fair, the event attracts some 80,000 attendees annually. The
Sweetwater Events Center is also home to a variety of rodeo events and stock-car, moto-
cross, and BMX racing.
