I recently visited Red Fleet State Park in north-eastern Utah near Vernal and came away with a few landscape images that I liked.

Red Fleet State Park ReservoirRed Fleet State Park Reservoir, Utah

The area got its name from three Navajo sandstone outcrops that look like ships.  There is the 750 acre Red Fleet Reservoir for people who like fishing and recently dinosaur tracks have been found within the park boundaries.

Sandstone Pinnacle at Red Fleet State ParkSandstone Pinnacle at Red Fleet State Park

I’m nuts about the geological formations found with Utah and I truly enjoyed seeing the petrified sand dunes covered in junipers.

The drive into Red Fleet State Park, UtahThe drive into Red Fleet State Park, Utah

I was disappointed by only seeing a few birds, I saw Mountain Bluebirds, a Chipping Sparrow, Robins, European Starlings, a Western Kingbird, a few sparrows I didn’t ID and my FOY Bullock’s Oriole. I really didn’t get any images worth keeping. Maybe it was the wrong time of the year, I’m not sure.  There is a Uintah County checklist on UtahBirds.org.

Junipers and petrified sand dunes at Red Fleet State ParkJunipers and petrified sand dunes at Red Fleet State Park

Even though the scenery is beautiful I was also disappointed that there are no pullovers and barely a shoulder from the main road to the park entrance and signs that stated “No Stopping”. If my friend Ron hadn’t been driving I wouldn’t have been able to take three of these four images. Just telling it how I see it but pullovers would allow people to safely take images of the scenery and scout for birds and animals.

If you don’t mind camping in crowded campsites this would be an excellent location to camp, fish and only have a short drive to nearby Dinosaur National Monument situated in both Utah and Colorado.

I haven’t been to Dinosaur National Monument since 2003 but I remember it as very well worth the time to go there and see the Quarry Visitor Center, the scenic drives of Tour of the Tilted Rocks and Harper’s Corner Road. The petroglyph and pictograph panels are amazing and the drive to Josie Bassett’s cabin was delightful. I suspect the entire Monument area can be quite birdy due to the varied habitats and the Green and Yampa Rivers.  Information about the birds found there provided by Wasatch Audubon can be seen here. Featured birds include Greater Sage-Grouse, Dusky (formerly known as Blue) Grouse, Gray Flycatcher, Say’s Phoebe, Pinyon Jay, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Green-tailed Towhee.

I should go back and explore the Dinosaur National Monument area soon because it fascinated me.

Back to Red Fleet State Park, I enjoyed my visit there and the lovely scenery. I wish they had pullovers and some kind of disperse camp sites though. I don’t like camping so close to other campers that I can easily over hear their conversations. I like to go camping for the quiet.

Life is good.

Mia