Wyoming’s “Grand Canyon” Beats Yellowstone And Grand Teton National Parks But Is Still Underrated

Out of all the lower 48 U.S. states, Wyoming may hold the greatest claim to being America’s last true “frontier.” Wyoming is the least-populated state overall, with much of its landscape dedicated to magnificent mountain ranges, vast forests, and untouched wilderness areas that look like something out of an epic Western. But, for fans of the outdoors, Wyoming’s biggest claim to fame is its national parks. Most famously, Wyoming is home to America’s first (and, arguably, most famous) national park.

Though Yellowstone is spread out across three states, its Idaho and Montana sections are much smaller than the main section found in Wyoming. Further south from Yellowstone sits Wyoming’s breathtaking Grand Teton National Park and its beautiful (yet deadly) mountain hikes. Yellowstone and Grand Teton alone would be more than enough to establish Wyoming as an outdoor paradise. But Wyoming has plenty of lesser-known destinations as well.

For example, the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway is an underrated Wyoming mountain destination with views rivaling the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. But for anyone looking for the state’s most outstanding views, it’s hard to do much better than the sublime Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. With a striking red rock canyon and ample recreational opportunities, Flaming Gorge showcases Wyoming’s very own “Grand Canyon” while matching (or even exceeding) the views at Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

The Aptly-Named Flaming Gorge Is A Masterpiece Of Geological Beauty

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The Flaming Gorge sits in a particularly scenic area between the borders of Wyoming and Utah, between Wyoming’s Wind River Range and Utah’s Uinta Mountains. The rugged borderlands between southern Wyoming and northern Utah serve as a major thoroughfare for the amazing Green River, a tributary of the more famous Colorado River.

While the Colorado River is well-known for its canyon-making abilities (mainly due to its greatest achievement, the iconic Grand Canyon), the Green River is no slouch when it comes to breathtaking landscape architecture. As the river flows southwards from the Wind River Mountains, it cuts through the rocky landscape along the Wyoming-Utah border and carves spectacular gorges as it goes.

Due to the geological makeup of this part of the country, the gorges carved by the Green River in southern Wyoming display the same eye-catching red sandstone that makes other canyons of the American West so famous.

The striking red of the gorge’s cliff walls gives off a distinct “fiery” appearance (hence the name “Flaming Gorge”). With deep blue river waters and specks of greenery dotting the red canyon walls, Flaming Gorge is one of America’s most underrated Grand Canyon doppelgängers.

The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area Is A Clear Match For More Popular National Parks

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Much of the magnificent Flaming Gorge is located in the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, a federal park straddling the border between Wyoming and Utah and administered by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Ashley National Forest.

This entire national forest region is a significantly underrated destination when it comes to experiencing Wyoming’s rugged beauty. While Wyoming certainly has many obscure state parks that make great alternatives to national parks, the Ashley National Forest as a whole is an equally worthwhile preserve of everything that makes Wyoming a haven for fans of the outdoors.

The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area itself protects 91 miles of the Green River and the Flaming Gorge Reservoir as it cuts through the landscape between Wyoming and Utah. The park is 91 miles long and has enough space to showcase a diverse range of landscape settings.

The northern part of the park contains large sagebrush deserts and mesas that look like a set piece for a Hollywood Western. Moving south, the recreation area breaks into a network of colorful canyons that more closely resemble the complex geology of Utah’s Canyonlands National Park, all while sporting fabulous conifer forests.

With such a collection of dramatic and photogenic natural scenery, the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area more than holds its own against famed Wyoming national parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area Is One Of The West’s Most Underrated Spots For Outdoor Recreation

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With the word “recreation” in its name, you can safely assume that the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area also has some of Wyoming’s best outdoor recreation! Thanks to its incredible landscapes and diversity of scenery, Flaming Gorge boasts some of the best hiking trails in Wyoming.

Many of the park’s trails, such as the Red Canyon Overlook and Green River Canyon Rim Trail, offer shorter hikes past epic views of the vast gorge below. Other trails, like the 14-mile-long Little Hole Trail, offer longer and more immersive treks across the park’s complex terrain.

Of course, rugged yet likable landscapes are only half the story of Flaming River Gorge. The other half is the park’s excellent water resources, courtesy of the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Visitors to the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area can find plenty of great spots for boating, kayaking, fishing, swimming, and even water skiing!

For campers, Flaming Gorge has several excellent camping options, including tent campgrounds, RV sites, cabin rentals, and even primitive wilderness camping options. And even if you don’t want to leave your car, you can still enjoy the immense beauty of the Flaming Gorge on one of the park’s many scenic drives!