Short, easy hike near Dutch John offers spectacular view of Flaming Gorge

Short, easy hike near Dutch John offers spectacular view of Flaming Gorge

(Geoff Liesik)


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DUTCH JOHN, Daggett County — Sometimes it is hard to believe how easy it is to find quiet places of awe-inspiring natural beauty in the Beehive State.

Visiting the Bear Canyon Trail, nestled in this remote part of northeastern Utah, only serves to reinforce this fact. The trail offers plenty of chances to see wildlife and has a spectacular view at the end. And at only 3 miles total, it is perfect for hiking with young children.

To reach the trail, drive 35 miles north of Vernal on state Road 191 and turn right, heading toward Dutch John. Another 3 miles up the road, you'll find the Firefighters Memorial Campground on the right. The trailhead for Bear Canyon is on the left. Parking is available on the wide shoulders on either side of the road.

The trail is well-marked, for the most part, with blue plastic diamonds nailed to the trees at intervals along the way. However, after passing an outdoor amphitheater a short distance from the trailhead, you'll come to an old wooden gate on the right. The trail splits just outside the gate and there are no signs indicating which fork to take. The left fork leads through a small stand of trees to Flaming Gorge Resort, so take the right fork to continue toward Bear Canyon.

From here, the trail crosses a short wooden bridge over a marshy area. After that, it's a mix of hardpacked single-track, wider meadows with shallow, standing water in the spring or after a storm, and a few rocky uphill sections. The area is home to a fair number of deer, moose, yellow-bellied marmots and other wildlife, which are all easy to spot from the trail.

The elevation gain in the first mile from the parking area is only about 40 feet. After that, the trail descends 150 feet in elevation over the next half mile to the rim of the canyon. Large, flat ledges along the rim create the perfect spot to sit and take in a panoramic view of Red Canyon and Flaming Gorge Reservoir hundreds of feet below.

A quick word of warning: The weather in Utah's mountains is wildly unpredictable, and nowhere is this more true than in the Uintas. In the course of 45 minutes in late May, there was sunshine, rain snow and sunshine on this trail. It's a good idea — even in the summer — to pack a jacket, hat, gloves and rain gear. Sure, this is a short hike, but even a short hike is downright miserable when you're cold and wet.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 3 miles roundtrip

Time: 1 to 1.5 hours


![Geoff Liesik](//"img.ksl.com/slc/2591/259193/25919324\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65")
About the Author: Geoff Liesik \------------------------------

Geoff Liesik is a former multimedia journalist for KSL-TV, the Deseret News and KSL Newsradio. He and his wife Vanessa live in Vernal with their three boys. They enjoy taking their motor home on extended trips, or just up the road for a weekend in the Uinta Mountains. You can contact him at geoffliesik@gmail.com or on Twitter at @GeoffLiesik.

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