sheep creek geological loop

some stunning vistas at pull off points as the whole area is right next to a very large dam built on the Wyoming side. Good groves of quaking aspen which were in full fall color.

The Sheep Creek Geological Loop was about 50 miles from our starting point, but was definitely worth the drive. You can see the Unita Fault along the upper part of the loop. For the first time, we saw layers of strata going horizontal or nearly horizontal along the mountain and then going vertically straight down to the ground. We saw interesting rock formations and monoliths, along with the rocks that had been fractured and discombobulated.

We were lucky enough to be here during a storm---as soon as the clouds cleared we were presented with some of the most beautiful scenery you can imagine, including a rainbow. The 14 mile loop is much like riding a roller coaster but the road is well maintained.

This scenic byway near Flaming Gorge in Utah was an amazing surprise since the unique, massive rock formations literally take your breath away. The loop is about 13 miles long and took us about 35 minutes to drive (stopping only for two photo opportunities)…one could spend considerably longer. We drove the loop clockwise, which appeared the best way to do it. One begins on a high plain, then descends into a canyon with amazingly layered (tilted and twisted) rock formations before you. There are high spires and other strange shaped rock formations, with trees and a stream at the bottom. The road climbs only a little as it emerges past a cliff of Navajo sandstone and briefly becomes a gravel, instead of paved, road. Given all the scenic wonders of Utah, it is hardly astonishing that this area is so little known…but it would be a national park in most states.

What an unexpected delight of a drive. We were on our way into Wyoming via Flaming Gorge and saw this scenic drive mentioned online. We first drove into Spirit Lake from the east. Beautiful country. The leaves were beginning to turn their Fall colors. This valley into the lake is wooded with many meadows and small streams. The road is all dirt but very passable with standard passenger vehicles. The lake was so pretty and though we were hoping that the small store/cafe at the campground would be open we were disappointed in this as they were clearing the area out in order to spray for the Pinebark beetle. So we just turned around to drive back out when we spied moose out in one of the meadows. That was a treat for me. We continued to where the road splits off to the west to embark on the Sheepcreek Loop. The rock formations were amazing. We kept our eyes open for Bighorn sheep but did not see any. The trees here were all beginning to turn too. the drive is along a paved road with long sweeping turns. The vistas of ancient rock layers and formations were captivating and generally impressive when you think about the tectonics involved here. This was a beautiful drive for us that day. Don't miss this if you are in the area of Flaming gorge!

We drove the western side of Flaming Gorge, taking this geologic loop, and it turned out to be the most stunning scenery of the entire drive. We stopped by a stream for a picnic amidst the towering red cliffs, watched kokopee salmon running upstream and felt alone in the wilderness. Absolutely lovely!

If you are in this area, give this scenic detour an hour. You won't be sorry. Geologic history right in front of you. There are few places where you can see this much variety up close. Several pull offs where you can stop and view the sights.

This amazing drive delivers it all...jaw-dropping geological landscapes...amazing wild-life...yellow-bellied marmots, wild turkeys, big-horn sheep, mule deer and photo ops galore!

Utah is an incredible state, let's face it. We stayed in a BW in Vernal and drove up to this loop. You are in for an experience of a lifetime. We only had 1 car in front of us so it was like we had the whole place to ourselves. It is a WOW.

The visible span of geological time through this area is absolutely incredible; we didn't end up seeing mountain goats or bighorn sheep but hear they are often seen here. We went all the way through this and stopped at Sheep Creek Lake, where we hiked the trail and saw a beaver and also many native cutthroat trout in the clear, beautiful water.

It's a great side trip. About an hour north of Vernal, Utah. The rock formations in the mountains & the small lakes and streams offer great picture opportunities. I recco' going early evening when the wildlife come out to feed & the sun is setting over the area. Lots of hiking trails. Not sure where you go to get camping permits or if they're even needed.

I did this to break up my journey from Vernal to Green River (WY) into two. Whilst it is nice, after a visit to Dinosaur NM it was a bit disappointing. If you are passing on route to or from Vernal, I would save my time for Dinosaur NM. It cannot compete with some of the nearby sites. I wished I had spent all day at Dinosaur and just headed to Green River at the end of the day. For other sites nearby, I would recommend Flaming Gorge. There are nice view points in the campground by the south rim, just off US44. Even better is the turn off on US44 with a view of the reservoir and mountains (it is located between the two turnoffs for Sheep Creek).

This scenic loop in the eastern Uinta Mountains only added about 30 extra minutes to our drive down through Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, and was well worth it. There was still snow on the road towards the upper elevations in the middle of May, but there is plenty of room to turn around if one had to go back the way they came.We saw a lone bighorn sheep and I suspect there were plenty more nearby. Amazing geological features including anticlines, folds, and spires. We found TONS of helpful handouts and publications at the Flaming Gorge Ranger District in Manila, UT. I highly recommend stopping by before you drive the loop.

Unfortunately visiting in April the loop is not fully open. However we managed to drive 7 miles before we had to turn back and that was amazing. It certainly has the wow factor. The scenery is incredible, it was fantastic to see the bighorn sheep just by the road and lots of deers. If you're in the area it's a must do! (Especially after May!!)

Colorado Jim and I were following Hwy 44 around the south end of Flaming Gorge Reservoir on the second day of our Dumb and Dumber V buddy trip when we came upon a road a few miles south of Manila that was marked as the entrance to the Sheep Creek Geological Loop. We didn’t know what that was, but it sounded intriguing so we turned right and it wasn’t long before we were oohing and aahing at the magnificent scenery. Wow! And wow again! The cliffs and rock strata are amazing. Why didn’t I know about this road beforehand? It’s now on my short list of all-time favorite scenic drives. It just goes to show you what serendipity can do. The Sheep Creek Geological Loop is an easy-driving paved road that, as the name implies, brings you back to Hwy 44. If you get the chance to take this drive, do it. I promise that you’ll not regret it.You WILL regret it if you make the stupid mistake that Colorado Jim and I did. The NFS 93 shortcut back to Hwy 44 is meant for ATVs and dirt bikes and that sort of thing. We decided to drive it in a Toyota RAV4. This can be done, but it’s not smart.