PLAN FOR ONE WEEK TRIP TO NORTHERN UTAH
Friday. Fly to Salt Lake City in late afternoon or evening flight. Night in Salt Lake City
Saturday. Day to drive to Great Basin National Park, stopping two or three times along the way to visit museum in Provo or hunt for fossils or minerals in Millard County. Lodging could be motel in Baker, Nevada, or else campground in Great Basin National Park.
Sunday. First day in Great Basin National Park. Take a cave tour. Possibly take one hour drive to Ely, Nevada and ride a train there, then drive back to Great Basin or spend the night in Ely in a motel.
Monday: Second day in Great Basin National Park. Hike among the Bristlecone Pines. Either camp in the park or have a room in the motel in Baker.
Tuesday. Day to drive from Great Basin National Park to Vernal, Utah, with several stops along the way, possibly hunting fossils or minerals in Millard County or stopping in Provo at the museum there if it was missed on Saturday.
Wednesday. Day devoted to exploring Dinosaur National Monument by car and hiking.
Thursday: Day of river rafting down the Green River. Reserve rafting space with park guides a few months in advance.
Friday: Day for exploring around Vernal. Several interesting geologic sites can be explored nearby. Perhaps go search for fossils if the Bureau of Land Management tells us where we can go. Also possible to see dinosaur tracks at the Red Fleet State Park just a few miles north of Vernal. Also possible to rent a boat for a day on the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. It may be possible to rent a boat on the smaller, closer lake at Red Fleet State Park.
Saturday. Head back to Salt Lake City from Vernal, maybe stopping to hunt for fossils in areas suggested by the BLM in Vernal, or else getting to Salt Lake City early enough to see some sights there, including their fine Natural History Museum. There may also be an opportunity to see a steam train or even ride a train in Heber City, on the way to Salt Lake City.
Sunday. Morning tour of Salt Lake City, and afternoon or evening flight home.
Here is a similar trip:
Friday: Fly to Salt Lake City on a Friday afternoon or evening.
Saturday: Day to get from Salt Lake City to Vernal, UT, with possible morning tour of Salt Lake City.
Sunday: Day for Dinosaur tour of Dinosaur National Monument
Monday: First day of two-day river rafting trip on Yampa River
Tuesday: Second day of two-day river rafting trip on Yampa River
Wednesday: Day of fossil collecting in areas suggested by BLM in Vernal, UT
Thursday: Day to drive to Great Basin, with stop in Provo to see museum, and two or three stops to look for minerals and fossils along the route in Millard County.
Friday: First day in Great Basin National Park, take cave tour.
Saturday: Second day in Great Basin National Park, hike among Bristlecone Pines
Sunday: Day to return to Salt Lake City, stopping along the way for fossil or mineral hunting.
Monday: Return flight to home