The Red Canyon Overlook is where the red rock of the Uinta country opens beneath your boots. A short walk from the parking area leads to a rim hundreds of metres above the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, and below you the walls of Red Canyon fall in layers of rust, orange and cream to the green water, with ponderosa pine and juniper clinging to the ledges. It is a classic western view, dry, bright and big, and it is quiet even on a busy summer day.
The name Flaming Gorge comes from John Wesley Powell, the one-armed Civil War veteran who led an expedition down the Green River in 1869 and described the glowing red cliffs at the head of the canyon. The river was later dammed, and the lake that rose behind the dam stretches for dozens of miles, drowning some of the canyon and turning the area into a recreation spot for anglers and boaters. The rim of Red Canyon, however, still gives a sense of the original scale, and the rocks are part of the same ancient sedimentary layers that make up much of the Colorado Plateau.
The surrounding country is part of the Ashley National Forest, and wildlife is plentiful. Mule deer and pronghorn graze in the meadows, and bighorn sheep live on the canyon walls. Ospreys and bald eagles fish in the lake, and in the evening, you can hear coyotes. The air is dry and smells of sage and pine, and the night sky here is spectacular, since light pollution is minimal.
The road through the area, a scenic byway, passes through open sagebrush country and pine forest, with smooth surfaces, long bends and gentle gradients, and it is a relaxed ride. Traffic is light for most of the year, though weekends in summer bring more campers and boat trailers. Weather can change quickly, with afternoon thunderstorms and strong winds, and snow arrives early in the high country, closing some roads in winter. The best months are late spring to early autumn, with September especially pleasant.
Services are scarce. The tiny town of Manila, about twenty-seven kilometres away, has a few basics, but larger supplies and reliable fuel are in Vernal to the south or Rock Springs to the north, so check your tank before you come. Bring water, sunscreen and a windproof layer, since the rim is exposed.
Walk to the edge of the overlook, hold the railing, and let your eyes follow the cliff down to the water. It is further than it looks.