Pack up your fishing gear and your tent for a summertime stay at Flaming Gorge.
On the border of Utah and Wyoming, Flaming Gorge features a massive reservoir that attracts anglers and water-sports enthusiasts. While water-based activities are the big draw here, there's also plenty to do on land, from hiking along the Canyon Rim Trail to pitching a tent at one of the many campsites in the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area or in the greater Ashley National Forest. Just note that many of the campgrounds here are right on the water, both on the Utah and Wyoming sides of the border, so it's wise to book in advance.
Stretching across a large swathe of northeast Utah, this mountain range offers beautiful peaks, expansive meadows, and pristine ponds. While the region is popular for backpackers, there are also plenty of reservable campgrounds along Mirror Lake Highway.
Vast southern Wyoming offers tons for outdoorsy types, from hiking and fishing in the Little Mountain area, a short drive from Flaming Gorge, to ATV riding on the sands at Killpecker Dunes. Wildlife fans may want to make a trip up to the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, which provides a home to elk, moose, swans, turtles, and even lizards.
Northwestern Colorado offers plenty to experience, from the Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge—home to deer, elk, and pronghorn—to the rocky cascades at Vermillion Falls. Paleontology buffs won't want to miss Dinosaur National Monument, where you can see (and touch) real dinosaur fossils.
Flaming Gorge is a summer destination, and while it's not as hot as some other parts of Utah, temperatures still run in the 70s and 80s from June through September. As with most US destinations, the high season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day Weekend, but you'll still get plenty of sunshine and warm weather if you visit in mid-September, after area children have gone back to school for the year.