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Dinosaur Ntnl Mnmt Area - Sept 18-21, 2026 - Cool Cruiser Truck Club Camping Collab Continued - Please read first post

allen.wrench

allen.wrench

Rising Sun Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2018
Messages
732
Location
Syracuse, UT
Hey great gals & guys,

In 2024 & 2025, Dino Double Cruiser Club Collab were great. For historical reference, check links: https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/thr...asatch-cruisers-club-ventures-planning.35435/, and https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/thr...ollab-continued-please-read-first-post.37135/

With Cruise Moab and other 2026 priorities/shenanigans in our rear view mirror let's talk an adventure this Fall timeframe. We will continue this third year with more exploring of the Dinosaur National Monument area with a fresh perspective on campsite order.

The basic idea: a multiple club, multiple day/night Toyota 4WD driving adventure. The clubs are awesome, all the members are cool, and the trucks are even cooler 😎 so we should spend more time together. The Dino Monument area is amazing and generally approachable from many directions. Lots of campsites available, beautiful scenery, accessible with minimal truck build-out, and needs exploring. I am posting on both the Rising Sun 4x4 and Wasatch Cruiser club forums because that's what I know. All the same, more clubs should join in. If you know more Toyota clubs/friends, then spread this conversation!

Dates: September 18-21 are the official dates. Chosen to be cooler and allow for Cruiser Fest. September 25-28 are backup dates in case of extremely bad weather, fires, or other disaster.

Simple synopsis: We will plan to start Camp #1 at "Cow Pie Basin", the 1st day we will go down to Josie's cabin, see the Cub Creek Petroglyphs, visit to the Dino Quarry, see Rainbow Park, and setup Camp #2 at the "South Side Canyon Camp" on the Green River (coordinates 40.40473, -109.23990). The 2nd day we break camp by the Green River, drive to HWY 40 for a quick jog to Harper's Corner Road, lunch at Harper's Corner, then head to Camp #3 at Echo Park. The 3rd day we check out the Whispering Cave, drive Yampa Bench Road, we will explore various spots along the route (we will avoid Castle Rock), and we will say our goodbyes & farewells in Elk Springs CO.

Dated Itinerary with Coordinates:

Friday, Sept 18th, meet at Camp #1 on Stuntz Ridge. We will call this Cow Pie Basin.
  • Coordinates: 40.36845, -109.11926
  • Recommend getting to Cow Pie Basin from the East by using Harpers Corner Road to access the dirt roads. Getting to Camp #1 is a make your own adventure. Please take care getting there, be aware of your surroundings like BLM vs State Land vs Private Property, enjoy the ride. If folks want, I will make my recommended GPS tracks to get to Camp #1.
Saturday, Sept 19th, leave Camp #1 and drive to Camp #2. We will call this camp #2 "South Side Canyon Camp" on the Green River Canyon.
  • Coordinates 40.40473, -109.23990
Sunday, Sept 20th, leave Camp #2 and drive to Camp #3 at Echo Park
  • Coordinates: 40.52101, -108.99323
  • Be aware. Echo Park may require paying for camp spots. Bring cash just in case. I recommend at least $20. Most camp spots can hold several people/trucks so the cost per person should be low.
Monday, Sept 21st, drive Yampa Bench Road to Elk Springs CO - Say our goodbyes, farewells, and till-next-times :)
  • Coordinates: 40.35524, -108.44926
  • Gaia map is available:
    • Work in progress as of 05-06-2026. Will update thread soon within 30 days.

Exploring all of Yampa Bench Road will be a first. We'll see what we'll see and adjust as makes sense. If it's fast easy driving for our size of group, then we'll get all the way to Elk Springs in Colorado. If we need to take our time and enjoy the scenery, then we will do that too! Obviously if anything comes up like a trail is closed for whatever reason we will work together and adjust as necessary.

Please let me know if interested. I will intentionally leave this run open to all, and only request you let me know to help plan. When the date gets closer I will check-in to understand commitment from those who initially expressed interest.

A few administrative notes:
  • Please bring a radio, definitely at least a GMRS/FRS. We will use ham if necessary. Radios makes the experience significantly more enjoyable. For now plan on FRS/GMRS Channel 16, and if we need ham then frequency 147.540. We'll adjust as needed based on band traffic.
  • Please have an unexpired National Parks pass, or buy a pass that weekend at the entrance and its good for 7 days. Usually they also have after hours kiosks. Also probably enforcement is lax to non-existent once inside, but I prefer to be prepared.
  • Will update as dates approach if there are any fire restrictions.
  • From other members research it seems like pets are allowed on 6' or shorter leashes. So dogs appear allowed but must be kept on a short leash if held by a person, not an object.
  • Please be prepared with:
    • Food,
    • Water,
    • First aid,
    • Recovery gear,
    • Radio,
    • Camping gear, etc.
    • I expect everyone knows the general minimums but at the same time if anyone is uncertain please ask. I'm happy to help. Better to ask now than on the trail :)
  • Top off with gas in Vernal if coming from the SLC direction. Top off in Dinosaur if coming from the Denver direction.
  • Please bring cash in case we need to pay for something like a campsite or food or whatever. I'm planning to have 40-60$ in 5s, 10s, 20s just in case.
Attendance list:

I'll keep this TOP post updated as we go and coordinate with folks on the Wasatch Cruisers forum as well.

For convenient reference:
2026 Wasatch Cruisers activity planning thread link: https://forum.wasatchcruisers.org/t...ollab-continued-please-read-first-post.13768/

2025 Rising Sun adventure report thread link: https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/thr...er-truck-club-camping-collab-continued.38167/
2025 Wasatch Cruisers adventure report thread link: https://forum.wasatchcruisers.org/t...er-truck-club-camping-collab-continued.13627/

And as always, please let me know if I am missing any crucial details.

Thanks y'allz!
Allen
 
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Hulk

Hulk

RS Webmaster
Staff member
Cruise Moab Committee
Joined
Aug 22, 2005
Messages
17,856
Location
Centennial
I put it on the family calendar. Can't commit this far out, but it was a great time last year!
 
DaveInDenver

DaveInDenver

Rising Sun Ham Guru
Joined
Jun 8, 2006
Messages
14,247
Location
Grand Junction
www.nps.gov

Pets - Dinosaur National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov www.nps.gov

Where Pets Can Go in Dinosaur National Monument​
You may walk leashed pets within 100 feet of developed areas such as roads, parking lots, campgrounds, day-use areas, and river launches.​
​
Pets are allowed on the following trails along the Harpers Corner Road (Colorado side): Plug Hat Butte and other trails at the Plug Hat Picnic Area, Canyon Overlook, Echo Park Overlook, and Iron Springs Bench Overlook.​
​
In Utah, leashed pets are allowed on the short trail to Swelter Shelter Petroglyphs and the River Trail.​
​
Where Pets Cannot Go in Dinosaur National Monument​
Pets are not allowed on the shuttle or in any buildings such as visitor centers or the Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall. Please make your visit to these buildings brief or take turns with family members to stay outside with your pet. If visiting the Dinosaur Quarry in summer, tell a ranger you are traveling with a pet and you can drive to the Quarry in your own vehicle.​
​
Pets are not permitted on trails other than those open for pets, in the monument's backcountry, or on river trips. The responsible persons of pets running-at-large will be charged for kennel or boarding costs in addition to veterinarian, transportation, and other possible fees and fines.​
 
MarkEva

MarkEva

Rising Sun Member
Joined
May 15, 2024
Messages
106
Put me down as "probably."
 
Rezarf

Rezarf

Hard Core 4+
Joined
Aug 25, 2005
Messages
5,915
Location
In Uncle Ben's Shadow
A few of us are talking from the Montana (406 Cruisers) chapter about joining down there... I am working hard to be able to lock this in. Thanks for coordinating.

Are there still dinosaurs to see?

Also, do you guys still run HAM or will I be left out without the GRMS stuff?
 
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