Flaming Gorge stretches from north to south across the Utah-Wyoming border for 91 miles. It was created by a dam on the Green River in the early 1960's. The Wyoming side cuts into small cliffs and rolling sagebrush hills. The Utah side curves into steep, red canyon walls topped by pine forest. Bald eagles and ospreys build nests near the water and soar overhead. Flaming Gorge is 410 miles from Denver, and 160 from Salt Lake City. The Green River below the dam provides world-class fishing for brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout.
At 6000 feet in elevation, this is a cool, arid, high-desert climate for the most part. It can and will snow anytime between early September and late June. However, snowfall is infrequent from June-Oct. Spring and Summer thunderstorms are common, though usually short-lived, with more lightning and wind than precipitation.
May and early June weather is usually calm and nice in the mornings, and windy in the afternoons. Be prepared for quick changes when spring cold fronts roar through. It can go from 80 degrees to 30 in a few hours. It always snows a few times between warmer periods.
Late June through August normally brings hot summer days in the high 70's and 80's, with an ever-present chance of an afternoon thunderstorm. 90+ degree days are generally rare, though we do get a few. This is the only time I've never seen snow here.
September and October are the driest months, cooler, with a shower or skiff of snow once in a while when a moist front passes. Beware of the traditional Halloween blizzard!
November and December are icy, full-on winter here, brutally cold with lake fog common in the mornings. Morning temps are commonly around zero, and highs often remain below freezing. Be prepared if you're coming then! "It ain't fun until you catch one." Be sure you can function, focus, and fish hard while you're all bundled up and cold. Recommended only for the die-hards and slightly crazy. Sane folks wait till spring!
