In late August, I picked up a new off-road camper and drove to Echo Park Campground in Dinosaur National Monument.

I drove in from the East along the Yampa Bench Road. Here is a view looking down on the Yampa Bench Road as I drove down from above



A general view of the road, as I drove along it.



Of course, I had my co-pilot to guide me.



I made it to Echo Park Campground, a primitive campground that is along the Green River, where the Yampa River joins it. There are about 15 to 20 campsites, running water (in the summer) and pit toilets. Best thing, no cell service. I spent 2 nights there. Arrived on a Thursday and there were 4 to 5 occupied campsites that night. By Friday night, nearly all of the campsites were full.



Steamboat Rock is in the background. Here is a shot of the Green River, with Steamboat Rock on the left.



Here is a view looking back down the other way out of Echo Park.



This was my first time taking the 4Runner on back country type roads and it rode and handled very nicely.

MB

How was it coming in on the Yampa Bench road with the trailer? I know they don't recommend (or even allow?) trailers on the road down from Harper's Corner, but it seems like the bench road would avoid a lot of the switchbacks.

I was in there 45 years ago with my Olds Cutlass. Easy enough when the road was dry, but another story entirely if wet. That clay gets as slippery as a bar of soap.

Best echoes I've heard anywhere. Aptly named. And a beautiful spot. I want to get back there next spring/fall.

Thanks for the pics!

I actually pulled the trailer in the Yampa Bench Road and went out the road to Harper's Corner. My trailer is small, at 12 feet long and has a lift on it, so it did both roads good.

Another person towed a c. 20 foot older Airstream in Friday, while I was there. He came in the Yampa Bench Road also. It is an OK road for a camper. He was going out the other way and I suspect he had problems as there were a couple of spots that dipped and went up quite a bit, where he likely scraped the back end of his trailer pulling it out.