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Published: April 24th 2012
Harpers Corner Road, Dinosaur National Monument, CO The Harpers Corner Scenic Drive is a 31-mile (one-way) auto tour route from the Canyon Area Visitor Center to Harpers Corner. Dinosaur fossils are not located in this section of the park.
The route goes by colorful Plug Hat Butte, which contains a wheelchair-accessible trail and a picnic area. As the road continues to gain elevation, the scenery reflects the changing ecosystems. The last 12 miles include several striking viewpoints and overlooks, some as high as 2500 feet above the Green and Yampa rivers. Steamboat Rock hides the confluence of the two rivers from view at the Echo Park overlook. A one-mile (one-way) trail at the end of the route leads to a vista with nearly 300 degree views into Whirlpool, Lodore, and Yampa canyons.
Fuel, food, and other services are not available along this route. The nearest services are in Dinosaur, Colorado, two miles west of the Canyon Area Visitor Center on Highway 40. Harpers Corner Drive is closed at Plug Hat Butte when heavy snow falls. The road reopens in the spring when conditions allow.
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Tyler Callantine
non-member comment
Harper Corner Drive
I drive the Harper Corner road a lot during the summer months for work on the Green River. I highly recommend this drive and would suggest taking the drive very early in the day or early evening. Drive a little slower and watch for wildlife. You will see sage grouse, elk, mule deer and a lot more. Plus the sunrise or sunset will be spectacular. There area some great pull out locations along the way with excellent views of the Yampa River Canyon and Lodore Canyon. Both are incredible river trips, Dinosaur River Expeditions is the areas specialist in the river trips in Dinosaur National Monument it is worth checking them out for a great vacation their website is www.dinoadv.com