Things to Do in Vernal, Utah

Guided UTV Tours Through the Backcountry

The Uintah Basin's backcountry is best experienced from the seat of a side-by-side. Adventure Tours Vernal runs guided Kawasaki KRX 1000 tours across five distinct trail systems — Doc's Beach, Moonshine Arch, Ashley Gorge, Outlaw Trail, and Asphalt Ridge — each offering a different landscape and experience level. Tours are three hours, cover terrain ranging from sandy desert washes to dramatic canyon corridors, and feature stops at petroglyphs, rock art, and historic Wild West sites.

Dave and Trudy Wilson guide every tour personally in their own KRX machines, which means you get local knowledge you won't find on any map. It's the single most popular activity for visitors looking for something beyond the typical Vernal itinerary.

Dinosaur National Monument

The Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument contains over 1,500 dinosaur fossils still embedded in the rock face — one of the most complete Jurassic-era fossil displays anywhere in the world. Beyond the quarry, the monument stretches across 210,000 acres of canyon country along the Green and Yampa rivers, with scenic drives, petroglyphs, and backcountry hiking.

The monument is just 20 minutes east of downtown Vernal and open year-round, though the quarry building operates seasonally. Plan at least a half-day; a full day is better if you want to explore the canyons beyond the visitor center.

Petroglyphs, Rock Art & Ancient History

The Vernal area holds some of the densest concentrations of rock art in the American West. Fremont culture petroglyphs and pictographs dating back over a thousand years are scattered across canyon walls throughout the basin. McConkie Ranch, Dry Fork Canyon, and sites along the backcountry trails accessible by UTV are among the best-preserved examples.

Several Adventure Tours Vernal trail routes pass directly by rock art panels and ancient ruins, giving riders access to sites most visitors never see.

Hiking, Fishing & State Parks

Red Fleet State Park features dinosaur trackways preserved in the sandstone shoreline — actual three-toed theropod prints you can walk right up to. Steinaker State Park and Starvation State Park offer boating, fishing, and camping. The Flaming Gorge area, about an hour north, is one of Utah's premier fishing destinations for lake trout and kokanee salmon.

Ashley National Forest covers the mountains north of town with trails ranging from easy valley walks to rugged alpine routes above 10,000 feet. The Uinta Highline Trail is a bucket-list backpacking route for experienced hikers.

Wild West History & Local Culture

Vernal's backcountry is steeped in outlaw history — Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch used the canyons east of town as hideouts, and Josie Bassett Morris's cabin still stands in the monument. The Utah Field House of Natural History in downtown Vernal houses dinosaur exhibits, geological displays, and an outdoor dinosaur garden that's a hit with families.

Downtown Vernal itself has a growing restaurant scene, local shops, and a walkable Main Street that makes a good home base between adventures.