About
Flaming Gorge Reservoir is one of the largest bodies of water in Utah. It was built to impound spring floods in the Green River and store them for year-round use for Arizona, Nevada, and southern California. The reservoir is second only to Lake Powell in size and recreational popularity.
Getting There
Accesses to Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area are on US-191 between Green River, WY and Vernal, UT.
Access from the north and west is also possible on Wyoming Highway 414, from I-80 at Fort Bridger, WY to Manilla, UT. Recreational areas are concentrated along the south side of the Flaming Gorge and Red Canyon on
U-44, which connects US-191 to W-414. Access areas are well marked.
Accommodations
There are dozens of campgrounds in the recreation area. For further recreational information, contact the Recreation Area Headquarters. There is a private campground in Manilla.
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area 784-3445
Flaming Gorge KOA (Manilla) 784-3184
Reservoir Administrators Department of the Interior 524-5403
Lake Info
Elevation (feet) 6023
Depth (feet) maximum 436 mean 212
Length (miles) 42.6 Width (miles) .3 Shoreline (miles) 208
Visibility: 20 – 40 feet
Summer Water Temperature 60-68 °F
Aquatic life: Rainbow, cutthroat, brown trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass and channel catfish
Thoughts
Flaming Gorge has to be one of the top three places to dive in Utah. With slot canyons, walls, pinnacles and plenty of marine life. The most popular areas are those around Osprey Island (Mary Ann Island), Gilligans Island, Mustang Ridge, Dutch John Draw, Cart Creek Bridge, or the area near the Glades.
Osprey Island and Gilligans have some of the most natural features with the walls and pinnacles. There is still a cave line running from near the dock to both sides of Osprey. Osprey is accessible from the surface. If you dive to the dam side of Osprey and drop down the wall listen for unique sound of the turbines from the dam and look for some cool caverns. The max depth on this side is deep. 400+
Gilligans Island has more walls and pinnacles but diving from a boat is best.
Mustang Ridge is another wall with slots and caverns. Be careful to not venture to far into the slots as some narrow quite quickly. This is typically 90' max.
The area near the Glades is an easy shore entry and most of the time you can drive right to or into the water. Dives in this area are typically around 40' max.
Cart Creek Bridge is a great dive with more walls. Parking on the left side coming from Cedar Creek and you'll have to carry your gear down the trail. Maybe 100 yards. If not crowded with fisherman gearing up is quite easy. Explore the arm up stream
If you like to brave the cold there is an old truck off the Cedar Creek Marina boat ramp at about 100'. Special permission is required to dive the marina and don't plan on it during the summer due to high usage. Winter time they may let you when usage is low.
The area around Buckboard is reportedly one the better spots to shoot Burdot. Most success has been reported around dusk as the Burdot come up from depth to feed.
There is a 1949 Ford Truck that lies on the slope just off Cedar Springs Boat Ramp in about 100' of water. I would be very hesitant to attempt this dive during any season where there may be boat traffic with its close proximity to the ramp. Special permission must be obtained from the Park Ranger.
Visitor Center Parking 40°54'52"N 109°25'32"W
Mustang Ridge Parking 40°55'49.20"N 109°26'19.77"W
Osprey Island 40°55'1.80"N 109°25'34.21"W
Dam Cavern 40°54'51.58"N 109°25'25.94"W
Gilligans Island Spires 40°55'1.98"N 109°25'55.64"W
Cart Creek Bridge 40°54'34.63"N 109°26'7.96"W
Mustang Ridge 40°45'33.14"N 109°26'5.36"W
Dutch John Draw
The Glades
Pillars Point 40°55'28.78"N 109°38'11.03"W
Buckboard 41° 8'36.95"N 109°32'31.09"W
What are the good places at Flaming Gorge to do snorkeling? –where a boat is not required.
Around Osprey Island near the dam. You will want a surface marker or buoy since you will have to cross over open water. Along the shore of Mustang Ridge is good. You can enter and snorkel along the shore. Plenty of rock features and since cliff jumping is done in some places you may score some treasure.
Anywhere nearby to get air fills?
Mountian Bay Scuba in Rock Springs or Desert Divers Scuba in Green River if you’re diving the north end.
This is a good website!!!!!!!!
Hi Flaming George Scuba Divers. I lost a water resistant i-phone in a light blue otter cover on the reservoir. If you want to find it I’ll send you the last google location sharing I have for it.
IF you want to send it to info@utahscubadiver.com, Ill be there the end of August or I could post the contact elsewhere
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Heading to The Gorge and will be running the Green to little hole.
Anyone ever float the river in Scuba gear? Any tips or cautions in running the river?
Any input appreciated
Minimize, minimize, minimize. Have nothing dangling as it could get you hung up in the rocks. Some of the holes are shallow and some can be about 20 feet.
Wear knee and elbow pads to protect you in the shallow water unless you plan to climb into a boat or raft before each section.
Is there an easy access point that I can get down to 130′? Working on my deep diver cert and trying to find alternatives to Blue Hole and Rock Lake, NM
Thanks!
130 feet is easily achievable by the Visitor Center. It is a wall dive that goes 200+ feet.
Anyone diving near Cedar Springs Marina at Flaming Gorge anytime soon? We lost a very important set of keys right next to the dock. We would really appreciate some help.