Jones Hole Road to Diamond Mountain — Dinosaur Country Backcountry Circuit via Island Park
Canyon rim, Fremont rock art, Green River below.
Jones Hole Creek carved one of the sharpest little canyons in the Uinta Basin — and the road that traces the mesa above it is one of the most overlooked overland runs in Utah. Dropping off US-191 north of Vernal, this circuit climbs through sagebrush benches onto Diamond Mountain Plateau before looping back through the Island Park area above the Green River. The canyon rim views down into the Whirlpool Canyon section of Dinosaur National Monument are the kind that stop you mid-sentence. Ancient Fremont petroglyphs decorate the sandstone walls near the Jones Hole trailhead at road’s end — a legitimate reward for the drive. The road is mostly maintained gravel with washboard stretches and soft sandy shoulders near the canyon edge that demand respect.
A stock 4WD with high clearance handles this route in dry conditions, but the plateau section gets greasy and impassable after rain. Spring and fall are ideal; summer works but afternoon thunderstorms build fast and turn the clay sections to grease. No permit required for vehicle travel, though the Jones Hole trailhead area fills up on weekends. No water on route — carry at least two gallons per person. Vernal is your fuel stop, 35 miles south. This run pairs well with a night camped on the plateau with the canyon dropping away on three sides.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 42 mi / 67.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7800 ft |
| Best season | April-June, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Vernal, UT |
| Land manager | BLM Vernal Field Office / Dinosaur National Monument |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | nps.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Wrangler handle this trail without modifications?
Yes, a stock 4WD high-clearance vehicle is the baseline — think factory 4Runner, Wrangler, or Tacoma. Lifted rigs aren't required, but you'll want decent all-terrain tires since the sand and loose gravel sections can catch low-profile street tires off guard.
When is Jones Hole Road actually passable — and what shuts it down?
April through June and September through October are your windows. Summer monsoons can turn the dirt and sand sections into a greasy mess, and winter snow at 7,800 ft closes the upper plateau stretches entirely — sometimes into late March.
Do I need a permit to run this trail or camp along it?
No permit is required for the BLM sections and dispersed camping is free. If your route dips into Dinosaur National Monument boundaries, standard NPS entry fees apply — currently $25 per vehicle — so carry cash or your America the Beautiful pass.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually be ready for?
The canyon rim approaches near the Green River are the crux — narrow shelf road with exposure and loose surface. It's not technical rock crawling, but one sloppy line on a wet day puts you in a bad spot. Take it slow and don't rush the descent toward Island Park.
There's no cell service for 42 miles — how far is the nearest gas and what's the water situation on trail?
Fuel up in Vernal before you leave — it's the last reliable stop and you're looking at a full day's drive with no services anywhere on route. Water crossings exist but don't count on them as drinking sources; carry all your own water for the full 1-2 day circuit.
Trail track
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