Where the high desert of southwestern Wyoming meets the Utah line, a great reservoir stretches for miles through canyons of brilliant red rock. Flaming Gorge, named for the fiery cliffs that early explorers described, is a striking marriage of desert stone and deep blue water.

The reservoir, formed by a dam on the Green River, has become a magnet for water recreation in an otherwise arid country. Boaters, kayakers, and houseboaters explore its long arms and hidden coves, while beaches and campgrounds line the shore for those content to stay on land.

The fishing is the stuff of legend. Flaming Gorge is renowned for its trophy lake trout, some reaching enormous sizes, along with kokanee salmon and trout that draw anglers from across the region. Record-class fish have come from its cold depths, cementing its reputation among serious fishers.

Above the water, the scenery does its own work. The Sheep Creek Geological Loop and numerous overlooks reveal dramatically tilted rock layers and sweeping views down the canyon. Bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and osprey inhabit the surrounding country. Far from Wyoming's mountain parks, Flaming Gorge offers a different face of the state, where sunbaked canyons plunge into cool water beneath a wide desert sky.