2 Best Hotels in Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Dinosaurland and Eastern Utah

A pleasant surprise in the woods, this lodge is surrounded by well-built, handcrafted log cabins with kitchenettes (some with wood-burning stoves) that face a private trout-stocked lake. The great restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from April to September; dinner might include buffalo, elk medallions, or wild trout with pasta. The lodge provides recreation services like boat and standup paddleboard rentals for the lake, bike and snowshoe rentals for the land, and horseback riding in the summer. Kids will enjoy their own private fishing pond. It's a pleasant spot for bird-watching, too.

With motel rooms and condo-style suites, a good American-cuisine restaurant, and a store just a short drive from the water, this is a practical home base for enjoying Flaming Gorge. Most important to visitors, it also rents out boats and provides guided fishing services. For groups, there are many different room options available, including two-bedroom suites that can accommodate up to nine people and include full kitchens.