Green River, located in Emery County, is a commercial farming and ranching community situated in a valley where the Green River flows between low banks for several miles between Gray and Labyrinth canyons. The site was important long before the settlement era since it was the most accessible crossing point on the Green River south of the Uinta Basin. Green River History is full of tall tales, great ideas, boom cycles and tragic busts. From the ancient American Fremont Indians and the Barrier Canyon people before them, to the modern day cattlemen, farmers, and others that now inhabit the valley, the history is rich and diverse. Long before man walked the earth, dinosaurs roamed these lands and left much evidence of their passing. Fossils and trackways are common in the area.
Green River is a great place to host your desert vacation and stay on your vacation budget! Green River is just a short drive to some of the most spectacular country. Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef are about an hours drive from the center of town. Plus there are numerous state parks, and thousands of acres of BLM lands surrounding our town. The Green River offers world class rafting, boating and canoeing opportunities. Not into water activities, Green River is surrounded by millions of acres of pristine deserts offering many recreational oppportunities. Whether your preference is Hiking, Backpacking, taking to the 4x4 trails, Numerous ATV and OHV trails, Horse back riding, Mountain Bike Trails, Hunting, Golfing
John Wesley Powell River History Museum
John Wesley Powell was the proverbial "intrepid explorer" who led mapping expeditions of the Green and Colorado Rivers from 1869-72. (He had only one arm and had to be lashed to a chair aboard his wooden raft as they tackled these wild unknown rivers.) This small, though fine museum, presents in adequate fashion the history of his exploits, including a good 20 minute multi-media presentation through slides.
The museum is opened daily from 9-8 during the summer and 9-5 the rest of the year. Admission and the presentation are free. It also has a well stocked gift and book shop.
Goblin Valley State Park
Few people visit Goblin Valley State Park, which is a pity since the rock formations are every bit as dramatic as the more famous National Parks further south, although on a much smaller scale. The vast landscape of sandstone goblins may have visitors wondering if they’re in Mars or Utah. Galaxy Quest, the movie, was filmed at Goblin Valley State Park because of its space-like scenery. Scores of intricately eroded creatures greet visitors to Goblin Valley. Hike among intricately eroded rock formations in haunting coves. Adjacent to the park, off-highway vehicle enthusiasts will find hundreds of miles of dirt roads to explore. Facilities include a campground, hot showers and a large picnic area overlooking the whimsical valley.
Goblin Valley State Park is a showcase of geologic history. Exposed cliffs reveal parallel layers of rock bared by erosion. Because of the uneven hardness of sandstone, some patches resist erosion much better than others. The softer material is removed by wind and water, leaving thousands of unique, geologic goblins. Water erosion and the smoothing action of windblown dust work together to shape the goblins. Bedrock is exposed because of the thin soil and lack of vegetation. When rain does fall, there are few plant roots and little soil to capture and hold the water, which quickly disappears, in muddy streams without penetrating the bedrock.
Crystal Geyser
Crystal Geyser is a cold water geyser powered by carbon dioxide and other gases. It erupts a few times a day at irregular intervals. A typical eruption last about seven minutes and sends an impressive amount of water up to 60 feet skyward. The cold water, carbon dioxide powered Crystal Geyser mellows many hours between eruptions but is an impressive site. The Crystal Geyser trail begins in Moab and finish near Green River for the convenience of those departing in that direction. The trail locale is south of Green River town and east of the river. The country is colorful and beautiful in a desolate sort of way. The exposed sandstone cliffs in the Rainbow Rocks area are especially colorful.
The route passes near Dubinky Well and the "rainbow rocks" country on the way to Salt Wash, Little Grand Wash, and seldom-used mining trails through the stark slopes of the Morrison formation. Most of the trail is quite easy, but a few gullies and rocks could trap vehicles with poor clearance, so travelling in a four wheel drive vehicle is recommended. The geyser is located about 10 miles south of town on an unpaved road that's passable for cars in dry weather. Woodside Geyser is smaller than Crystal Geyser but erupts on a more regular pattern. It is located on a dirt road off Hwy. 191/6 about 23 miles northwest of Green River.
Canyonlands
Canyonlands National Park preserves a colorful landscape of sedimentary sandstones eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado River and its tributaries. The Colorado and Green rivers divide the park into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and the rivers themselves. While the districts share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character and offers different opportunities for exploration and learning. People have visited what is now Canyonlands National Park for over 10,000 years. Over time, many different groups have moved in and out of the area in concert with the availability of natural resources and the technology for exploiting those resources
Arches
Arches National Park preserves over two thousand natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and formations. In some areas, faulting has exposed millions of years of geologic history. The extraordinary features of the park, including balanced rocks, fins and pinnacles, are highlighted by a striking environment of contrasting colors, landforms and textures. The forces of nature have acted in concert to create the landscape of Arches, which contains the greatest density of natural arches in the world. Throughout the park, rock layers reveal millions of years of deposition, erosion and other geologic events. These layers continue to shape life in Arches today, as their erosion influences elemental features like soil chemistry and where water flows when it rains.
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