Vernal is Uintah County's largest city, located approximately three hours from Salt Lake City, making it a great destination for weekend trips.

The city, which sits just 20 miles west of the state's border with Colorado, is known as the site of the infamous 1879 "Hard Winter," when many area pioneers nearly perished due to harsh weather conditions.

Unlike most Utah towns, the city was not originally settled by Mormon pioneers, but was populated following the designation of part of the region as the Uintah Indian Reservation in 1861. Today, it serves as a great launching-off point for exploring the attractions of nearby Dinosaur National Monument, which preserves more than 800 paleontological sites connected to dinosaur research.

Real-life dinosaur replicas are showcased at the city's Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum.

The city also serves as a gateway to nearby Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, which attracts more than two million annual visitors for excellent hiking, biking, and white water rafting opportunities.

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