Driving away from the tri-point, retracing my steps was challenging, as the sun angle was so different heading east. I managed to get back to the “main” road (CO 318) at about 11:30 and I headed west toward Dutch John, UT. I drove along the (now unmarked) gravel road in Utah toward Dutch John, which climbed an amazingly steep grade through Jesse Ewing Canyon. Here, I saw a Utah public lands sign indicating a turn to “Three Corners” 10 miles along. This is likely a better way to approach the corner (from the Utah side) and, since it’s signed, perhaps more legal (I did pass a couple of rather old - ahem - “Posted” signs as I crossed fence lines).

Dutch John and surrounds is the Flaming Gorge NRA, a scenic but busy lake recreation area. I found myself in the minority on the roads nearby as my little truck was not pulling along any kind of boat. US 191 is a relatively new but very crazy and windy road as it descends to Vernal. The drive from here south held real variety, from rather uninteresting commercial and congested areas, to gently curvy roads that followed the meander of stream beds in a desert canyon, to wide open desert valleys where Denver-to-Salt Lake traffic barreled along at 90 mph on a very busy 2-lane road.