Dowd Mountain Overlook

The Basics

ADDRESS: Go south of Manila on UT Highway 44 for 14 miles, turn east onto Forest Service Road 4, then drive another 4.25 miles

LAST VISIT: 2024

VIDEO: Link to Flaming Gorge Video on YouTube

Dowd Mountain Overlook was recommended to us as a very lightly used area to explore. That description was perfect - we went there twice, and both times, we didn't see another person or vehicle. The landscape is more gently sloped toward the water then the steep canyon walls at the Red Canyon Overlook. The gentle slopes provide a nice contrast to brilliant red canyon walls that you can see in the distance.

The Forest Service road used to access the overlook (FS 94) is fairly well maintained, and wouldn't require a high clearance vehicle.

There are several areas along the road where you could pull over to have a picnic, or just enjoy the quiet forest.

At the end of the road, there is a beautiful view of the reservoir, a picnic table, an interpretive display, and a vault toilet.

Our Opinion

We would definitely recommend making a stop at Dowd Mountain Overlook, especially one accompanied by a picnic. It is so wonderful to find an isolated place in a such a beautiful area where you can have a picnic, and the only sounds you hear are the wind in the trees and the birds. Take some time to relax and enjoy this stop!

Manila, Utah and the Dowd Mountain Overlook are circled in red on the map above. The brown road is Forest Service Road 94.