| Although Diamond Breaks Wilderness Area gets its name from the "breaks" or canyons carved into Diamond Mountain by numerous creeks and drainages, the "diamonds" for which area is named come from an entirely different source-a con game played with diamonds. Legend has it that a con artist in the late 1800's scattered diamonds all over the mountaintop in an effort to separate unsuspecting Eastern investors from their money in a "get rich quick" diamond mining scheme. Of course, there was no diamond cache and the shyster took the money and ran.Once visitors set foot in Diamond Breaks, however, the mythical diamonds will be the furthest things from their mind. From the ridges and peaks of the breaks, visitors will be dazzled with views of the Green River Plain, the Canyon of Lodore and its gates through which numerous rafters pass each year, the snow-capped peaks of the distant Uintas, the Zirkel Range and Cold Springs Mountain. Currently, 36,248 acres of Diamond Breaks have been recommended by the BLM for wilderness designation.With a pack on your back, it is possible to wander for days, although keep in mind that the dissected terrain is extremely rugged and semi-arid. Visitors cross-country navigational skills must be strong and they should always carry plenty of water. The craggy terrain, rising dramatically from the sagebrush-covered plain of Browns Park, is broken frequently by draws and stands of aspen. Pinon and juniper cover many ridges, and a stately grove of ponderosa pine cling to the southern reaches-often growing right out of the rock itself. Both spring and fall offer rich contrasts of color, with golden aspen in fall and a rainbow of colors from wildflowers in spring.Wildlife is abundant within the region. Mule deer, black bear, elk and even the elusive mountain lion call Diamond Breaks home. Pronghorn prance in the lower reaches around Browns Park.The best hiking access is to be had from the Swinging Bridge Camping Area, just of Moffat County Road 83. First-time initiates should stick to the abandoned jeep trails until they get the lay of the land. A good bet is to follow the jeep trail that skirts the Green River's edge and leads to the western boundary of the Gates of Lodore. Along the way, another jeep trail branches off to the right and up Chokecherry Draw. |
|
