Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area occupies a striking reach of the Green River in southwestern Wyoming and northeastern Utah, centered on the 91-mile Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Its name dates to John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition, when he named the canyon for its vivid red sandstone walls. The reservoir was created in 1964 by Flaming Gorge Dam, a hydroelectric project with three turbines and generators. Congress established the recreation area on October 1, 1968. Administered by Ashley National Forest, it combines dramatic canyon scenery, water management, power generation, and extensive outdoor recreation, including camping, hiking, boating, fishing, and rafting below the dam.