Rawlins, WY: Wyoming's Red Desert
With no trails and few visitors, Wyoming's Red Desert is an explorer's paradise.
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This four-day, 30-mile cross-country backpacking trip explores one of America’s highest deserts. The Red Desert is wedged into a rift valley called the Great Divide Basin. This is where the Continental Divide splits, forming the country’s longest big game corridor. This proposed wilderness is home to at least 65 species of mammals, reptiles and birds, including prairie falcons, bighorn sheep, wild horses, the largest desert elk herd in the world, and 50,000 pronghorn antelope. WHEN TO GO: Late spring and early fall. Summers are scorching and winters are arctic. In any season, even moderate rain will make dirt roads impassible. GEAR: With rock-hard playa, a freestanding tent is a must (imagine putting stakes into concrete). Cache water in seven-gallon containers like the Reliance AquaTainer ($17, relianceproducts.com).
Mapped by Michael Behar
Trail Facts
- Distance: 49.2
Waypoints
WPT001
Location: 41.0531807, -108.3263092
Trailhead. Ahead is a winter grazing area for elk, wild horses, and pronghorn.
WPT002
Location: 41.0625648, -108.3234329
Edge of Powder Rim and viewpoint north into Adobe Town Canyon
WPT003
Location: 41.0890274, -108.3022461
Top of manmade earthen dam at lake
WPT004
Location: 41.1014099, -108.3104706
Author spots wild horse
WPT005
Location: 41.1028938, -108.3106461
Skull Creek
WPT006
Location: 41.1117859, -108.3145065
Camp One
WPT007
Location: 41.1266823, -108.3137054
East Fork of Skull Creek
WPT008
Location: 41.1464767, -108.3078995
Jumble of barbed wire; possibly an old horse corral
WPT009
Location: 41.1516724, -108.306694
Main tributary of Skull Creek wash
WPT010
Location: 41.1581459, -108.2995224
Rocky overhand provides shade for midday water break
WPT011
Location: 41.1584549, -108.275177
Viewpoint
WPT012
Location: 41.1594582, -108.2747269
Shady lunch spot
WPT013
Location: 41.163456, -108.2705688
Trail skirts Skull Creek Rim with panoramic views east
WPT014
Location: 41.1735992, -108.2614899
Bizarre rock is tinted green and in the shape of a pterodactyl head
WPT015
Location: 41.1989326, -108.2491989
Good place to cache water prior to trip; head east for second night’s campsite
WPT016
Location: 41.1980743, -108.242485
Camp 2
WPT017
Location: 41.204586, -108.2840652
Viewpoint of side canyon blocking our route across Monument Valley
WPT018
Location: 41.2084045, -108.2916031
Lunch break under large red boulder (good shade)
WPT019
Location: 41.2107506, -108.3036118
Overlook above Monument Valley
WPT020
Location: 41.2127914, -108.3171844
Another shady spot for a water break
WPT021
Location: 41.2293892, -108.3406677
Sand Creek
WPT022
Location: 41.2378235, -108.3575897
Cook Exploration jeep road
WPT023
Location: 41.2523613, -108.3736877
Camp Three
WPT024
Location: 41.2510109, -108.382782
Camp Three water drop; backtrack to main north-south route
WPT025
Location: 41.2554092, -108.3748245
Viewpoint: Car is visible at end point.
WPT026
Location: 41.2584267, -108.3763275
Drop packs: Branch off main route for side trip to slot canyon and cave
WPT027
Location: 41.2589035, -108.3796463
Mud cave
WPT028
Location: 41.2588043, -108.3808289
Side trips ends at viewpoint. From here, backtrack to main route, then continue south along the Adobe Town Rim
WPT029
Location: 41.2804794, -108.3792267
Trip endpoint