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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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Author:	Backpacker Magazine
Activity:	Backpacking ActivitySearchBackpacking
State:	Wyoming (WY)
Distance:	30.57 mi
Difficulty:	7 / 10
Rating:	Unrated

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

TO TRAILHEAD: From Rawlins, WY, take I-80 W to Bitter Creek Road (exit 142). Drive south on Bitter Creek (CR 19), following signs to the Eversole Ranch, about 27 miles from I-80. Continue through the ranch, take left fork in the road, and go 1.8 miles to a junction. Go straight on an unmarked BLM road for 20 miles to the starting point of the hike.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

WPT01

Distance: 30.57 mi	Points: 500	Calories: none
Total Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Red Desert Track

Points of Interest

WPT001

Location: 41.053181, -108.326309
Trailhead. Ahead is a winter grazing area for elk, wild horses, and pronghorn.

WPT002

Location: 41.062565, -108.323433
Edge of Powder Rim and viewpoint north into Adobe Town Canyon

WPT003

Location: 41.089027, -108.302246
Top of manmade earthen dam at lake

WPT004

Location: 41.101410, -108.310471
Author spots wild horse

WPT005

Location: 41.102894, -108.310646
Skull Creek

WPT006

Location: 41.111786, -108.314507
Camp One

WPT007

Location: 41.126682, -108.313705
East Fork of Skull Creek

WPT008

Location: 41.146477, -108.307900
Jumble of barbed wire; possibly an old horse corral

WPT009

Location: 41.151672, -108.306694
Main tributary of Skull Creek wash

WPT010

Location: 41.158146, -108.299522
Rocky overhand provides shade for midday water break

WPT011

Location: 41.158455, -108.275177
Viewpoint

WPT012

Location: 41.159458, -108.274727
Shady lunch spot

WPT013

Location: 41.163456, -108.270569
Trail skirts Skull Creek Rim with panoramic views east

WPT014

Location: 41.173599, -108.261490
Bizarre rock is tinted green and in the shape of a pterodactyl head

WPT015

Location: 41.198933, -108.249199
Good place to cache water prior to trip; head east for second night's campsite

WPT016

Location: 41.198074, -108.242485
Camp 2

WPT017

Location: 41.204586, -108.284065
Viewpoint of side canyon blocking our route across Monument Valley

WPT018

Location: 41.208405, -108.291603
Lunch break under large red boulder (good shade)

WPT019

Location: 41.210751, -108.303612
Overlook above Monument Valley

WPT020

Location: 41.212791, -108.317184
Another shady spot for a water break

WPT021

Location: 41.229389, -108.340668
Sand Creek

WPT022

Location: 41.237824, -108.357590
Cook Exploration jeep road

WPT023

Location: 41.252361, -108.373688
Camp Three

WPT024

Location: 41.251011, -108.382782
Camp Three water drop; backtrack to main north-south route

WPT025

Location: 41.255409, -108.374825
Viewpoint: Car is visible at end point.

WPT026

Location: 41.258427, -108.376328
Drop packs: Branch off main route for side trip to slot canyon and cave

WPT027

Location: 41.258904, -108.379646
Mud cave

WPT028

Location: 41.258804, -108.380829
Side trips ends at viewpoint. From here, backtrack to main route, then continue south along the Adobe Town Rim

WPT029

Location: 41.280479, -108.379227
Trip endpoint

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