Getting Oriented
The Red Desert sits between Rock Springs, Lander, and Rawlins, bounded on the south by Interstate 80 and split down the middle by the Great Divide Basin, a rare place where the Continental Divide forks around a closed basin that drains to no ocean. It is often called the largest unfenced area in the lower 48. The BLM manages most of it from its Rock Springs and Lander field offices. There is no single signed byway; the tour strings together county roads and BLM routes past the desert's landmarks.
Trail Overview
Most of the driving is on graded county and BLM roads that handle a high-clearance vehicle in dry weather, with rougher two-track spurs to specific features. The surface is sand and bentonite clay that turns slick and trapping after rain, so timing and weather matter more than technical skill. The country opens up after the snow clears, usually June or July depending on the year, and stays drivable into fall. Distances are long and unsigned junctions are common, so carry good maps and a GPS track.
Points of Interest
- Oregon Buttes. A flat-topped landmark that guided wagon trains on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails toward the South Pass crossing.
- Honeycomb Buttes. Eroded badland hoodoos and spires banded in purple, yellow, and red.
- Great Divide Basin. The closed basin where the Continental Divide splits, with sand dunes, alkali flats, and one of the country's larger wild-horse populations.
- Adobe Town. Sandstone badlands and hoodoos in the southern desert, a longer detour for a full day.
Where to Camp
Dispersed camping is the norm across BLM land here, and there are no developed campgrounds in the heart of the desert. Camp on durable ground away from water sources, which are scarce and important to wildlife. The nearest developed services and campgrounds are around Rock Springs, Farson, and Lander.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Carry everything. There is no fuel, water, or reliable cell signal across the desert, so travel with extra fuel, more water than you think you need, and full recovery gear.
- Watch the sky and the soil. Bentonite clay roads turn impassable within minutes of rain; if storms threaten, get to a graded road or turn back.
- Go in summer. The roads are snow-blocked and muddy outside the June-to-October window.
- Navigate carefully. Junctions are unsigned and roads branch often, so download offline maps and a track before you leave pavement.
- Travel with a second vehicle when you can. Help is hours away.
Fuel and Water
Fuel and water are available in Rock Springs, Farson, and Lander on the desert's edges. There is none in the interior, so fill up and load water before leaving pavement.
Nearby
South Pass City State Historic Site and the Loop Road sit on the northern edge near Lander. The Killpecker Sand Dunes and Boar's Tusk lie in the desert's southwest corner near Rock Springs. Flaming Gorge is farther south.
