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Tule Butte7287 ft

Pabst Peak10261 ft

Hague Hill7654 ft

Deer Butte7891 ft

Black Rock7201 ft

Zirkel Mesa7550 ft

Sand Knolls

Pilot Butte7921 ft

Luman Butte6977 ft

Emmons Cone7863 ft

Clay Buttes6691 ft

Chalk Butte6713 ft

Cabin Butte7990 ft

Spring Butte7591 ft

Pencil Point7284 ft

Hatcher Mesa7636 ft

Granite Peak 10404 ft

Endlich Hill7307 ft

Elk Mountain8015 ft

Buffalo Hump7027 ft

Buffalo Hump7104 ft

Black Buttes8097 ft

Wildcat Butte9636 ft

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6856 ft

Rennecker Peak10053 ft

HaystackButte6845 ft

Fourmile Knoll6737 ft

Essex Mountain8045 ft

Teakettle Butte7031 ft

Tabernacle Butte7583 ft

Saint Marys Peak7601 ft

Dilabaugh Buttes7516 ft

Continental Peak8431 ft

Roundtop Mtn8736 ft

Fifteenmile Knoll6724 ft

SteamboatMountain8694 ft

Five Fingers Butte6845 ft

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0 2.5 5Miles

/

WYOMING

Map Extent

Red Desert

DRIVING DISTANCES

(157.4 miles with 2a and 2b)

9.5 miles2a1

11.8 miles1 2b

19.3 miles2a 3

17 miles2b 3

1.9 miles3 4

23.3 miles4 5

9.3 miles5 6

12.4 miles6 7

3.4 miles7 8

5.6 miles8 9

4.1 miles9 10N Loop = 82.3 milesS Loop = 101.9 miles

Total Loop = 153 miles

MAP SYMBOLS

Roads & Highways

State Highway28

US Highway£¤191

Interstate§̈¦80

County Road17

Railroad

Mule Deer Migration Corridor

Low Use Area

Medium Use Area

High Use Area

Land Designations

Wilderness Study Area (WSA)

Special Designation Area

US National Forest

Water Features

Lake

Seasonal Lake

Seasonal Reservoir

CanalStreamIntermittent Stream

!Z National Historic Register Site

!O Point of Interest

!F Hiking Area

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!³ Food / Groceries

!_ Toilet Facilities

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!9 Campground

![ Viewpoint

!L ATV AreaNatural Features

Sand Dune Field

Continental Divide

TrailsHistoric Trail / Road

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

Driving Tour

Wild Horse Loop

Main Driving Tour Route

Driving Tour Stop!(1

Data Disclaimer: Users should be aware that dataon this map may have changed since its creation, and that this map does not include all of the back-roads in the region. Due to the remote nature of Wyoming's Red Desert, it is strongly recommended that users carry with them a paper Wyoming topo-graphic atlas with map scales of 1:225,000 or larger (more zoomed in) and a compass. GPS units are also highly recommended, but they must be independent of cellular service to function and arealways dependent on weather and other conditions for accuracy. Data Sources: Bureau of Land Management, Delorme WY Atlas & Gazetteer, Esri, USDA Forest Service, United States Geological Survey, Wyoming Game & Fish, Wyoming GeoHub, Wyoming Outdoor CouncilMap Projection: Lambert Conformal ConicMap Datum: North American Datum 1983Cartography: Lauren Heerschap 2019

COUT

NE

SD

ID

MT

Burnt Ranch!O

Whitehorse Whitehorse

Alkali Draw WSA

PRIVATE

South Pass Historical MarkerThe South Pass area of the Red Desert has been a human migration pathway for millennia. The crest of the Rocky Mountains flattens out onto high-el-evation steppes, allowing easy passage across the Continental Divide. Native Americans and their ancestors crossed Indian Gap to the south and traveled this area to hunt and trade. European Americans first traversed the pass in 1812 and were followed by fur trappers, missionaries, pioneers, Pony Express riders, and gold prospec-tors. Our nation’s history of westward expansion was etched into the sagebrush sea here: the Oregon, California, and Mormon National Historic Trails cross over from the east to enter what was known as the Oregon Territory. As many as 500,000 emigrants in the mid-late 1800s followed these trails alongside oxen-drawn wagons or pulled handcarts, constituting one of the largest voluntary human migrations recorded. The dirt ruts visible at this stop are those of the actual Oregon Trail, and

the vistas you see here are remarkably similar to those viewed by thousands of travelers in the past. A side road from the county road will take you to several historical markers memorializing South Pass and the historic trails.

Whitehorse Creek Overlook Whitehorse Creek is one of the easiest landscapes to access in the Northern Red Desert. A short drive from the county road offers excellent viewpoints along the ridgeline that marks the wilderness study area’s northern boundary, where visitors can look out over the magnificent striped badlands in the foreground and enjoy an expansive view of the Wind Rivers. There are areas here for primitive camping, including a rock fire pit. (Be sure to bring your own firewood and do not cut down or use the local limited wood.) The pitted sandstone outcrops and cliffs along the rim, as well as the twisted juniper, pine trees, and dense sagebrush help support mule deer and a resident elk herd.

Hikers can remain along the rim or drop down into the basin. Keep an eye out for fossils, raptors, and bobcat tracks.

Oregon Buttes The Oregon Buttes, another wilderness study area, stand proudly along the Continental Divide, sentinels to the Great Divide Basin, and mark the northern edge of the Jack Morrow Hills. European American emigrants traveling westward along the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails entered Oregon Territory after crossing South Pass just west of the buttes, which gave these iconic formations their name. The springs along their eastern flanks, and the hardy stands of pine and aspen, bitterbrush communities, and sagebrush, are crucial for a variety of wildlife. Today, local adventurers climb the buttes to enjoy the views of the Great Divide Basin and Wind River Mountains. Easy hiking access to the crest of the buttes is from the northern height of the road, as marked.

Honeycomb ButtesThe Honeycomb Buttes Wilderness Study Area is one of the most mesmerizing and difficult-to-access landscapes in the Northern Red Desert. These badlands are made of colorful sedimentary rock layers shed from the rising Wind River Mountains millions of years ago. Iron-rich minerals in these sediments transformed into vibrant reds, purples, yellows, and greens. The gray and brown layers above these colorful badlands are composed of sediments from lakes and tropical swamps that were home to massive turtles, crocodiles, fish, and small mammals for millions of years. In the present environment, horned lizards abound, as do small mammals—including bobcats. Desert elk find refuge in the maze of badlands. The Honeycombs offer some of the West’s best hiking, photography, and stargazing. Nearby is Continental Peak, a summit that offers tremendous views and is well worth the climb. The suggested stop offers views of the Honeycombs

to the northeast and also marks a crossing of the historic freight and stage road used to haul supplies to South Pass City. See map for recommended hiking access roads for hiking in this wilderness study area.

The Great Divide BasinAs you drive through this central section of the Northern Red Desert, you’ll cross into the Great Divide Basin, the only place in North America where the Continental Divide splits into two paths, creating a basin in the middle where waters flow neither to the Atlantic nor the Pacific. The road runs along a rim of land looking south towards Alkali Draw and The Pinnacles Wilderness Study Areas. Alkali Draw contains rugged cliff escarpments, and its springs and seeps help support several wildlife herds. The Pinnacles are named for their pyramid shapes and colorful landforms. This country is some of the wildest undeveloped desert lands in the northern Rocky Mountain states. At the suggested stop, take time to get out of the vehicle and view the 360-degree

panorama of desert, buttes, and wild lands. A short walk south reveals the mysterious Pinnacles.

The Jack Morrow HillsThe Jack Morrow Hills, named for a 19th-century crook and homesteader, run north-south between the Oregon Buttes and Steamboat Mountain and define the western edge of the Great Divide Basin. These hills are a complex of sagebrush-clad ridges and rims, with seeps and drainages that provide important habitats for birds and ungulates, including sage-grouse, pronghorn, elk, and mule deer. Sports-men and women prize the chance to hunt the elk that roam between the dunes, the Jack Morrow Hills, and the badlands of the Great Divide Basin. The east- facing slopes of Bush Rim sport a kaleidoscope of colorful sediment layers and hidden springs support-ing lush groves of trees that offer shaded respite for a convenient lunch spot.

White Mountain PetroglyphsThe White Mountain Petroglyphs, containing hundreds of carved figures etched into the sand-stone bedrock, is estimated to date back some 200–1,000 years. The area is managed to protect this important artifact of Plains Indian rock art. Cultural historians and tribal elders believe most of these etchings were created between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with many scenes depict-ing hunting and wildlife, contact with European culture, and the advent of horses. Members of the Shoshone, Arapaho, and Ute tribes consider this

site sacred. Please be respectful and do not touch or deface the petroglyphs. They are located on the cliff face at the end of a ¼-mile foot-path.

Sand Dunes and Boar’s TuskThe sand dunes that stretch more than 100 miles—from near Farson to the Ferris Mountains to the east—make up one of the largest “living” sand dune complexes in the United States. The complex contains four wilderness study areas and the Killpecker Sand Dunes Open Play Area. These shifting dunes contain numerous ephemeral

ponds which are formed when sand blows over and insulates snow drifts in the winter, causing pockets of hardened snow that melts out slowly in the spring and summer. Standing 400 feet tall just south of the sand dunes is a rare monolith: Boar’s Tusk. This volcanic plug—the core of an extinct volcano—is an icon of the Northern Red Desert and sacred to many Native Americans. Take the 1a access road for hiking within the Sand Dunes Wilderness Study Area and proceed to the 2b road for access to the motorized play area and campground.

Steamboat Mountain and World’s Longest Deer MigrationA massif visible for miles and recognizable for the small pyramid midway along its otherwise flat summit, Steamboat Mountain rises above the Jack Morrow Hills in the background. Indian Gap Trail, a favored Plains Indian route across the Red Desert, passes directly to the west of Steamboat and east of Essex Mountain. Steamboat is a volcanic butte similar to the other dramatic buttes to its south, including Black Rock, Spring Butte, and the Table

Mountains. The aspen glades on Steamboat’s northern slopes are a favorite of campers and hunters. The boulder fields and cliffs on the northeast side (visible from the noted viewpoint) served as a buffalo jump for Native American hunters—a place where the animals were herded off a steep incline and killed. The Red Desert is home to the southern terminus of the longest mule deer migration in the world. Every spring, thousands of deer leave their winter range in this area and cross Steamboat Mountain toward summer range in the Hoback region south of Jackson. At the top of the road, you can see

nearly the entire stretch of the Sand Dunes, with Black Rock and Spring Buttes in the foreground.

Tri-Territory Historical MarkerThe Tri-Territory Historic Site marks the spot where Mexico, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Oregon Territory intersected. This isolated location tells the story of the western expansion and how three nations competed and fought for control of the North American continent. The snowy crest of the southern Wind River Mountains—renowned for its rock climbing terrain—is visible to the northwest.

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Tri-Territory Historical Marker

Steamboat Mountain & Mule Deer Migration Corridor

Chicken Springs & Jack Morrow Hills

HoneycombButtes

Oregon Buttes

Original South Pass Summit

Whitehorse Creek Overlook

Great DivideBasin

Boar’sTusk & Killpecker Sand

Dunes WSA Killpecker Sand Dunes ORV Area

a

b

a

a

b

bThe Red Desert Driving Tour route is indicated in red. Aside from sections on paved US Highway 191 and State Highway 28, the route is entirely on dirt or gravel roads. The Red Desert is a wild, backcountry landscape—please respect its remote nature and come prepared!

The entire loop can be driven in a long day with limited time for short stops and hikes. The route can be accessed from either south or north, from US Highway 191 or State Highway 28.

The tour can also be divided into two loops,a southern route ( - ) and northern route ( -

), providing more time for exploration and hikes. Use County Road 21 from State Highway 28 for middle access to these shorter loops. Tour stops are described in southern route and northern route sections.

The main tour, using only county-maintained roads, is marked by the thick red line. Side road tour stops and suggested hiking access roads are marked by a thin red line, but these dirt two tracks should be evaluated carefully before venturing out. The half-tour access road on County Road 21 from State Highway 28 is marked by a thin red line. Other county roads and tracks are marked in black/gray. Be aware that there are many dirt roads throughout the Red Desert which are not on maps—use these at your own risk!

how to use this map

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the Northern Red Desert is a diverse landscape. Adventurers seeking solitude, families camping for a weekend, and hunters scouting for elk, as well as birders, rock-hounds, artists, horseback riders, and countless others enjoy the ruggedness and open spaces of the Northern Red Desert.

The landscape is rich with the history of the American West, from early Native American petroglyphs to the ruts of the Oregon Trail. It is home to pronghorn and horned lizards—species that thrive on an array of native plants and springs that dot the sagebrush sea. Vast sections of these public lands—administered by the Bureau of Land Management—are largely untouched by humans. So tread lightly and enjoy your time among the buttes and badlands. But beware: you will want to return again and again.

From towering buttes to intricate badlands, from ribbons of sand dunes to remote springs,

The Red Desert is wild and remote. Travelers must come prepared.

• Start any trip with a full tank of gas and a spare tire.• Let someone know where you are headed and when you plan to return.• We recommend a high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle to traverse the dirt roads.• Cell phone service is spotty at best. Don’t count on having a signal.• Bring extra food and water—even if you don’t think you will need it. • We suggest traveling the route between May and October. Road conditions

deteriorate quickly, especially when wet.• Expect strong winds and changing temperatures. Dress appropriately.• Stick to numbered BLM and county roads and don’t trust your GPS or Google

Maps. There are a number of two-track dirt trails that a GPS will often recognize as a road, but many are unreliable. Use extreme caution driving off main roads.

• Watch out for wildlife!

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ined

thro

ugh

a nat

iona

l pro

cess

to

cont

ain

som

e of o

ur n

atio

n’s b

est r

emot

e opp

ortu

nitie

s for

solit

ude

and

recr

eatio

n. Th

ese a

reas

are o

pen

to th

e pub

lic fo

r cam

ping

, hu

ntin

g, fi

shin

g, an

d hi

king

, but

mot

oriz

ed u

se is

pro

hibi

ted.

The

Nor

ther

n R

ed D

eser

t boa

sts n

ine u

niqu

e WSA

s, th

e lar

gest

conc

en-

trat

ion

in W

yom

ing.

Thes

e spe

cial

pla

ces h

elp p

rese

rve b

adla

nds,

hist

oric

trai

ls, fo

ssili

zed

rem

ains

from

the s

hore

s of a

ncie

nt se

as, a

nd

early

Nat

ive A

mer

ican

pet

rogl

yphs

and

cam

ps. Th

e wid

e-op

en co

un-

try a

lso su

ppor

ts ab

unda

nt w

ildlif

e, in

clud

ing a

rare

des

ert e

lk h

erd

and

cruc

ial w

inte

r ran

ge fo

r the

mig

rato

ry b

ig g

ame h

erds

that

roam

so

uthw

est W

yom

ing.

T

he

Go

lde

n T

ria

ng

le is

a na

me w

ildlif

e bio

logi

sts u

se to

des

crib

e th

e str

etch

of l

and

nort

h of

Far

son

bord

ered

by S

tate

Hig

hway

28

and

US

Hig

hway

191

and

cont

inui

ng to

the fl

anks

of t

he W

ind

Riv

er M

ount

ains

. This

prist

ine s

tret

ch o

f sag

ebru

sh st

eppe

is k

now

n fo

r its

exce

ptio

nal w

ildlif

e hab

itat a

nd ri

ch b

iodi

vers

ity. Th

e rol

ling

sage

brus

h se

a sup

port

s the

wor

ld’s

long

est m

ule d

eer m

igra

tion

corr

idor

, hug

e her

ds o

f elk

that

sum

mer

in th

e Win

d R

iver

s, pl

us

pron

ghor

n, g

olde

n ea

gles

, red

fox,

and

hund

reds

of o

ther

sage

brus

h-de

pend

ent s

peci

es. Th

e reg

ion

also

susta

ins t

he p

lane

t’s la

rges

t po

pula

tion

of G

reat

er sa

ge-g

rous

e, a s

peci

es th

at is

impe

riled

acro

ss

the W

est.

Her

e, m

ore t

han

800

mal

e gro

use p

erfo

rm th

eir e

labo

rate

sp

ring m

atin

g ritu

als o

n m

atin

g gro

unds

calle

d le

ks.

Lon

ges

t U

ng

ula

te M

igra

tion

in

th

e U

nit

ed S

tate

sTh

e lon

gest

big

gam

e mig

ratio

n co

rrid

or in

the L

ower

48

begi

ns ju

st

nort

h of

Roc

k Sp

rings

in th

e Red

Des

ert.

Twic

e a ye

ar, m

ule d

eer

mig

rate

bet

wee

n th

eir w

inte

r ran

ge in

the R

ed D

eser

t sag

ebru

sh an

d th

eir h

igh-

elev

atio

n su

mm

er ra

nge 1

50 m

iles n

orth

in th

e Hob

ack.

Th

is tr

ip, a

ptly

refe

rred

to as

the R

ed D

eser

t to

Hob

ack

Mig

ratio

n,

allo

ws t

he d

eer t

o ac

cess

hig

hly n

utrit

ious

fora

ge—

esse

ntia

l to

thei

r he

alth

and

surv

ival

—ov

er th

e cou

rse o

f sev

eral

mon

ths a

s the

sage

an

d gr

asse

s “gr

een

up” t

hrou

ghou

t the

sprin

g. M

ule d

eer a

re ex

trem

ely

faith

ful t

o th

eir m

igra

tion

rout

es, w

ith h

erds

trav

elin

g the

exac

t sam

e pa

ths y

ear a

fter y

ear.

Rec

ent s

cien

tific r

esea

rch

sugg

ests

the k

now

ledg

e of

mig

ratio

n ro

utes

is p

asse

d do

wn

from

one

gen

erat

ion

of d

eer t

o th

e nex

t, in

a co

ntin

uous

line

span

ning

cent

urie

s. St

udie

s also

show

th

at m

igra

tion

corr

idor

s are

thre

aten

ed b

y hum

an d

istur

banc

e and

de

velo

pmen

t, an

d th

at m

ule d

eer p

opul

atio

ns ac

ross

the s

tate

are i

n de

clin

e. Pr

otec

ting m

igra

tion

corr

idor

s and

cruc

ial w

inte

r ran

ge is

es

sent

ial t

o co

nser

ving

thes

e ico

nic h

erds

. The R

ed D

eser

t pro

vide

s so

me o

f the

ir la

st, b

est h

abita

t.

Nor

th A

mer

ica’

s L

arg

est

Liv

ing

San

d D

un

esR

ising

from

the s

outh

ern

Red

Des

ert l

ike a

mira

ge an

d str

etch

-in

g ove

r 109

,000

acre

s fro

m th

e Gre

en R

iver

Bas

in to

the G

reat

D

ivid

e Bas

in, t

he K

illpe

cker

San

d D

unes

are t

he la

rges

t liv

ing

dune

fiel

d in

Nor

th A

mer

ica.

Com

prise

d of

gra

nite

gro

und

dow

n by

gla

cier

s hig

h in

the W

ind

Riv

er M

ount

ains

, the

sand

ac

cum

ulat

ed o

n th

e ban

ks o

f the

Big

San

dy an

d Li

ttle S

andy

riv

ers d

owns

trea

m an

d w

as b

low

n ac

ross

the C

ontin

enta

l Div

ide

by w

este

rly w

inds

ove

r tho

usan

ds o

f yea

rs. E

ach

win

ter,

the s

and

colle

cts s

now

mel

t and

win

dblo

wn

ice d

epos

its, w

hich

supp

ort

the v

eget

atio

n th

at st

abili

zes t

he d

unes

. The c

olle

cted

wat

er

crea

tes e

phem

eral

oas

es in

the d

eser

t tha

t sus

tain

a su

rpris

ing

arra

y of w

ildlif

e, fro

m m

igra

tory

shor

ebird

s to

sala

man

ders

and

fresh

wat

er sh

rimp.

The d

unes

are a

lso a

have

n fo

r pro

ngho

rn,

mul

e dee

r, an

d a r

are d

eser

t elk

her

d. T

rave

lers m

ay h

ear t

he sa

nd

“sing

,” as

sand

aval

anch

ing o

ver t

he cr

esce

nt sh

aped

dun

es cr

eate

s a r

oarin

g, b

oom

ing s

ound

that

can

last

for s

ever

al m

inut

es.

Fasc

inat

ing

Geo

log

yTh

e lan

dsca

pes a

nd la

ndfo

rms i

n W

yom

ing’s

Nor

ther

n R

ed D

eser

t te

ll a d

ram

atic

stor

y of t

he ea

rth’s

rece

nt—

and

anci

ent—

geol

ogic

pr

oces

ses.

Som

e of t

he w

orld

’s ra

rest

rock

s and

min

eral

s are

foun

d in

the L

euci

te H

ills,

erod

ed re

mna

nts o

f a g

eolo

gica

lly yo

ung (

1-3

mill

ion

year

s old

) vol

cani

c fiel

d co

mpo

sed

mai

nly o

f a ro

ck ty

pe

calle

d ph

logo

pite

lam

proi

te. Th

ese v

olca

nic r

emna

nts n

ow fo

rm so

me

of th

e mos

t int

eres

ting f

orm

atio

ns o

f the

Nor

ther

n R

ed D

eser

t: Bo

ar’s

Tusk

, Nor

th an

d So

uth

Tabl

e Mou

ntai

ns, a

nd S

team

boat

Mou

ntai

n.

Thes

e vol

cani

c plu

gs, n

ecks

, dik

es, fl

ows,

and

cind

er co

nes e

rupt

ed

viol

ently

thro

ugh

the c

rust

from

sour

ces d

eep

in th

e ear

th’s

man

tle.

The c

olor

ful b

adla

nds o

f the

Hon

eyco

mb

Butt

es an

d Bu

sh R

im

are m

ade o

f sed

imen

tary

rock

s dep

osite

d al

ong

the f

ront

of t

he

activ

ely

risin

g W

ind

Riv

er M

ount

ains

arou

nd 5

0 m

illio

n ye

ars a

go.

A L

and

of M

any

Use

sTh

e Red

Des

ert h

as b

een

a mul

tiple

-use

land

scap

e for

thou

sand

s of

year

s. To

day,

peop

le u

se th

e des

ert f

or ev

eryt

hing

from

bac

kcou

ntry

ad

vent

ures

to o

il an

d ga

s pro

duct

ion.

The m

ajor

ity o

f the

se la

nds

are f

eder

al p

ublic

land

s, ow

ned

by al

l Am

eric

ans a

nd m

anag

ed b

y th

e Bur

eau

of L

and

Man

agem

ent f

or a

rang

e of p

urpo

ses.

Due

to it

s Se

reng

eti-l

ike w

ealth

of b

ig g

ame,

this

area

was

pro

pose

d to

be s

et

asid

e as a

nat

iona

l win

ter

gam

e pre

serv

e as f

ar b

ack

as

1898

. Sou

th P

ass C

ity S

tate

H

istor

ic S

ite at

the d

eser

t’s

nort

hern

edge

is a

hist

oric

“g

host

tow

n” fr

om th

e gol

d ru

sh d

ays o

f the

late

180

0s,

and

old

stage

and

freig

ht

road

s lea

ding

nor

th to

that

ar

ea cr

isscr

oss t

he sa

gebr

ush.

A

band

oned

ranc

hes d

ot

the l

ands

cape

and

serv

e as a

testa

men

t to

the d

ifficu

lty o

f eki

ng o

ut a

livin

g on

this

rugg

ed la

nd. C

urre

ntly,

wild

hor

se h

erds

are m

anag

ed

here

to as

sure

rang

e hea

lth, a

nd h

istor

ic tr

ails

and

Nat

ive A

mer

ican

cu

ltura

l site

s are

pro

tect

ed fo

r the

ir na

tiona

l her

itage

valu

es. T

oday

, m

uch

of th

e pub

lic la

nd in

the N

orth

ern

Red

Des

ert i

s lea

sed

for

graz

ing,

with

larg

e “al

lotm

ents”

requ

ired

to su

ppor

t the

scat

tere

d ca

ttle.

Visi

tors

may

enco

unte

r ran

cher

s che

ckin

g the

ir fe

nces

, hu

nter

s sco

utin

g the

ir ca

mps

, or o

il an

d ga

s wor

kers

nea

r the

sa

nd d

unes

serv

icin

g wel

ls. P

leas

e res

pect

the p

rivat

e pro

pert

y you

m

ay en

coun

ter o

n yo

ur tr

avel

s and

do

not d

istur

b liv

esto

ck.

A B

ack

cou

ntr

y R

ecre

atio

n P

layg

rou

nd

The R

ed D

eser

t boa

sts n

umer

ous o

ppor

tuni

ties f

or b

ackc

ount

ry

and

mot

oriz

ed re

crea

tion,

all o

f whi

ch ar

e eas

ily ac

cess

ible

from

R

ock

Sprin

gs, P

ined

ale,

and

Land

er. N

umer

ous d

irt ro

ads a

nd tw

o tr

acks

pro

vide

acce

ss to

this

rem

ote l

ands

cape

. Disp

erse

d ca

mpi

ng

is al

low

ed th

roug

hout

the a

rea.

The R

ed D

eser

t is p

rized

for i

ts

big g

ame h

untin

g—th

ere a

re ab

unda

nt d

eer,

pron

ghor

n, an

d el

k he

rds.

Its w

ild n

orth

ern

reac

hes s

how

case

a va

st ex

pans

e of f

ence

less

hi

gh-d

eser

t lan

dsca

pe, p

erfe

ct fo

r hor

seba

ck ri

ding

, mou

ntai

n bi

king

, lo

ng-d

istan

ce ru

nnin

g, an

d da

y hik

ing.

Tro

ut fi

shin

g is a

lso p

ossib

le

on th

e nea

rby S

wee

twat

er R

iver

. The d

eser

t’s n

umer

ous w

ilder

ness

st

udy a

reas

pro

vide

for g

reat

bac

kcou

ntry

cam

ping

bet

wee

n bu

ttes

an

d m

esas

or i

n as

pen

glad

es n

ear s

prin

g see

ps. F

arth

er so

uth,

nea

r the

de

sert

’s ic

onic

sand

dun

es, a

dev

elop

ed O

ff-R

oad

Vehi

cle (

ORV

) are

a is

perf

ect f

or th

ose i

nter

este

d in

mot

oriz

ed fu

n. W

ith m

ost o

f thi

s la

ndsc

ape l

arge

ly in

tact

and

cont

iguo

us w

ith th

e Gre

ater

Yel

low

ston

e Ec

osys

tem

, opp

ortu

nitie

s for

wild

life v

iew

ing a

boun

d. A

s muc

h of

the

dese

rt si

ts w

ell a

bove

7,0

00 fe

et in

elev

atio

n, ex

pect

to se

e sw

eepi

ng

view

s in

all d

irect

ions

—a p

hoto

grap

her’s

del

ight

. But

not

e tha

t the

re

al tr

eat c

omes

after

the s

hado

ws g

row

long

and

the s

un g

oes d

own:

th

e Red

Des

ert’s

nig

ht sk

y will

leav

e you

spee

chle

ss an

d hu

mbl

ed.

Oxi

datio

n an

d re

duct

ion

of ir

on-r

ich

min

eral

s ero

ded

from

the

risin

g m

ount

ains

, mix

ed w

ith as

h fr

om th

e Abs

arok

a vol

cani

c fiel

d to

the n

orth

, has

crea

ted

an ar

ray

of li

ght-

colo

red

clay

s tha

t mak

e up

the b

adla

nds.

The d

arke

r gra

y an

d br

own

laye

rs ab

ove t

he co

lorf

ul

badl

ands

are p

art o

f the

Gre

en R

iver

For

mat

ion,

dep

osite

d in

the

enor

mou

s Lak

e Gos

iute

and

its co

asta

l sw

amps

that

conc

entr

ated

da

rk o

rgan

ic m

atte

r. C

ontin

enta

l Pea

k an

d th

e Ore

gon

Butt

es ar

e also

mad

e of s

edim

en-

tary

rock

s tha

t are

laye

red

on to

p of

the G

reen

Riv

er F

orm

atio

n an

d sim

ilar i

n or

igin

, dep

osite

d in

lake

and

river

syst

ems a

nd m

ixed

with

as

h fro

m vo

lcan

ic er

uptio

ns to

the n

orth

. Thes

e lan

dmar

ks ar

e loc

ated

ju

st so

uth

of th

e maj

or fa

ult z

ones

resp

onsib

le fo

r the

upl

ift o

f the

W

ind

Riv

er M

ount

ains

and

subs

eque

nt d

own-

drop

ping

of t

he W

ind

Riv

er B

asin

.

On

the n

orth

ern

edge

of t

he R

ed D

eser

t lie

the o

ld m

inin

g to

wns

of S

outh

Pas

s City

and

Atla

ntic

City

. Dire

ctly

sout

h is

the

Swee

twat

er R

iver

Val

ley,

whi

ch p

rovi

ded

an ea

sy ro

ute t

o So

uth

Pass

and

the c

ross

ing o

f the

Roc

ky M

ount

ains

ove

r the

Con

tinen

tal

Div

ide.

The p

ass s

erve

d as

the p

rimar

y mou

ntai

n ga

tew

ay fr

om th

e ea

st to

the w

est f

or h

undr

eds o

f tho

usan

ds o

f em

igra

nts e

n ro

ute

to U

tah,

Cal

iforn

ia, o

r Ore

gon

in th

e 180

0s. T

oday

, visi

tors

can

still

see t

he n

etw

ork

of ru

tted

wag

on tr

ails

from

the t

hous

ands

of

settl

ers w

ho tr

aver

sed

this

land

-sc

ape.

The R

ed D

eser

t inc

lude

s se

ctio

ns o

f the

Ore

gon,

Cal

iforn

ia,

and

Mor

mon

Tra

ils as

wel

l as t

he

Pony

Exp

ress

mai

l rou

te b

etw

een

the e

ast a

nd w

est c

oast

s in

the

1860

s. Th

e nat

iona

l sig

nific

ance

of

Sout

h Pa

ss as

a th

orou

ghfa

re fo

r w

este

rn ex

pans

ion

is on

e rea

son

the a

rea h

as b

een

desig

nate

d as

a N

atio

nal H

istor

ic L

andm

ark.

hors

e-ba

sed

com

mer

ce th

at st

retc

hed

for m

iles a

cros

s Wyo

min

g’s

Gre

at D

ivid

e Bas

in. Th

e are

a is t

he an

cestr

al h

untin

g gro

unds

for

man

y trib

es an

d co

ntai

ns n

umer

ous c

ultu

ral a

nd h

oly s

ites.

Scat

tere

d th

roug

hout

the l

ands

cape

are t

hous

and-

year

-old

rock

art

sites

, and

ston

e circ

les w

ith sp

iritu

al si

gnifi

canc

e. T

ipi r

ings

, out

linin

g ca

mps

ites,

are e

vide

nt th

roug

hout

the r

egio

n. Th

e dra

mat

ic B

oar’s

Tu

sk is

stro

ngly

asso

ciat

ed w

ith th

e orig

ins o

f Sho

shon

e cul

ture

. Th

e Ind

ian

Gap

Tra

il, p

assin

g thr

ough

Indi

an G

ap, c

onne

cted

the

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nic

eru

pti

on

.

Ma

ny t

ha

nk

s t

o o

ur

sp

on

so

rs:

David Show

walter

Michelle Smith

Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism Amber WilsonRJ Pieper

Jennie Hutchinson

Oregon Buttes

Wyoming's red desert

Honeycomb Buttes

View from Tri-Territory area north toward the Wind River Mountains

Whi

te M

ount

ain

Petr

ogly

phs

Hon

eyco

mb

Butte

s

Sou

th P

ass

hist

oric

trai

ls

a B

oar’s

Tusk

&

Killp

ecke

r San

d D

unes

WSA

Tri-T

errit

ory

His

toric

al M

arke

r

✪

Ste

ambo

at M

ount

ain

and

Mul

e D

eer M

igra

tion

Coo

rdid

or

Jeff VanugaJeff Vanuga

Kathy Lichtendahl

Joe Riis

Red

Des

ert E

lk

Sage

Gro

use

Oregon Trail Photo File, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming

Mark Gocke

Ken

Drie

se

Nic

olau

s W

egne

r

Sout

h Pa

ss C

ity

Be Prepared

Julia Stuble

TM

For m

ore

info

, go

toR

ed

De

se

rt

.or

g

Anne Austin Design

Lan

der

Ch

ambe

r of

Com

mer

ce

TO

UR

ISM

AS

SET

D

EVEL

OPM

ENT

Win

dRiv

er.o

rgVi

sitP

ined

ale.

org

wyo

park

s.w

yo.g

ovla

nder

cham

ber.o

rgtra

velw

yom

ing.

com

wyo

outd

oorre

crea

tion.

wyo

.gov