Seminoe to Alcova Reservoir Backcountry Route
Desert crossing through Wyoming's uranium country.
This remote traverse connects Seminoe and Alcova reservoirs across 60 miles of classic Wyoming emptiness, following uranium prospectors’ trails through sagebrush flats and red sandstone breaks. The route threads between the Ferris and Seminoe mountains, passing abandoned uranium mills from the Cold War boom and homestead ruins where ranchers tried to scratch out a living. Watch for the technical descent into Sweetwater Canyon where flash floods have carved deep arroyos that’ll swallow a careless driver.
Difficult rating reflects navigation challenges more than technical driving — GPS is essential as two-tracks split constantly across BLM checkerboard land. Stock 4WD handles most sections, but carry recovery gear for sand traps and rocky washes. Spring and fall offer the best weather, avoiding summer’s furnace heat and winter’s brutal winds. No permits required, but check hunting seasons as this crosses prime antelope country. Fuel up in Rawlins — nothing but wind and silence out here.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 62 mi / 99.8 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7400 ft |
| Best season | April-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD |
| Nearest town | Rawlins, Wyoming |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4WD handle this route, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock 4WD is the listed minimum, but high clearance matters more than a lift here — rocky two-tracks and wash crossings will drag low-slung skid plates. A lightly built truck or 4Runner with all-terrain tires is the realistic floor; a bone-stock crossover-based 4WD will struggle.
When does this route typically open in spring and close in fall?
The window is roughly April through October. Spring mud after snowmelt can make the clay sections impassable even for capable rigs, so early April is a gamble — late April or May is safer. Snow can return by October and turns the surface greasy fast.
Do I need a permit to run this route or camp along it?
No permit required — this is BLM land and dispersed camping is allowed throughout. There are no fees. Follow Leave No Trace and stay on existing two-tracks; uranium mining history means some areas have legacy contamination, so don't camp in old tailings or disturbed industrial sites.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The roughest terrain comes in the mid-route desert crossings where wash crossings and loose rock combine with minimal trail definition — navigation errors here cost serious time. The water crossings on the Sweetwater River side can run deeper in spring; check depth before committing and have a recovery plan, because you're genuinely isolated for most of this 62 miles.
How far is the nearest gas, and should I carry extra fuel for this route?
Rawlins is your last reliable fuel stop before heading in — it's the nearest town and sits at the western end of the route. At 62 miles of slow, 4WD terrain, carry a minimum 5-gallon spare fuel can; there is zero cell service on this route, no bail-out towns, and no fuel between the two reservoirs.
Trail track
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