Lonesome Highway — Centennial Hills to Muddy Gap via the Great Divide Basin Rim
No rivers, no crowds — just basin and sky.
The Great Divide Basin is one of the strangest pieces of geography in the American West — a hydrologic closed basin straddling the Continental Divide where water simply disappears into the desert floor. This route runs from the low, sagebrush-choked flats north of Rawlins southeast toward Muddy Gap, tracking the basin’s northern rim via BLM two-track and county road through some of Wyoming’s most desolate and overlooked country. The Wild Horse Scenic Loop spur near Adobe Town adds a legitimate highlight — ancient wild horse herds, eroded badland formations, and zero other rigs. Expect washboard, loose gravel, and the kind of silence that gets inside your skull.
Difficulty is moderate with a stock high-clearance 4WD — the terrain isn’t technical but the isolation is real. Nearest fuel is Rawlins to the north or Jeffrey City to the west, both roughly 40-60 miles out. No water on route; carry everything you need. Best run May through October — spring mud can shut BLM roads without warning, and winter turns this place into a frozen, empty shell. Dispersed camping is legal throughout BLM land here. What you get is Wyoming stripped bare: sky, grass, wind, and the eerie satisfaction of driving a place most people will never think to look for.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 68 mi / 109.4 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7200 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Rawlins, WY |
| Land manager | BLM Rawlins Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Rawlins Field Office |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Wrangler handle this without any mods?
Yes. A stock 4WD high-clearance vehicle is the minimum and it's sufficient for this route. The dirt and gravel surface is rough in spots but nothing requires lockers or a lift — just don't bring a Subaru Outback and expect a good time.
When does the trail become impassable and what closes it out?
Best window is May through October. Spring mud can make sections of Wyoming basin clay genuinely impassable even for 4WD, and early snowfall can hit by late October. Check conditions with the BLM Rawlins Field Office before a shoulder-season run.
Do you need a permit to drive this route or camp out here?
No permit required. The route crosses BLM land managed by the Rawlins Field Office and dispersed camping is allowed under standard BLM rules — 14-day limit, 200 feet from water sources and roads, pack out everything.
What's the hardest section and what does it actually throw at you?
There's no single brutal obstacle — the challenge is cumulative. Washboarded gravel, soft sandy stretches near the basin floor, and exposed high-desert conditions with zero shade or shelter if something goes sideways. Wind is relentless and can be disorienting on the open rim sections.
How much fuel do I need and where's the last reliable gas before the route?
The route is 68 miles of remote driving with no services whatsoever — fuel up in Rawlins before you leave. Factor in extra for detours, slow going on rough sections, and the drive back to pavement; leaving with less than a half tank is a bad plan out here.
Trail track
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