Muddy Creek Backcountry Road

Muddy Creek Backcountry Road winds through the heart of Wyoming’s Red Desert, following an ancient watercourse through eroded badlands and fossil-rich sedimentary outcrops. This Bureau of Land Management route provides access to some of the West’s most productive fossil beds, where amateur paleontologists regularly discover dinosaur bones and petrified wood. The track passes through classic high desert terrain—rolling sage flats punctuated by colorful badland formations that glow orange and red at sunset.

Moderate difficulty for stock high-clearance vehicles, though soft sand and clay sections can trap 2WD rigs after storms. The route is passable year-round but best in spring and fall when temperatures are bearable. No shade or water for the entire route, so pack accordingly. Dispersed camping is allowed, making this an ideal basecamp for fossil hunting and desert photography. This is authentic Wyoming backcountry—vast, empty, and beautiful in that stark high desert way that gets under your skin.