Trans-America Trail — Rawlins to Dubois via the Wyoming Basin and Wind River Range
200 miles of Wyoming with nobody watching.
This stretch of the Trans-America Trail covers some of the loneliest country in the lower 48. Rolling east out of Rawlins, the route crosses the Great Divide Basin — a closed hydrological basin where water has nowhere to go — before pushing north through the Red Desert and into the foothills of the Wind River Range above Dubois. You’ll cross Bureau of Land Management two-track through open sage flats where pronghorn outnumber people by a thousand to one. The segment passes through the Sweetwater River drainage and edges close to Jeffrey City, a near-ghost town that still has a gas pump on a good day. High-clearance gravel, some loose shale climbs, and creek crossings define the terrain. No dramatic rock crawling — the challenge here is distance, isolation, and the sheer size of the landscape.
This is a moderate TAT segment suited to stock high-clearance 4WDs or adventure motorcycles. Fuel is the critical concern — carry extra between Rawlins and Dubois, as services are thin. Cell service drops out fast once you leave Rawlins. Best season is June through September; spring mud and early fall snow are real threats. No permits required on BLM land. Dispersed camping is legal and wide open across most of the route. The Wind River Range fills the entire northern horizon as you close in on Dubois — it earns every dusty mile.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 200 mi / 322 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7800 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock high-clearance 4WD or ADV motorcycle |
| Nearest town | Rawlins, WY |
| Land manager | BLM Wyoming — Rawlins Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Rawlins Field Office Trans-America Trail official site |
| 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 stretch without modifications?
Yes — a stock high-clearance 4WD gets through without issue under normal summer conditions. Aired-down tires help on the washboard gravel sections, but this segment doesn't demand lockers or a lift.
When does this segment actually open up and when should you be off it?
June through September is the reliable window. Snow can linger into late May at elevation and return by October — the Wind River front range sections get hit first. Don't push shoulder season without checking current conditions with the BLM Rawlins Field Office.
Do you need a permit to run this segment?
No permit required for driving through BLM land on this route. Dispersed camping on BLM is free and legal with a 14-day stay limit per site. If you drift onto any Wind River Reservation land near Dubois, respect posted boundaries — that's private and tribal land, not open range.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it tough?
The roughest stretch is typically the two-track through the Wyoming Basin south of Lander — long washboard, occasional soft shoulders, and zero bailout options for 40+ miles at a stretch. It's not technically difficult, but the remoteness and monotony will punish a vehicle that's not mechanically sound.
How do you handle water and fuel across 200 miles with no cell service?
Carry at minimum 5 gallons of extra fuel — Rawlins and Dubois are your only reliable fill-up points, and there's nothing in between. Water crossings exist but are not reliable drinking sources; bring your own or have a filter. Assume zero cell service the entire route and plan your comms accordingly.
Trail track
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