Great Divide Basin

The Great Divide Basin is an endorheic basin in Wyoming, a high desert area spanning thousands of square miles at high elevation where water never reaches the ocean. Instead, water evaporates or pools in shallow lakes within the enclosed landscape.

In the 1800s, pioneers deliberately avoided crossing this basin during westward expansion, choosing safer routes through South Pass and Bridger Pass instead. This choice kept many settlers away from the harsh terrain of the enclosed landscape.

The region contains numerous petroglyphs and archaeological sites that reveal centuries of human presence in this challenging desert environment. Visitors can still discover these traces of earlier inhabitants at various locations today.

Interstate 80 crosses the basin from east to west, offering the main access route through the region. Wamsutter is the only significant town where travelers can find water, fuel, and other supplies they might need.

The Killpecker Dunes form a dynamic system of sand dunes that slowly shift eastward from Essex Mountain over time. During summer months, these shifting dunes create temporary seasonal marshes and shallow pools.