To the north and stretching more than 70 miles between the town of Eden and the Green Mountains is the Red Desert, an area of moving sand dunes second in size only to the Sahara Desert. Of archeological and geological interest, the Sands, as the region is known, has produced evidence of human habitation as far back as 5000 B.C.
Petroglyphs and pictographs adorn the walls of rock outcrops in Cedar, Pine and Killpecker canyons and White Mountain. Visitors also can see evidence of prehistoric Wyoming at Western Wyoming Community College, which maintains a collection of fossils.
Boars Tusk, a volcanic monolith, rises 400 feet above Killpecker Valley at the edge of the Sands. The rock tower, 28 miles north of Rock Springs, is visible from US 191.
The Red Desert is home to one of the nation's largest herds of wild horses. To control the size of the herds, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducts roundups; Mustangs captured by the BLM are kept at Rock Springs' Wild Horse Holding Facility, which conducts an Adopt-a-Horse program; phone (307) 352-0292. The Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop provides views of these creatures; the dirt road has markers and covers some 23 miles.
Note: When traveling in desert areas, be sure to start with a full tank of gas and plenty of food and water. Off-road vehicles and cellphones are recommended for travel in remote areas.
Visitor Centers
Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce 1897 Dewar Dr. Rock Springs, WY 82901. Phone:(307)362-3771
Self-guiding Tours
A self-guiding walking tour of downtown Rock Springs covers sites related to the community's coal mining history. Brochures are available at the chamber of commerce.