Chilton Road To Killpecker Sand Dunes - Level 1
Chilton Road is a county road that runs north from the Rock Springs area into the Red Desert and ends at the Killpecker Sand Dunes. It is the main way in for visitors heading to the dune field, and it is used by campers, riders and sightseers.
The country is open, remote and sparsely populated. Cell service is spotty along the route, so plan to be self-sufficient.
Trail Summary
- LocationSweetwater County, Wyoming
- Distance22.9 miles
- DifficultyLevel 1
- Elevation6,345 ft to 7,133 ft with a 788 ft change
- Travel Time55 minutes
Difficulty
Suitable for high clearance 2WD
This trail is rated Easy (level 1), suitable for high clearance 2WD. Stock equipment is enough and no special gear is needed. Expect dirt and rocky road with obstacles under 5 inches, such as small rocks, dips or ruts, and gentle grades with good traction. The road is usually two vehicles wide and is safe for most 4WD and high clearance 2WD vehicles. The driver's log did not call out any obstacles that need special attention. Conditions change with weather. The clay soils turn muddy and can become impassable when wet, and county notices have warned of soft road shoulders and a roadbed that can narrow quickly to a single lane.
Terrain
The road is a wide, packed dirt and gravel county road across high desert sagebrush country. The soils are clay-based, so the surface is firm when dry but slick and soft after rain or snowmelt. Washouts have occurred in the past in the canyon country north of Rock Springs, so check conditions after storms. Toward the end the road reaches the edge of the dune field, where the surface changes to loose sand and open terrain.
Highlights
The Killpecker dunes are among the largest active dune fields in the United States and keep moving east across the Continental Divide into the Great Divide Basin. Some dunes reach about 100 feet high. In spring and early summer, snowmelt can form pools between the dunes that attract wildlife, and sage grouse are commonly seen in the surrounding desert. A large free campground with tables, fire rings and a vault toilet sits at the end of the road before the dunes. The White Mountain Petroglyphs can be reached by a side trip, about 8 miles southwest along Chilton Road from the dunes.
Trail GPS File
Map
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