When you think of the Continental Divide in Wyoming, you probably picture majestic mountains, massive and solid, mightily drawing a dividing line through North America. That’s why it may be surprising to learn that there’s a hole in that colossal mountain range and that it’s right here in Wyoming. The hole is known as the Great Divide Basin, and it’s located in a high desert region of the mountains which, it turns out, is the perfect place for such an anomaly.

The Great Divide Basin is an intriguing bowl sitting in the Wyoming part of the mountain range that forms the Continental Divide.
John Zahorian/YouTube
Google Maps
The basin is located in the southcentral-ish part of the Cowboy State. About 20 miles southwest of Rawlins, Wyoming, the mountain range opens up, splitting off in two directions before coming together again near South Pass, forming the basin.
Wyoming Geological Survey/YouTube
Between 34 and 56 million years ago, a lake filled the Great Divide Basin as well as the Green River Basin.
Wyoming Geological Survey/YouTube
Lake Gosiute dried up millions of years ago but left behind silica and layers of rock that created the floors of both basins.
If you find yourself wondering, "What is the Continental Divide?" – well, the Continental Divide serves as a separating line for the water flow in the United States. Water from rain and snow falling on the west side of the mountain range flows into the Pacific Ocean while water on the east side flows into the Atlantic. However, precipitation falling into the Great Divide Basin doesn't drain directly or indirectly into either ocean.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr

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Exploring the Nature of Wyoming | UWyo Extension /YouTube
The way the basin retains water allows it to support a variety of wildlife in the arid desert region. In addition to rabbits and smaller rodents here at the WY Continental Divide, there are mule deer, elk, antelope...
USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Flickr
sage grouse, eagles, and hawks...
Continental Divide in Wyoming
Alan Krakauer/Flickr
and cougars, bobcats, and coyotes also call the Great Divide Basin home.
USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Flickr
The last known wild bison herd in Wyoming made the basin their home at the Continental Divide in WY, too.
Although there are no campgrounds in the Great Divide Basin, rock climbers, hikers, and other adventure-seekers enjoy setting up camp practically everywhere to spend a few nights in the stunning Wyoming wilderness.
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
Check out the Continental Divide Trail for a multi-day backpacking adventure.

Learn more about the Great Divide Basin and the Red Desert to help plan out your visit to the Continental Divide in Wyoming. AllTrails is also a great resource to use while planning.

What other fascinating natural features have you found in Wyoming? Tell us about them in the comments.

If you don’t know of any other awesome Wyoming features, check out these 11 Wyoming treasures! There’s so much to explore in this beautiful state.

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Continental Divide in WY

Rachel Raimondi | July 29, 2022

How many state parks are in Wyoming?

There are 12 state parks in Wyoming, all great for exploring. One we'd recommend further exploring is Buffalo Bill State Park, located in Cody. At this 11,000-acre park, some of the activities you can enjoy include:

  • Exploring the reservoir and dam, both named after William “Buffalo Bill” Frederick Cody, who is known for many things, but most especially for his expertise in killing buffalo in the 1860s.
  • Hiking
  • Biking
  • Swimming
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Visitor’s center, a must-stop for history buffs

 

What are the best waterparks in Wyoming?

There aren’t many waterparks in Wyoming. Among them, the one we'd recommend is Star Plunge, which is a must-visit. Located in Thermopolis in Hot Springs State Park, some of the things you’ll find there include:

  • water slides
  • an indoor and outdoor pool
  • a waterfall
  • hot tubs

 

Although there are only three water slides here, Super Star 500 is actually one of the largest water slides on the planet. And while there are only two pools here, both are hot mineral pools. And make sure you check out Vapor Cave.

What is the weather like in Wyoming in the summer?

While Wyoming experiences temperatures in the 80s and 90s in the summer, they don’t experience humidity, with the average in the summer staying in the 25–30 percent range. And the higher you go, the more the temperatures drop. Some mountainous areas only see a high of about 70 in July, the state’s hottest month. But no matter where you are, there are plenty of places to swim in Wyoming when it gets too hot.

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Great Divide Basin, Wyoming, USA