Today we are going to visit the remote and little known HMA of Rock Creek Mountain - this HMA is fairly remote, challenging to access, and not all that well visited by wild horse photographers or advocates.

I have visited here more accidentally than intentionally over the years, in the beginning of my wild horse adventures there were no good HMA maps to be had by the public, and then as my heart longed more to be in the Red Desert than anywhere else, my travels to this land were on rare days that I mostly took in the vistas and did not keep track of exact HMA lines across the complex.

As more detailed maps were shared with me, as my attention was drawn into this complex due to a roundup and removal, and because some days it just called to me, I began to document more carefully the wild horses and learn more of their land and the boundaries between each HMA.

I am a long way from being an expert of this particular HMA, but have travelled it enough to know it is a land worth knowing, the horses here are beautiful and unusually spirited, and I hope this blog inspires your adventurous spirit to visit!

Rock Creek Mountain - most often referred to simply as Rock Creek, is one of the smaller HMAs, with little more than 24 thousand acres, and with a low AML of 50 and high AML of 86 mustangs the herd health of this HMA is very dependent on the ability of the horses to wander between and mix with the three surrounding HMAs of Conant Creek, Muskrat Basin, and Dishpan Butte.

Rock Creek is at the heart of the North Lander Complex, bordered by all three of the other HMAs, as well as two large tracts of private land that make it slightly more challenging to access and explore...

There are only a handful of 2-tracks into this HMA and we want to be aware of and careful not to trespass onto the private land, remember our actions reflect our character, and it does wild horses no favors if we are seen behaving badly.

The terrain of Rock Creek is colorful badland hills and long sloping grassy pastures, it runs along part of Cedar Rim between Muskrat Basin and Dishpan Butte, and then it wanders off into some very colorful rocky hills with deep draws where natural springs keep grasses green long into summer.

The horses I have met here are mostly spirited bays and flashy sorrels, a few greys and roans, and then there are the pintos - wow! Not many pintos... but they are quite something to see when you do spy them from far away and with absolutely no chance of catching them on camera.... and the wild attitude in this HMA - again - wow!!

Despite the fact that the genetic survivability of this HMAs horses depends on them mixing with the surrounding HMAs, there is something very unique in these horses that stays true to their small herd - or maybe it is because they are at the heart of the complex with the ability to so easily mix with all three of the other HMAs that makes them so unique in their looks and spirit!

Now - to start our adventure... we are going to start with the 'easiest' way I know!

We are going to begin today from the town of Riverton.... fill up your rig and make sure you have snacks and extra water before leaving town!

You are going to head east on Gas Hills Rd / Hwy 136 out of town, the same way as you did for your adventure in Conant Creek and Muskrat Basin HMAs - you are in fact going to go through Muskrat Basin to get into Rock Creek.

Drive about 22 miles east on Gas Hills Rd, you will pass across Conant Creek (the actual creek) and be looking for a decent 2-track on your right (south) just past the creek and corrals, there is a gate to go through but it is an easy gate to open and close - PLEASE - make sure to properly close it behind you so as to avoid letting any mustangs out on the highway!

This 2-track is fairly decent to drive, there are some bumps and ruts along the way but nothing terribly serious, I would not take a passenger car this way but a rig with reasonable clearance and good tires will get you through Muskrat Basin and a good distance into Rock Creek - once you begin exploring in the HMA itself you will find a good 4x4 is best to avoid any situations that end unhappily.

The above map shows the 2-track entrance just to the east of the creek and corrals where you turn from Gas Hills Rd onto the 2-track that will take you into Rock Creek... you are going to follow to the right when you go through the gate and then follow the track as it slowly climbs into the hills, there are many 2-tracks along the way but if you stick to the most well-used track you should be on track to Rock Creek

Below is a rough idea of the route you will travel on that 2-track through Muskrat Basin and into Rock Creek - not precise or pretty cause my skills are not quite that awesome, but it gives you an idea of what that drive will look like.

It is just about 10 miles from the highway to the border of Rock Creek Mountain - remember - all of this road is passing through Muskrat Basin HMA, and the odds are fair that you may see wild horses along the way, and it is a beautiful drive so take your time and enjoy the vistas!

**One note is that along the way you will see what appears to be a main road joining up with this 2-track, it is tempting to think this might be an easier way in, but it is only a road that cuts across to the ranch property.

Below is a map screenshot of when you cross into Rock Creek from Muskrat Basin on this 2-track, as you can see the track itself does not go terribly far south into the HMA, and to the west is private property.

The private property is easily identified as it is fenced so you won't have to do much detective work to stay on public lands, you will need to open a gate to enter into Rock Creek Mountain HMA and that is BLM public land so no worries there, it was a pretty easy gate to open and close, and yes I do close gates even within the HMA complex due to cattle grazing allotments, especially in summer and early fall months.

Once you have gone through this gate you have only a short bit before hitting the T in the road where you are going to hang a right (west) to further explore this amazing HMA.... if you are like me and make stops for scenic views and to glass for mustangs this is actually a good stopping spot.

If you park there at the T and walk up the hill you will find yourself walking out to a small rocky outcropping that allows you to see for miles into Rock Creek and Muskrat Basin - and if you are into rocks keep an eye out for some pretty ones here!

**If you make it to here you are going to see vehicle tracks driving up the hill where I suggest walking.... please don't follow them with your rig, this is not an actual 2-track that goes anywhere and driving across here only damages sage and other habitat, for no better reason than to not walk a few hundred feet.

If you have the right rig and a good sense of adventure there is a lot of exploring to be had now.... there are several 2-tracks that take off along the way heading towards Cedar Rim to your south, and the 2-track you came in on will eventually take you across and out to Conant Creek HMA.

But... you really do need a 4x4 rig with clearance and that sense of adventure! I have not been all the way through as my current rig is just a bit too big to make it through the washes and narrowness of this trail.

And it is in this wilderness you will most likely see wild horses.... they love the rough country - the deeper into the hills and washes I got the more sign there was of these wild beings, with some watching me from their hills before galloping away to where there are only mustang and deer trails to follow.

The above map shows the border of Rock Creek and Conant Creek HMAs, if you make it this far you have only a few miles to Oil Springs Rd, and once you make it to that road you can either go out to Gas Hills Rd and Riverton, or to Hwy 135 and back to Riverton - or wherever your next adventure may be calling you!

The below map gives you some idea of the trail you take out through Conant Creek HMA, I have been at the beginning of this trail and while it starts out as a pretty good road, it got fairly rutted and washed out within a few miles, and it is my guess the trail only gets more 'interesting' as it enters into some sketchy and tough territory.

Soon I will be back with a rig more appropriate for this territory though, there is something here that words cannot describe, it touches the human soul in a way that is remarkable and lasting.

And the landscape.... it may be just me, but the vistas are one of a kind gorgeous!

Okay - onto the next 2-track trail into Rock Creek!

This 2-track is just about 3.6miles to the east of the one we just explored, so go past Conant Creek (the actual creek), the corrals, the 2-track with the gate, and you are now looking for a decent 2-track with a cattle guard entrance.

This 2-track is well used, gets extremely dusty in summer, has deep ruts in places, some rocky stretches once you reach the ridges and are closer to the rim, so while it is a well used 2-track you will want to make sure your rig has clearance and good tires.

It is about 13 miles of driving this track through Muskrat Basin before you will reach the border of Rock Creek, remember there are wild horses along the way as you pass through Muskrat Basin, they often are tucked in the valley hills in small bands, so you will have to watch closely to spy them.

At the HMA border there is a fence and gate.... and this gate is tight!!

My first trip here was in winter and the gate was open so I had no worries, but on another day the gate was up and BLM staff had to open it and let me out (they had just put the fence back up after roundup operations) - so be cautious here, if the gate is open and for some reason it gets shut behind you it may be a little extra in your adventure getting out!

This 2-track into Rock Creek goes a bit until you are nearly to Cedar Rim, and it looks like it might even take you up the rim - I can tell you from my travels across the rim itself that there is no road that a regular rig can follow from here to the top of the rim - maaayyybe an ATV could make it to the top, maybe.

I like this little corner of the HMA, I have not found any 2-tracks that will take you all the way across the bottom of the rim in the HMA, they may be there and I just have not played around enough, but I think the terrain here sees a lot of washouts as there are deep draws and badland hills that erode away very easily.

Even though there is not a lot of trails to travel, unless you hike wild horse trails, it is very pretty and has a wonderful feeling of being so very far away from the rest of the world - which is one of the things I love most about adventures in wild horse lands!

The above map gives you some idea of the direction you travel across Muskrat Basin and up to Rock Creek, as you can see a short part of the trek borders along private property, I think there is a fence there but cannot remember for sure, so just be cautious if you take off exploring along the way to not trespass - there is SO much BLM public land here that you really are not going to be very limited by the private lands.

Okay, so now you know the 'easy' trails in to visit Rock Creek Mountain.... lets talk about the other best way to visit this HMA - this trek is going in via the 2-track known as Cedar Rim Rd, and you can go in either from the west through Dishpan Butte HMA, or from the east through Muskrat Basin HMA.

The beauty of this route is that you do not have to double back to leave, unless you want to, as Cedar Rim Rd travels all the way through from Ore Rd in Muskrat Basin, crossing a few miles of Rock Creek, and then out to Hwy 135 in Dishpan Butte.

It is a beautiful drive along a 2-track trail that travels through three different HMAs, but be aware and prepared for the trail to get quite a bit extra in a few spots, you will want a 4x4 with good clearance, excellent tires, and some 4x4 experience!

My favorite way to go across Cedar Rim is traveling east to west.... either way is beautiful, but I love having the Wind River Mtns filling the horizon as I drive along searching for the wild horses.

So we will go this way.... you can get to our starting point from Riverton by taking Gas Hills Rd out to Ore Rd and traveling south until you reach the top of the rim.

Or - you can take Ore Rd in from Jeffrey City along Hwy 287 and drive north until you reach the top of the rim.

It is fairly obvious when you reach the top of the rim by the views you have here.... and because the road suddenly leads down into the lower land.

But also - if you are directionally challenged like me - there is a sign telling you that Cedar Rim Rd (hopefully as sometimes BLM signs get knocked down or otherwise disappear) is on the west side of the main dirt road you just travelled.

Remember that as you are travelling to this point you are in the wild horse territory of Muskrat Basin so keep an eye out for those wild horses and stop to enjoy their company should they greet you!

You made it to the rim and now are turning onto Cedar Rim road and heading west, traveling still in the wild horse country of Muskrat Basin, as it is several miles before we reach the border of Rock Creek Mountain HMA.

It is a beautiful drive, especially in early summer with wild flowers and the land is usually an incredible emerald green stretching as far as you can see, the Wind River Mountains filling your distant sky, often with snow still dusting their peaks.

Just know that while this road starts out pretty easy, it changes in a few miles as rocks begin to gather on the trails, requiring you to slow down and maneuver through a few rutted spots - please make sure to have at least one spare tire with you on this trek!

And because it is a track that should to be taken slowly just settle in and enjoy the vistas and company of wild things along the way to your destination.

After miles of long vistas, and hopefully seeing a few of those stunning Muskrat Basin mustangs, you will find yourself crossing a cattle guard and into the wild horse land of Rock Creek Mountain!

As much as I love this drive, I must warn you, there is no guarantee of seeing horses through here.... like less than in any wild horse land I know - I have driven it many times and only a few times actually observed mustangs in this area.

It is only the very southern edge of the HMA after all, and with the fence blocking travel between Rock Creek and the other two HMAs here most of the year, the horses just don't have a lot of reason to be along here, especially if water is scarce and they are staying closer to the water holes below the rim.

But.... there are other days I have seen wild horses through here, after the 2024 roundup and removal there were several horses in this land - more than I had ever seen previously.

Something me and the Wild Horse Specialist argued about, as he claimed Rock Creek had more horses than stated during the roundup operations, and he returned 10 less horses after the roundup than had been stated by him to be returned to the wild, with his refusal to consider that the mustangs of the entire North Lander Complex had been disrupted by the helicopter movement and that they were moving between HMAs in a way that made counting them on one day in one place unreasonable - it is one of the many things me and the Lander office disagree on.

It is my absolute belief, after documenting both prior to the removal and immediately after, that they left fewer horses overall in the complex than should have been.

So anyways... you are able to travel a few miles along the southern edge of Rock Creek, with some of the rim itself being a part of the HMA, not very many 2-tracks to safely travel here, so if you want to explore more it will likely have to be by hiking.

If you do hike and are into rocks make sure to bring something with you to stow away the pretty rocks that call you name!

As you continue to drive along the rim find a place that you can park and use your binoculars to look for horses below you.... you won't be able to get to them without some careful hiking, and most of these horses go on alert the second they see you, not really allowing for getting very close to them.

Look for the natural springs or water holes and then look about on the hills near the water.... you may get lucky and spy the small family bands that wander about here - the horses of this HMA do not seem to hang out in big groups, but rather prefer their small individual family bands.

As you continue along you will come down into a small draw, the above map shows one of those natural springs, there is a gate in the fence there that I have always seen closed due to it being summer when I travel through here, and there are often cows hanging around because of the water.

The last time I was here the road got really very.... interesting?

I took it twice in 2024, scared myself but got through it alone the 1st trip, and on the 2nd trip my hubby said it really was not safe but I told him I already did it once so we were gonna get through it - I was stubborn about it because at this point it is closer to the highway than turning around and going back to the main dirt road we started at.

So my warning is, be cautious when coming around the corner and heading down this part of the road - a wrong move and you are either rolling off the road completely and down the draw, or you are bumper and axle deep in a wash out with the other half of your rig hanging in the air.

There is maybe a small chance the BLM will repair the road, but this is a very remote area and really truly not a lot of reason to repair it as most people out this far are in ATVs or 4x4s built for these kind of washed out tipsy roads.

Okay, so you made it through the interesting section of the road and are continuing on west... I hope that you found a place to stop and take in the beauty that is Rock Creek Mountain, it is to me one of the most beautiful lands with its colorful hills, rocky bluffs, and wildly wild horses!

In studying the land while out there, as well as maps at home, I think having an ATV is the best bet to explore this land more, and I hope to soon have one of those for my adventures, but there is also a part of me that likes the mystery of the unknown and hopes that there are always places where wild horses may go that no human can stumble into and infringe on their private wild life.

As you travel along the 2-track begins to turn away from the rim and more southerly, you will soon be crossing another cattle guard and leaving this HMA, once you cross the cattle guard you will have entered into the wild horse land of Dishpan Butte and are only a few miles from a highway!

As you travel out the 2-track turns into more of a road - kind of, there are some rutted and washed out spots you will need to maneuver through, there is one stretch that requires some careful travel as there are sharp rocks and is also boggy if the snow is still melting or there have been heavy rains... be cautious and walk it if you are unsure, you do not want to bury your rig in mud and puncture a tire all in the same day - that would be an unhappy ending!

There are other 2-tracks veering off from the main road that continue on around the rim if you are wanting to take this adventure a little deeper and have time to stay out here, maybe even find a place to camp out under the stars!

I have not taken those 2-tracks so cannot give any insight as to what may be there.... but if you are like me, the idea of the unknown is exciting and far too tempting when we have the chance to explore!

And remember, you may have left Rock Creek Mountain but you are still in wild horse territory, you may find yourself in the company of Dishpan Butte mustangs!

And that is it...that is my best advice on how to explore and find your own adventure in the wild horse country of Rock Creek Mountain - I hope it was enough to spark your imagination and that you are already planning your trip here!

The very ruggedness and remoteness are what makes this land so incredibly amazing to me, and the wildly wild horses that watch you from their hills before lifting their tails high in the wind as they gallop away, glancing at you over their shoulder... well - they are what makes it a magical land.