- Region
- Wyoming
- Country
- United States
- Best for
- backpacking, hiking, camping
- Best season
- Spring, Summer
- Permits
- Confirm permit requirements and applicable…
Plan with verified data
Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area (Units 71/72) trip tools
Tools for a trip here
Picked for how, when and where you're going. Free, no signup.
- Sleep System Temp CalculatorCold nights: check your bag and pad add up to a safe sleep.
- Bear Country Food StorageBear country: canister, Ursack or hang, and the local rules.
- Base Weight CalculatorEvery ounce is carried — total your kit and find your base weight.
- Pack Volume SizerSize the pack for your trip length and season.
- Water Purification MatrixTreat water from streams and lakes on trail.
How to get there
Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area (Units 71/72) is in Wyoming, United States. Its center point is 44.1525, -110.2384. Use these links for live turn-by-turn directions from where you are, then confirm road, trailhead and access conditions with the managing agency before you leave.
Wyoming · United States · Season: Fall hunting seasons
- Backpacking
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Climbing
- Winter Camping
- Skiing
- Wildlife Viewing
Overview
While technically a Wilderness Study Area (WSA) and not a full wilderness, Plateau Creek offers a genuine backcountry mule deer hunt in the remote west-central part of Wyoming. This area, west of Dubois, features a mix of sagebrush plateaus, timbered ridges, and rugged drainages. What makes it special is the relatively low hunting pressure and the resident deer herds that find refuge in the broken topography. Access is typically from primitive roads off Highway 26/287, requiring 3-7 mile pack-ins from the end of vehicle travel. Ideal season is the late archery or early rifle season (late September to mid-October), when bucks are often feeding in open areas before the rut. This hunt is suitable for experienced backpackers who are comfortable with off-trail travel and navigating diverse terrain. Standard Wyoming deer tags are required; no special wilderness permits are needed for WSA areas beyond standard BLM regulations. Trade-offs include the potential for limited water sources in higher, drier sections, some grizzly bear presence, and challenging navigation in areas without established trails. It's less 'alpine' than other entries, but equally demanding in its own way.
Why it stands out
Less-traveled area offering genuine backcountry experience
Good numbers of resident mule deer, with potential for quality bucks
Diverse terrain from sagebrush flats to timbered canyons
Opportunities for spot-and-stalk hunting in open country
Lower hunter density compared to more popular roaded units
Know before you go
Limited water availability in some areas, requiring careful planning
Grizzly bear presence, though less dense than true wilderness to the north
Few established trails, requiring proficient off-trail navigation
Exposure to sun and wind on open plateaus
Vehicle access can be limited by muddy or snow-covered primitive roads
Planning notes
Where: Wyoming, United States Best season: Fall hunting seasons Good for: Backpacking, Hiking, Camping, Wildlife Viewing Featured on: Top 10 High-Country Mule Deer Backpacking Units in Wyoming (#10) Access point: Plateau Creek, Wyoming, USA
Check current permits, closures and fire restrictions with the managing agency before you commit to dates.
Field notes
- Less-traveled area offering genuine backcountry experience
- Good numbers of resident mule deer, with potential for quality bucks
- Diverse terrain from sagebrush flats to timbered canyons
- Opportunities for spot-and-stalk hunting in open country
- Lower hunter density compared to more popular roaded units
Where on earth
Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area (Units 71/72), United States. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.
Coordinates
- Decimal degrees
- 44.1525, -110.2384
- Latitude (DMS)
- 44° 9′ 9.0″ N
- Longitude (DMS)
- 110° 14′ 18.4″ W
Coordinates are an access-point reference for Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area (Units 71/72), not a route. Carry a paper map and confirm trailhead or put-in access with the managing agency before you go.
Topic summary
While technically a Wilderness Study Area (WSA) and not a full wilderness, Plateau Creek offers a genuine backcountry mule deer hunt in the remote west-central part of Wyoming.
Key takeaways
- Region: Wyoming
- Country: United States
- Best season: Fall hunting seasons
- Good for: backpacking, hiking, camping, wildlife viewing
- Coordinates: 44.153, -110.238
Intended uses
- backpacking
- hiking
- camping
- wildlife viewing
Climate suitability
Fall hunting seasons
Keep planning
Popular pursuits at Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area (Units 71/72)
- Backpacking
Multi-day travel with everything on your back — see the packing blocks below.
- Hiking
Day miles on marked trail, with route notes and trail links below.
- Hunting
Seasons, tags, and the units that hold animals.
- Climbing
Rock and alpine lines with approach beta.
- Winter Camping
Cold-season travel and camp craft; layering matters more than mileage.
- Skiing
Ski-touring access when the road closes for the season.
Animals around Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area (Units 71/72)
Destination identity needs confirmation
Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area (Units 71/72) cannot be reliably identified here as a specific Wyoming destination. Its location, unit boundaries, managing agency, and public approach remain unconfirmed. Owl Creek Wilderness Study Area is a separately named area in Hot Springs County; it should not be treated as another name for Plateau Creek or used to assign details to Units 71/72. That distinction matters when choosing a trailhead, checking land ownership, or determining which travel restrictions apply. Before building an itinerary, confirm the full destination name and unit numbers with the responsible land-management office. Ask for a current boundary map and an identified public access route. Until that identity is settled, a destination-specific driving plan or hiking route would risk directing visitors to the wrong place.
Owl Creek is a distinct landscape
For distinguishing the two names, Owl Creek Wilderness Study Area has a specific geographic setting: 710 acres in three units along the major ridge dividing Rock Creek from the South Fork of Owl Creek, adjacent to the Washakie Wilderness Area. Its terrain is rugged, with steep draws, substantial vegetative cover, and elevations from 9,000 to 10,900 feet. Deer, moose, elk, bears, and bighorn sheep use this remote habitat. These are characteristics of Owl Creek, not established characteristics of Plateau Creek Units 71/72. They should therefore not be used to estimate the requested destination’s elevation, terrain, wildlife conditions, or effort. If Owl Creek was the intended destination, confirm that correction before making practical decisions about access, equipment, or an overnight itinerary.
Access and trip planning remain unresolved
No trailhead, road approach, route length, or driving time can be assigned confidently to Plateau Creek Units 71/72. Owl Creek has access from the north through the Shoshone National Forest trail system, but that approach is not an established way into the requested destination. Likewise, Owl Creek’s prohibitions on motorized and mechanized equipment and its closure to mineral entry, including gold panning, must not be transferred to a differently named area without confirmation. For Plateau Creek, confirm access rules and any permit requirements with the managing agency once its identity is established. Request clarification of the unit boundaries and legal approach before selecting a route. Keeping those questions unresolved is more useful than presenting a nearby area’s instructions as a verified trip plan.
Sample itineraries
- Destination and boundary verification · 1 day
Use this as a planning day, not a field itinerary. Ask the Bureau of Land Management to confirm the name Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area, the meaning of Units 71/72, and the applicable boundary map before selecting an outing.
- Access and trip verification · 1 day
After confirming the destination, establish legal public access, current conditions, and applicable recreation rules with the managing agency. A hiking route or overnight itinerary cannot be specified reliably for this location.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
Not established
Destination-specific spring conditions are unconfirmed. Ask the managing agency about current access and ground conditions before scheduling a visit.
Summer
Not established
No summer travel window is established for this destination. Confirm local conditions and access rather than assuming summer makes a route suitable.
Fall
Not established
Destination-specific fall conditions are unconfirmed. Obtain a current local assessment before choosing travel dates or an overnight plan.
Winter
Not established
Winter access and travel suitability are unconfirmed. Do not treat winter recreation options elsewhere in Wyoming as applicable here.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Not established | Destination-specific spring conditions are unconfirmed. Ask the managing agency about current access and ground conditions before scheduling a visit. |
| Summer | Not established | No summer travel window is established for this destination. Confirm local conditions and access rather than assuming summer makes a route suitable. |
| Fall | Not established | Destination-specific fall conditions are unconfirmed. Obtain a current local assessment before choosing travel dates or an overnight plan. |
| Winter | Not established | Winter access and travel suitability are unconfirmed. Do not treat winter recreation options elsewhere in Wyoming as applicable here. |
Permits, fees & closures
Confirm permit requirements and applicable recreation rules with the managing agency after verifying the destination name and unit boundaries.
Official source: Programs: National Conservation Lands: Wyoming: Owl Creek WSA · Verified September 19, 2026
Hazards & regulations
- Destination-identification risk: Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area and Units 71/72 have not been verified; using another area's directions could lead to the wrong location.
- Access uncertainty: no destination-specific access point or route is established here. Verify legal public access before departure.
- Conditions uncertainty: terrain, weather exposure, and road conditions have not been established for this destination; a site-specific safety assessment is still needed.
What to pack for Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area (Units 71/72)
- Agency-confirmed boundary map
- Written clarification of Units 71/72
- Verified public-access directions
- Managing-agency contact information
- Current local conditions report
- Equipment checklist tailored to the confirmed route and season
Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area (Units 71/72) FAQ
- Is this destination confirmed?
- The identity and boundaries of Plateau Creek Wilderness Study Area (Units 71/72) remain unconfirmed. A reliable place-specific field profile requires that clarification.
- Is Owl Creek Wilderness Study Area the same place?
- That equivalence is not established. Owl Creek Wilderness Study Area is a separately named area in Hot Springs County; its access instructions and restrictions should not be assigned to Plateau Creek.
- Where should a visit start?
- No trailhead or access point can be specified reliably. Ask the Bureau of Land Management to identify the destination and the appropriate managing office before choosing a starting point.
- Can an overnight trip be planned?
- Not reliably until the location, legal access, camping rules, and local conditions are confirmed. The planning outlines above are not verified hiking or camping itineraries.
- Which wildlife species occur here?
- No destination-specific wildlife list is established. Species documented at Owl Creek or Yellowstone should not automatically be attributed to this location.