[2] Due to its remoteness and harsh terrain, settlements did not appear in the future Wayne County until the 1880s.

After the two rivers join, the combined southwestern flow forms the remaining portion of the county's eastern border.

The central part of the county is drained by the Fremont River and Muddy Creek.

It joins the Muddy near Hanksville to form the Dirty Devil River, which flows southeastward out of the county's southern border to discharge into Colorado.

Wayne County terrain varies from rough forestland on the west to arid poor soil carved by drainages and rocky outcrops.

[6] The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest area is near its NW corner, at 9,888 ft (3,014 m) ASL.

[8] The Green River, passing through the canyons of Canyonlands National Park, forms the eastern boundary.