Source 2026 Wyoming Official Travel Guide - Wyoming Official Travel Guide
Family Adventures Everyone Will Love
2025-12-29 03:12:00
12 WAYS TO EXPLORE WYOMING WITH LITTLE ONES IN TOW
Wyoming is a vast playground for visitors traveling with kids and young adults. Consider partaking in these essential Western activities — all worthy reasons to ditch those screens and make fresh memories together instead. Learn more at travelwy.com/family.
1. LOUNGE IN THERAPEUTIC MINERAL SPRINGS
Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis has a free bath house for the fam to soak in steamy 104-degree waters. Also keep your eyes peeled for bison that roam in the park. p. 24: Rivers & Ranges road trip
2. HIKE TO NATURAL WONDERS
See the vedauwoo area’s towering rock formations just 10 minutes east of Laramie. The nearly 3-mile Turtle Rock Loop, rated easy, circles the striking Turtle Rock for which the trail is named — an impressive outcropping of Sherman granite. As you hike, keep your eyes peeled for massive boulders, dramatic cliffs, jutting rock slabs and peaceful beaver ponds. p. 34: Plains & Foothills road trip
3. SEE WILD HORSES
More than 225 wild mustangs roam together in western Wyoming’s Wind River Horse Sanctuary, located on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The preserve, the only one in the nation based on a reservation, is operated by a working cattle ranch that hosts ATV and wagon tours (appointments required). p. 24: Rivers & Ranges road trip
4. MAKE A SPLASH AS A FAMILY
Fremont Lake near Pinedale is a prime stop for kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, water skiing and fishing. The body of water also hosts events such as the Sailing Regatta in August and Big Fish Ice Derby in March. p. 42: Desert & Peaks road trip add-on
5. HUNT FOR FOSSILS
American Fossil Quarry near Kemmerer is a must-visit for aspiring paleontologists. There, little ones can dig up and keep fossils of stingrays, shrimp, paddlefish, turtles and other preserved creatures. p. 42: Desert & Peaks road trip
6. REEL IN A BIG ONE
Blessed with a bounty of lakes and waterways, Casper is one of the state’s top fishing destinations. Popular places to drop a line include the Pathfinder and Alcova reservoirs. p. 34: Plains & Foothills road trip
7. EXPLORE A GHOST TOWN
Situated south of Lander, South Pass City is a restored ghost town with 17 original structures that highlight how locals lived in the mid- to late 19th century. Highlights include a saloon and card room, school and blacksmith shop. p. 24: Rivers & Ranges road trip
8. LEARN ABOUT THE PAST
Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody encompasses five museums, including one dedicated to the life of soldier, showman and hunter Buffalo Bill Cody and other legendary figures of the Wild West. p. 24: Rivers & Ranges road trip
9. LEARN ABOUT THE WEST’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
The Eastern Shoshone Tribal Cultural Center in Fort Washakie chronicles the history of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, the original inhabitants of the Wind River Mountain Range. Browse exhibits showcasing art and information about historic figures such as Sacagawea. p. 24: Rivers & Ranges road trip
10. FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PIONEERS
Book an excursion with Casper-based Historic Trails West, which offers a variety of covered-wagon treks (from lunch rides to five-day adventures) along real routes traversed by settlers, gold-seekers and Pony Express riders. p. 34: Plains & Foothills road trip
11. SLUMBER IN A MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY
Families can stay in a cozy log cabin at Kodiak Mountain Resort near Afton in the Star valley, an area known for its sparkling night skies and access to activities such as hiking and fly-fishing. p. 42: Desert & Peaks road trip
12. CHASE WATERFALLS
There are hundreds of waterfalls in the Cowboy State, from thundering cascades to wispy gems. Check out Porcupine Falls in the Bighorn Mountains near Lovell, where water tumbles over a steep cliff into a small swimming hole.p. 18: Canyons & Towers road trip
“It’s important for all of us to learn about other cultures, to take what you learn and pass it on, no matter who you are or where you come from, because it comes full circle.”
— JASMINE PICKNER BELL
Two-time World-Champion Hoop Dancer, Mother & Educator, facebook.com/hoopinitdakotastyle
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