2016-10-22 01:10:59
Follow the path of those who came before us on your way to Yellowstone. Stretch your legs on the historic trails winding through the heart of Wyoming and learn about the dinosaurs that trekked them more than 100 million years ago in the Bighorn Basin. CHEYENNE TO WHEATLAND Start at the southern state line on I-25 near Cheyenne. At Exit 4, visit the Welcome Center for a taste of Wyoming attractions, from a life-size Columbian Mammoth to an escapable jail cell. Then, spend some time in Wyoming’s state capital. Rich with history from its development along the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad in the mid-1800s, Cheyenne possesses numerous museums and the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days (July 21–30, 2017). Then, when passing through nearby Chugwater, quench your thirst at the Chugwater Soda Fountain WHEATLAND TO GLENDO STATE PARK Continue north on I-25 through Wheatland. Recreation abounds in the area, including golfing, fishing and boating. Stop by the Oregon Trail Ruts National Landmark on your way to Fort Laramie National Historic Site. Carved into stone, these ruts tell the stories of thousands of pioneers following the Oregon Trail in the mid-1800s. Fort Laramie, established as a fur-trading post in 1835 and revamped into a military post to protect trail travelers, was the first important stopping point for settlers in Wyoming and also witnessed Native American resistance. Also nearby, see where emigrants carved their names and the dates of their travels into a rock bluff at Register Cliff. GLENDO STATE PARK TO CASPER Get wet and wild at Glendo State Park, where boaters, anglers and swimmers enjoy its sandy beaches and clear waters. Charming small towns fill the next two stops. Douglas is home to the mythical jackalope. According to legend, after hunting jackrabbits with his brother, Douglas Herrick took one to a taxidermy shop. As the rabbit lay near mule deer horns, Herrick was inspired to mount the crossbred critter. Opportunities to discover Wyoming history abound near Douglas. View exhibits on the area’s Native American tribes, military and civilian history at Fort Fetterman, a preserved military post that was active from 1867 to the late 1880s. Or see souvenirs from 100 years of Wyoming State Fairs, historic apparel and other fascinating artifacts at Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum. The Laramie Mountains and Medicine Bow National Forest surround Glenrock, making it a perfect hub for fishing, camping and mountain biking. As you leave Glenrock, stop by the Ayres Natural Bridge, a remarkable natural bridge over La Prele Creek just 5 miles off I-25. CASPER TO THERMOPOLIS Located at the state’s center, Casper is Wyoming’s adventure capital and second largest city. Opt for world-class fly-fishing on the North Platte River, or visit the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, commemorating the pioneers who traveled westward in the state’s early days. Other stop-worthy attractions include Fort Caspar Museum and Historic Site, Tate Geological Museum and Nicolaysen Art Museum. From Casper, deviate from I-25 and go northwest on Hwy 20. Known as one of Wyoming’s best walleye and trout fisheries, Boysen State Park is surrounded by the Wind River Indian Reservation. The reservoir is warm enough for all water sports and has an easily accessible swimming beach. Beginning in the town of Shoshoni, the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway puts you face-to-face with the windswept West. THERMOPOLIS TO CODY At your next stop in Thermopolis, you’ll find a menu of things to do, from golfing and whitewater rafting to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. At the edge of town is Hot Springs State Park, built around the world’s largest single-mineral hot springs. The nearby Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site invites visitors to view more than 300 petroglyphs spanning thousands of years. On your way to Cody, stop in Meeteetse, a town established in the 1890s that still maintains its Western charm with preserved wooden boardwalks and turn-ofthe- century buildings. Spend a few hours at one of the community’s three intimate museums: The First National Bank Museum, Meeteetse Museum and Charles Belden Western Photography Museum. Then, stop at Meeteetse Chocolatier to try the decadent creations of Tim Kellogg, a saddle bronc rider and cowboy turned chocolatier. CODY TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Northwest of Thermopolis is the town of Cody, named after the famous Colonel William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Experience nightly summer rodeos, gunfight reenactments and history at Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the Museum of the Old West at Old Trail Town, where the lifestyle and history of the Frontier West is preserved through rare collections of authentic structures and furnishings. Toward the end of the route, veer onto the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway, which starts about 25 miles west of Cody. This byway follows the north fork of the Shoshone River through the scenic Wapiti Valley to the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, the nation’s first national park and your final destination. TRAVELING TO THE BLACK HILLS FROM SOUTHEAST WYOMING? On your way north, visit the Stagecoach Museum in Lusk to view interesting 19th- and 20th-century relics, including a taxidermied two-headed calf and a stagecoach that carried gold during the area’s mining boom.
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Park To Park
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