2017-01-06 06:08:51
Home to Wyoming’s future-forward yet Western-rooted capital city and the Snowy, Medicine Bow, Seminoe and Wind River mountain ranges, this area attracts both culture and adventure lovers. That'sWY HIGHLIGHTS INDEPENDENCE ROCK STATE HISTORIC SITE, WYOMING OFFICE OF TOURISM 1 INDEPENDENCE ROCK STATE HISTORIC SITE This site was an important landmark to pioneers who made their way along the Oregon Trail in the 1800s pioneer migration westward — if reached by the Fourth of July, they could make it over the Rocky Mountains before winter set in. They carved their names into the rock near the town of Alcova, earning it the nickname “Register of the Desert.” 2 HOBO HOT POOL Rest your weary bones in this natural hot spring located on the banks of the North Platte River in Saratoga. The waters are said to possess healing properties and have attracted wellness-seekers — from Native Americans to pioneers — for centuries. VEDAUWOO RECREATION AREA, GETTY IMAGES, ADAM CLARK 3 VEDAUWOO CAMPGROUND & RECREATION AREA Known to the Arapaho Indians as “Land of the Earthborn Spirit,” towering rock structures between Laramie and Cheyenne dominate this beloved recreation area featuring hiking and biking trails and rock-climbing routes. CANOEING THE SNAKE RIVER BELOW THE GRAND TETON, KENNAN HARVEY 4 WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION Bordered by the Wind River Mountains near Riverton, the reservation is home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. Learn more about the tribes at the Northern Arapaho Experience Room at Wind River Hotel & Casino in Riverton. 5 WYOMING TERRITORIAL PRISON STATE HISTORIC SITE Learn about the 1,063 violent and desperate outlaws — including notorious bank robber Butch Cassidy — who resided at the prison, located in Laramie, in the 1870s. WYOMING TERRITORIAL PRISON, WYOMING OFFICE OF TOURISM 6 WYOMING STATE MUSEUM & HISTORIC GOVERNORS’ MANSION Tour the free Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne, the state’s capital, where exhibits detail the Cowboy State’s prehistoric and modern history, as well as the intricately restored 1905 Historic Governors’ Mansion. ROCKIES TO TETONS ROAD TRIP This route traces a path between two of the most iconic and majestic mountain ranges in the U.S.: the Rockies and Tetons. PINE BLUFFS TO LARAMIE Stop into the Pine Bluffs Information Center on your way to Cheyenne. Sightseeing options in the capital city include Wyoming State Museum, Governors’ Mansion and Cheyenne Big Boots — more than 2-metre tall, colourfully painted cowboy boots displayed around town. Continuing west on Hwy 210, take a detour to Curt Gowdy State Park, where the Laramie Mountains offer a stunning backdrop for outdoorsy folks, especially mountain bikers looking to ride epic trails. LARAMIE TO RAWLINS Get on Interstate 80 to drive towards Laramie, where attractions include University of Wyoming Geological Museum and the American Heritage Center. On your way to Rawlins, detour to Seminoe State Park north of Interstate 80, home to white sand dunes, thousands of pronghorn, the Seminoe Mountains and Seminoe Reservoir. RAWLINS TO LANDER Rawlins dates back to when tracks were first laid for the crosscountry Union Pacific Railroad in Wyoming. Explore the Wyoming Frontier Prison, known as the “Old Pen” and rumoured to be haunted with history. Hwy 287 will take you to the South Pass City State Historic Site, a city built in 1867 during the gold-mining boom. Stretch your legs at Sinks Canyon State Park, a geologic phenomenon where the Popo Agie River vanishes into a cavern and reappears in a pool down the canyon. In Lander, go rock climbing, fishing or hiking in the Wind River Range; or stroll the Museum of the American West, a recreated pioneer village with 10 different buildings, including a 1909 chapel and 1881 schoolhouse. LANDER TO RIVERTON Northeast of Lander is the town of Riverton, where the 1838 Mountain Man Rendezvous — a recreated gathering of Native Americans, fur trappers and mountain men — takes place annually. Try your luck at the Wind River Hotel & Casino, which hosts weekly Northern Arapaho Experiences during the summer, featuring traditional dances. SINKS CANYON STATE PARK, KENNAN HARVEY RIVERTON TO DUBOIS Next up is Dubois, where you can explore National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center, which pays tribute to one of Wyoming’s beloved mammals — the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. DUBOIS TO YELLOWSTONE From Dubois, head to the Moran Junction on Hwy 26, where you’ll choose your final destination: Grand Teton National Park or Yellowstone National Park.
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