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START ROAD TRIP ROUTE A ROUTE B STOP 1 EVANSTON GREEN RIVER STOP 2 FORT BRIDGER GREEN RIVER STOP 3 KEMMERER ROCK SPRINGS STOP 4 KEMMERER FARSON STOP 5 STAR VALLEY PINEDALE STOP 6 AFTON PINEDALE STOP 7 TETON VILLAGE JACKSON END YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK South Entrance Welcoming small towns brimming with local flavor and stretches of unscathed wilderness await visitors traveling from Salt Lake City into southwest Wyoming and northward to Yellowstone. The Salt to Stone region is a colorful adventureland waiting to be discovered by road trippers. Trace the footsteps of mountain men and women, discover dreamy vistas by foot, bike or car — and tour museums and attractions that showcase Western culture at its finest. Visitor Centers • Evanston • Green River • Jackson • Pinedale • Rock Springs • Star Valley State Parks & National Forests • Ashley National Forest • Bear River State Park • Bridger-Teton National Forest • Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest STARTING POINT ROUTE A: EVANSTON DOWNTOWN VISITOR CENTER | ROUTE B: FLAMING GORGE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA ROUTE A (FROM EVANSTON) A Roundhouse & Rail Yards Evanston Evanston is home to one of the only remaining complete roundhouses on the old Union Pacific line between Omaha and Sacramento. This historical building — used by railroads to store and service locomotives — has a turntable that is still operational. B Fort Bridger state Historic site Fort Bridger Several restored buildings highlight the history of this 19th-century fur-trading post, a vital supply stop for wagon trains traversing the Oregon, California and Mormon trails. Tour the reconstructed trading post and museum. C Fossil Butte National Monument near Kemmerer Colorful geologic formations rise about 1,000 feet above Twin Creek Valley and possess some of the world’s best-preserved fossils, including those of fish, insects, plants, reptiles, birds and mammals. D Fossil Country Frontier Museum Kemmerer A sampling of annual exhibits at this hidden gem includes a replica coal mine, bootlegging stills and wine presses, along with a preserved footprint belonging to a hadrosaurid (otherwise known as a duck-billed dino). E Star Valley scenic Byway This picturesque 80-mile stretch of Highway 89 starts at the Idaho-Wyoming border, climbs up Salt Canyon and Salt River Pass and descends into sprawling and verdant Star Valley. Then the route continues through the quaint communities of Smoot, Afton, Grover, Thayne and Etna before reaching Alpine and ending at the Lincoln County line in Snake River Canyon. F Intermittent spring Afton Known as the “spring that breathes,” the Intermittent Spring near Afton is one of only three periodic springs in the world that flows on predictable intervals. To get there, head east on Second Avenue in Afton and hike the short trail along Swift Creek. G Jackson Hole Aerial Tram Teton Village Ride the tram in Teton Village up 4,139 feet to unparalleled wraparound views of Bridger-Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park. ROUTE B (FROM GREEN RIVER) H Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area near Green River Named for the landscape’s natural kaleidoscopic hues, 207,636-acre Flaming Gorge is a land of living color. The reservoir is perfect for boating, fishing and kayaking, and the whimsical rock formations that frame the water change colors and perspective with varying sunlight. I Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge Green River More than 220 bird species inhabit Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, which protects 27,230 acres of riparian, wetland and upland shrub habitats along the Green River. Keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles, trumpeter swans, moose and mule deer, or guarantee yourself wildlife spectacles within the refuge’s family-friendly welcome center. J Western Wyoming Community College’s Natural History Museum Rock Springs Check out pottery made by early inhabitants, fossils of fish and reptiles, and other prehistoric artifacts. Then, wander over to the Weidner Wildlife Museum to see nearly 125 taxidermy specimens from around the world. K Farson Mercantile & ice Cream shop Farson Whether your flavor of choice is butter pecan or mint chocolate chip, a stop at Farson Mercantile — home of the “Big Cone” — for a scoop (or three) is a must. The crowd-pleasing pit stop also serves pizza, coffee and sandwiches. L The Museum of the Mountain Man Pinedale The fur-trade era comes alive through period artifacts and authentic reproductions. Exhibits include an exact replica of an 1800s Sioux lodging and a life-size grizzly-bear- attack diorama — featuring frontiersman Hugh Glass and inspired by the 2015 movie “The Revenant.” M Green River Lakes & squaretop Mountain near Pinedale A pair of sparkling green-blue lakes in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Green River Lakes boast awe-inspiring vistas of the Wind River Range’s photogenic 11,695-foot Squaretop Mountain. N The National Museum of Wildlife Art Jackson The National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson has more than 5,000 works of art representing animals from around the world, including pieces by Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol and John James Audubon. An additional bonus: It has incredible views of the National Elk Refuge. END POINT: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK SOUTH ENTRANCE Find more along the salt to stone route at TravelWyoming.com/salt-to-stone. MORE INCREDIBLE STOPS IN THE SALT TO STONE REGION Piedmont Charcoal Kilns state Historic site Admire three well-preserved 30-foot charcoal kilns built in 1869 to supply charcoal to the iron-smelting industry in Evanston. Pilot Butte Wild Horse scenic Loop Tour Cruise this 24-mile-long route from Rock Springs to Green River for views of Pilot Butte Rock Formation and the town of Rock Springs, along with the chance to spot wild horses. Rock springs Main street Stroll this charming spot for mouth-watering meals, cute mom-and-pops and a streetscape reminiscent of the olden days. Fremont Lake Go kayaking, boating, fishing, sailing or stand-up paddleboarding at glistening Fremont Lake near Pinedale, or head to Sandy Beach, a popular spot for sunbathing and swimming on the lake’s southeast shore. The Million dollar Cowboy Bar Discover the storied past of a famed Jackson watering hole (established 1937), where you can sip a local brew on bar stools made from genuine saddles and kick up your heels to live music six days a week. ADDITIONAL IDEAS • World’s Largest Elkhorn Arch Afton • Delish Donuts & Coffee Alpine • Green River Valley Museum Big Piney • Chinese Joss House Museum Evanston • Granite Hot Springs Jackson • National Elk Refuge Jackson • The Wort Hotel Jackson • Cowboy Country Distilling Pinedale • Pitchfork Fondue Western Cookout Pinedale • Skyline Drive Scenic Loop Pinedale • Bitter Creek Brewing Rock Springs • Flaming Gorge Bus Tour Rock Springs • Killpecker Sand Dunes near Rock Springs • Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Via Ferrata Teton Village WY NOT? Explore a Less-Traveled Mountain Range. Since the Wyoming Range isn’t as well-known as the neighboring Wind River or Teton mountains, it’s one of western Wyoming’s best-kept secrets and offers access to equally spectacular alpine scenery. Hike a portion of the 70-mile Wyoming Range National Recreation Trail or fish for brown, cutthroat and rainbow trout along the Green River. In the winter, the snow-cloaked range is a haven for snowmobilers. Trails and recreation opportunities can be accessed from Big Piney and Pinedale.
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