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Whether you dream of carving first tracks through a silent wilderness, cutting up the snow on a high-powered sled or soaking your days away at a hot spring, here’s how you can get outside and play once the flakes start falling. Ice Fishing Wyoming’s frozen waters reveal hardy stashes of fish — plus an endless supply of solitude. Boysen Reservoir stocks everything from walleye to burbot, Flaming Gorge teems with lake trout and Keyhole Reservoir is swimming with perch, crappie and northern pike just below the ice. Fat Biking With their monster tires and grippy tread, fat bikes put Wyoming’s snowy terrain within easy reach. The rugged trails of Dubois and abundant switchbacks and loops of Lander are fat-bike favorites, and you can crunch through hundreds of groomed trails from Jackson Hole to Laramie. Dog Sledding Not only is dog sledding a perfect way to give your legs a break from skiing and other winter sports, it’s a thrilling way to see some of Wyoming’s prettiest backcountry. Snuggle up as a team of lovable huskies mush through Jackson and Dubois, both home to multiple tour providers. Snowshoeing & Cross-Country Skiing On a pair of skis or snowshoes, you may never shake the feeling that you’ve stepped inside a snowglobe. Exploring scenic trails at national forests around the state — like Sinks Canyon State Park and Beaver Creek Nordic Ski Area (Lander), Tie City and Happy Jack (Laramie), and Bear River State Park (Evanston), where you may share the trail with a resident elk or bison — are great places to start. Hot Springs Wyoming’s bubbling geothermal springs are like nature’s hot tubs. Have a dip and a sip at Saratoga Hot Springs Resort, home to the state’s second-oldest craft brewery. Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis features prehistoric rock formations, and dreamy Granite Hot Springs is perched above a waterfall in a peaceful forest near Jackson. Skijoring Winter magic comes in all forms in Wyoming, but there’s something particularly special about roping up with a horse (or even your pup) in a sport that mixes adrenaline, speed and cross-country skiing. Find a skijoring event and skim across the snow in towns like Sheridan, Sundance, Pinedale, Jackson Hole and Saratoga. Snowmobiling Blankets of powder, breathtaking vistas and thousands of miles of trails make Wyoming a top-ranked spot for snowmobiling. Options abound in Pinedale and Dubois, where you can access the legendary Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail and Wyoming Range trail system. Towns like Saratoga, Centennial, Riverside, Encampment and Laramie link you to the vast Snowy Range, and dramatic scenery awaits in the Bighorn Mountains near Sheridan. BE WILd IN WINTER. Skijoring is a sight to behold, and a whole lot of fun! Learn all about Wyoming’s unofficial state sport at TravelWyoming. com/skijoring. FROM TOP: FLICKR/THECRAZYOUTDOORMAMA; INSTAGRAM/THEDANCINGWIND; WYOMING OFFICE OF TOURISM; WYOMING OFFICE OF TOURISM/JASON LINDSEY. ACCESSIBLE OUTDOORS: WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY IN WYOMING’S ICONIC SPACES Many of Wyoming’s most iconic outdoor spaces offer assistance for hearing, vision and mobility impaired. Here are some of the areas where those requiring wheelchair or mobility assistance can more easily experience Wyoming’s beauty. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Wheelchair-accessible boardwalks line many of Yellowstone’s geothermal features, and paved paths are available at popular sites and overlooks such as Old Faithful and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone’s North Rim. Most of the park’s campgrounds have at least two accessible sites, and accessible lodging is available throughout the park. For those seeking a more adventurous stay, two backcountry sites are reserved for those with disabilities, people over age 62 or those with children under 6. Accessible ranger programs are noted in the park’s newspaper. GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK Asphalt trails available at Colter Bay, Jackson Lake, Menors Ferry Historic District, Jenny Lake and Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve allow for the park’s beauty to be enjoyed by those with limited mobility. Many of the park’s campgrounds and lodging facilities offer accessible sites and rooms. For more outdoor activities in and near the park, check out Teton Adaptive Sports. This Wyoming non-profit offers skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hockey, cycling, climbing, paddling, hiking and mountain biking for people living with physical or cognitive disabilities. DEVILS TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT Devils Tower is working toward making the entire monument accessible to people of all abilities. For now, explore the paved, 1.3-mile Tower Trail that circles the base of the tower. Four accessible campsites are available at the Belle Fourche River Campground within Devils Tower National Monument FOSSIL BUTTE NATIONAL MONUMENT This national monument’s visitor center, restrooms and picnic area are accessible, providing an opportunity to see and experience some of the world’s best-preserved fossils. Each trailhead provides vault toilets that are wheelchair accessible, and the trails are generally compacted soil. Check trail conditions as the slopes vary, and be prepared for uneven, rough surfaces including rock steps and water bars. MEDICINE BOW-ROUTT NATIONAL FOREST The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grassland cover nearly 2.9 million acres from north-central Colorado to central and northeastern Wyoming, including the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. This byway has several paved, accessible turnouts, such as the stunning Lake Marie Trail, which follows the shoreline to Mirror Lake. BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA Bighorn Canyon offers unparalleled opportunities to be immersed in natural beauty. The quarter-mile Two Eagles Interpretive Trail and the Visitor Center Pond Trail are both wheelchair accessible. Additionally, the Bighorn Headgate Trail is an easy gravel path to a quiet picnic area, and the Lockhart Ranch Trail consists of a choice of loops on old dirt roads. WYOMING STATE PARKS Wyoming has 12 state parks spread throughout the state, all of which offer their own unique scenery and experiences. Many of Wyoming’s state parks feature campsites, yurts and cabins that are ADA accessible, along with overlooks, wildlife viewing, beaches and more. Five of Wyoming’s state parks have fishing piers that feature accessible options. Visit tetonadaptivesports.com for information on athletic programs for locals or visitors with physical or mental disabilities. Teton Adaptive Sports serves the Greater Teton Area, including Jackson Hole, Dubois and Star Valley.
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