2016-10-22 04:23:58
Rockies To Tetons This region brims with a wide array of only-in-Wyoming experiences. Home to the state’s future-forward yet Western-rooted capital city and the Snowy, Medicine Bow, Seminoe and Wind River mountain ranges, the area attracts both culture vultures and adventure seekers. Rockies To Tetons Experiences 1. INDEPENDENCE ROCK STATE HISTORIC SITE ALCOVA To pioneers who made their way west along the Oregon Trail, this was an important landmark — if reached by the Fourth of July, they could make it over the Rockies before winter. They carved their names into the rock, earning it the nickname “Register of the Desert.” Today, visitors can still see the etchings, climb to the top or hike the trail around the base. 2. HOBO HOT POOL SARATOGA Rest your weary bones in this soothing, natural hot spring located on the banks of the North Platte River. The waters have been touted to possess healing properties and have attracted wellness-seekers — from Native Americans to pioneers — for centuries. For more luxury, check out the Saratoga Resort and Spa. 3. VEDAUWOO CAMPGROUND & RECREATION AREA BETWEEN LARAMIE & CHEYENNE Towering rock structures, rivers and campsites galore await in one of Wyoming’s most beloved recreation areas. Vedauwoo, known to the Arapaho Indians as “Land of the Earthborn Spirit,” offers hiking and biking trails and rock-climbing routes. Continue west to explore the historic and vibrant college town of Laramie, where a wide variety of museums, dining options and that iconic Old West spirit reside. 4. HISTORIC GOVERNORS’ MANSION & OTHER SITES CHEYENNE Tour the free Wyoming State Museum, where exhibits detail the Cowboy State’s prehistoric and modern history, and the intricately restored 1905 Governors’ Mansion, which was inhabited by 19 Wyoming first families. Explore more of Cheyenne’s transformative history with a visit to the Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014, one of the world’s largest steam locomotives; or stop by the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. 5. WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION Bordered by the Wind River Mountains, the Wind River Indian Reservation is home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. Learn more about the tribes at Northern Arapaho Experience Room at the Wind River Hotel & Casino; visit in late June for the Eastern Shoshone Powwow and Indian Days or try your luck at the Wind River Casino or Rose Shoshone Hotel and Casino. 6. NATIONAL BIGHORN SHEEP INTERPRETIVE CENTER DUBOIS During the winter months, the world’s largest wintering herd of bighorn sheep roams this remote area. Stop by the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center to set up a tour — guided or solo — to see the majestic creatures in their natural habitat. WELCOME CENTERS Cheyenne Jackson VISITOR CENTERS Jackson Cheyenne Laramie Rawlins Lander Riverton Dubois Riverside Saratoga STATE PARKS CURT GOWDY STATE PARK This easily accessible park near Cheyenne and Laramie is a mountain biker’s paradise, with varied terrain for beginners and experts alike. Consider reserving an overnight stay at nearby Hynds Lodge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, for a family or group gathering. SEMINOE STATE PARK Seminoe sits about 30 miles northeast of Rawlins and has plenty of opportunities to spot bighorn sheep, elk, deer, coyotes and pronghorn. Explore 180 miles of shoreline along one of Wyoming’s largest reservoirs and set up camp at a site snuggled beneath the beautiful Seminoe Mountains. SINKS CANYON STATE PARK The word “sink” in this park’s name comes from the Popo Agie River vanishing from the state park land into a cavern and reappearing as a pond filled to the brim with trout.
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