2016-10-22 05:57:08
HIKING BELOW DEVILS TOWER, KENNAN HARVEY. BLACK TO YELLOW With no traffic, fewer people and wide-open skies, the Black to Yellow region will redefine your concept of fresh air. Dotting the spectacular landscape, you’ll find charming towns where 19th-century hotels, shops and restaurants still welcome travelers and outdoor recreation abounds. Acres of public land, sagebrush plains and rolling hills set the scene for trips ranging from family outings to solitary adventures. Communities across this region brim with Western history, and the region is also rich with unspoiled natural wonders — Devils Tower National Monument and Black Hills National Forest are just the beginning. THE MINT BAR, FLICKR/BWALSH COAL MINE TOUR, WYOMING OFFICE OF TOURISM. BLACK TO YELLOW EXPERIENCES 1 BUFFALO BILL CENTER OF THE WEST CODY Drink in the history, art and natural science of the region at this impressive fivemuseum complex, which includes the Plains Indian, Draper Natural History and Cody Firearms museums. Then take a trolley tour of Cody — “Buffalo Bill’s Town.” 2 DEVILS TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT NEAR PINE HAVEN & SUNDANCE Spend at least a full day exploring this ethereal rock structure towering 1,200 feet over the plains. Hike 8 miles of nature trails, take a ranger-led tour or climb the igneous rock walls. Then, fish for bullhead or walleye in the Belle Fourche River (more about the monument on p. 20). 3 BIGHORN MOUNTAIN RANGE NEAR SHERIDAN Here, mountainous adventure and smalltown Western flare collide. The Bighorns are an expansive outdoor playground for backpacking, hiking, climbing, fishing and camping — without the crowds. Rest your weary bones at the Historic Sheridan Inn or grab a drink at famed cowboy hangout The Mint Bar. 4 THE OCCIDENTAL HOTEL & SALOON BUFFALO Buffalo was a popular stomping ground for the West’s most famous characters, and their spirits live on in the lovingly restored establishment, which combines authenticity with modern comforts. Past guests include Teddy Roosevelt, Calamity Jane and Ernest Hemingway. 5 COAL MINE & RANCH TOURS GILLETTE Mining played an integral role in the area’s history and development. Take a tour of Eagle Butte Mine; visit Durham Ranch, one of the world’s largest and oldest working buffalo ranches; or take the Wildlife Loop Tour to explore Campbell County’s natural history and see pronghorn antelope and mule deer. 6 THE BLACK HILLS NEAR NEWCASTLE Newcastle’s dark-green Black Hills forests overflow with opportunities for fishing, hunting, camping, hiking and mountain biking. Drive the Black Hills Scenic Byway, stop in town for a bite to eat at one of the old-fashioned diners or grab a drink at T & A Brewing Company. 7 HEART MOUNTAIN INTERPRETIVE CENTER NEAR CODY & POWELL More than 14,000 incarcerees passed through Heart Mountain War Relocation Center, an internment camp for Japanese Americans during World War II. Interactive exhibits, photographs and artifacts allow visitors to experience life at Heart Mountain through the eyes of its former residents and highlight broader issues of racial and social justice in the U.S. WELCOME CENTERS Sheridan Beulah VISITOR CENTERS Greybull Gillette Sheridan Buffalo Cody Powell Wright STATE PARKS KEYHOLE STATE PARK Located on the cusp of the Black Hills, Keyhole has activities to keep you busy all year long, including snowmobiling, bird watching (the park has 255 species), boating and hiking. BUFFALO BILL STATE PARK This park near Cody is encircled by stunning views of the Absaroka Mountains, and in addition to camping and trout fishing, you’ll find adventurous wind surfers testing out the reservoir’s calm waters.
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