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Choose a route of epic scale along the eastern slope of the Continental Divide and journey through breathtaking landscapes, including the Laramie and Wind River mountain ranges, on your way to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. CHEYENNE TO LARAMIE Stop into the Welcome Center in Cheyenne for a taste of Wyoming attractions, from a life-size Columbian mammoth to an escapable jail cell. There’s plenty to do and see in capital city, including Wyoming State Museum, Cheyenne Depot Museum and the Historic Governors’ Mansion. Continuing west on Highway 210, take a detour to Curt Gowdy State Park. The Laramie Mountains offer a stunning backdrop for outdoorsy folks, especially mountain bikers looking for epic singletrack trails. Nearby is Vedauwoo Campground and Recreation Area — a haven for climbing, hiking and camping. LARAMIE TO RAWLINS Get on I-80 to head toward Laramie, a college town with all kinds of outdoor fun, from fishing in summer to skiing in winter. Other attractions include University of Wyoming Geological Museum, Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site and the American Heritage Center. Detour on your way to Rawlins to Seminoe State Park north of I-80. Surrounded by white sand dunes, the park is the stomping ground of thousands of pronghorn and the gateway to hiking in the Seminoe Mountains and boating, fishing and swimming in Seminoe Reservoir. Or head over the Snowy Range Scenic Byway from Laramie to explore Saratoga and Encampment. Saratoga is best known for its hot springs but also offers trout fishing on the North Platte River. Encampment rests at the base of the Sierra Madres and is the gateway to the Medicine Bow Forest. The 116-year-old Grand Encampment Opera House still presents melodramas, plays and dinner theaters. RAWLINS TO LANDER Rawlins, which dates back to when tracks were first laid for the Union Pacific Railroad in Wyoming, is best known for the Wyoming Frontier Prison, a museum rumored to be haunted with history. A break from the interstate will take you on Highway 287 to the South Pass City State Historic Site. North of the historic Oregon Trail, the city was built in 1867 during the gold-mining boom. Stop at Sinks Canyon State Park, a geologic phenomenon where the Popo Agie River vanishes into a cavern and reappears in a pool. Lander has several ways to stretch your legs in the Wind River Range, including climbing, fishing, hiking trails and the Beaver Creek cross-country skiing trail system. Or visit the Museum of the American West, where you can investigate a recreated pioneer village with 10 different buildings, including a 1909 chapel, 1881 schoolhouse and livery stable filled with antique farm equipment. LANDER TO RIVERTON Northeast of Lander is the town of Riverton, where the 1838 Mountain Man Rendezvous — a recreated gathering of Native Americans, fur traders and mountain men — takes place annually in late June and early July. Try your luck at the Wind River Hotel & Casino, which hosts the Northern Arapaho Experience, a weekly Native American dance performance during the summer. RIVERTON TO DUBOIS Next up is Dubois, where you can explore the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center, which tells the story of one of Wyoming’s signature animals — the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. DUBOIS TO YELLOWSTONE From Dubois, head west on Highway 26 toward Jackson, where the spirit of the Old West still thrives. Stroll the historic downtown before jumping on Highway 191 to Yellowstone National Park. Learn more about the national parks on p. 59. WY INDEED “Come to Dubois … relax, breathe and enjoy the view, whether it’s a walk in the park along the Riverwalk, a short drive to the scenic overlook to see the expansive country here or a 28-mile drive up to Double Cabin (a remote campground in the Shoshone National Forest).” — Joe Brandl, owner of Dubois’ Absaroka Designs and Tannery
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