2017-11-09 04:26:07
While Wyoming’s well-known icons (we’re talking about you, Yellowstone National Park) often take center stage when it comes to planning a visit to the Cowboy State, there are countless hidden treasures to explore among our nearly 98,000 square miles. To make it easy for you to make the most of your time in Wyoming, we’ve rounded up nine of the state’s top gems. BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA Located in north central Wyoming and encompassing more than 120,000 acres, Bighorn Canyon is perhaps the state’s best-kept secret. The best access point for exploring the canyon, lake and recreation area is the south entrance, located 11 miles north of Lovell. Visitors can take guided boat tours and soak in the scenery — most notably the walls, cliffs and spires that sit 500 feet above the lake — cast a fishing line for walleye or sauger or hike the 25-plus miles of trails in the South District. Learn more about Bighorn Canyon on p. 71. DOWNTOWN CASPER While downtown Casper isn’t a hidden gem because it’s easy to find, the area is often overlooked. However, Casper’s newly rejuvenated downtown is a definite must see on your Wyoming vacation. Stroll the winding streets, catch live music at David Street Station and shop boutiques and galleries for made-in- Wyoming goods before savoring farm-to-table offerings at local restaurants and tasting Wyoming spirits at Backwards Distilling Company. FRONTIER AUTO MUSEUM IN GILLETTE A definite jewel in northeast Wyoming, Frontier Auto Museum opened in 2016 and welcomes visitors to its antique and upcycled store, car museum and old-fashioned general store. Highlights include classic cars, old-time gas pumps and vintage neon signs. SNOWY RANGE SCENIC BYWAY State Route 130 (aka: Snowy Range Road) is one of the loveliest drives in Wyoming. Crossing the Medicine Bow Mountain Range, it takes its passengers through some of the most stunning alpine landscapes in the West. Access the route via I-80 in Laramie or at Walcott Junction east of Rawlins. While the drive takes center stage, there are abundant opportunities for hiking, fishing and picnicking along the way. LIFE-SIZE DINOSAURS IN ROCK SPRINGS Situated in the state’s southwest corner is Rock Springs, where you’ll find Western Wyoming Community College. While it looks like a typical college campus, the school’s Natural History Museum has five life-size dinosaur displays and is a highlight along I-80. Dinosaurs on display include Camptosaurus, Plesiosaur, Stegosaurus, Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex. WYOMING’S HORSE COUNTRY Tucked in the foothills of the Bighorn National Forest is the charming western town of Sheridan, home to the nation’s oldest guest ranch, a historic downtown, the famous Mint Bar and polo — a game that’s been played in the area since the 1890s. If you time it right, you can catch the annual Eatons’ Horse Drive and watch cowboys and wranglers drive more than 100 horses through the heart of Sheridan (typically the third weekend in May). BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY A National Scenic Byways All-American Road, the 68-mile-long Beartooth Highway sits among more than one million acres of wilderness as it winds its way through northwest Wyoming’s lush forests and untouched mountain landscapes. Open seasonally, it takes travelers to Yellowstone National Park’s northeast entrance. Find more scenic byways on p. 64A. KILLPECKER SAND DUNES Set on more than 109,000 acres, Killpecker Sand Dunes in southwest Wyoming near Rock Springs is the second-largest active sand dune field in the world. The area offers outdoor recreation lovers a wide variety of activities, from ATVing to viewing wild horses and hiking on ancient volcanoes to seeing rare desert elk. HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR IN SUNDANCE One of Wyoming’s loveliest small towns, Sundance sits at the northeast corner of the state and is where outlaw Harry Alonzo Longabaugh — the “Sundance Kid” — earned his nickname. Travelers in town in July or August can relive the era of the Sundance Kid on the Sip n Walk Historical Tour, a stroll with beer or wine through the town’s Wild West history. Call the Crook County Museum at 307-283-3666 for more information. WANT MORE? Go to TravelWyoming.com or follow us on Instagram at @VisitWyoming for more insider tips and off-the-beaten-path gems. WY NOT? “Get off the beaten path,” says Sam Mead, distiller at Wyoming Whiskey in Kirby. “There are tons of incredible places around Wyoming, and many of them are only a short detour off the main thoroughfares.”
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