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GETTING TO KNOW WYOMING The rugged Rocky Mountains meet the majestic High Plains in Wyoming, which abounds with wild landscapes, wide-open expanses and enduring Western traditions. BY THE NUMBERS 97,800 SQ. MILES 48 percent of Wyoming’s lands are public. 450 BIRD SPECIES 100 MAMMAL SPECIES The bison is the state mammal and the meadowlark is the state bird. 7TH LARGEST RESERVATION The Wind River Indian Reservation, home to Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, is the seventh largest Native American reservation in the U.S. and the only reservation to house two tribes. 6 PEOPLE PER 1 SQ. MILE While the state is the 10th largest in the U.S. in square mileage, it is the least populated, with six people for every square mile — ensuring there’s plenty of room to roam without the crowds. WY TIPS MAKE RESERVATIONS Most Wyoming campsites require reservations, especially during peak season, May–September. Luckily, there are online reservation systems to help: travelwy.com/state-parkreservations, recreation.gov and yellowstonenational parklodges.com. CELL COVERAGE Cell service and bandwidth are limited in Wyoming’s more remote areas, so don’t be surprised if you can’t receive calls or texts or access the internet. Download maps and other key travel information before you hit the road. When exploring the great outdoors, always tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to return. Disconnecting can be a good thing, of course, but only if you’ve planned for it. PACK SMART Wyoming’s wide elevation range means temperatures can swing drastically depending on region and even time of day. No matter the season, plan to dress in easily removable layers and bring a water-resistant jacket. Wear your parka, hat and gloves in winter. RESPECT WILDLIFE Do not approach animals to take pictures and always remember to be aware of your surroundings. Please don’t feed the wildlife. BE ALTITUDE READY Many of Wyoming’s popular destinations are pretty high up. It may take you a couple days to acclimate, especially if you’re coming from sea level. Remember: Drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol and rest for a day or two before doing anything too strenuous. DRIVE SAFELY Always remember to observe posted speed limits. Please use pullouts to watch wildlife, take pictures and let other cars pass. Keep in mind that gas and service stops might be few and far between, so fill up when you can. Find more driving tips at TravelWyoming.com/driving. WINTER TIPS When the road’s snowy and icy, drive slowly, avoid cruise control, keep your gas tank full, check your tires and lights before you go, and pack emergency items (like ice scrapers, jumper cables, windshield-wiper fluid, snacks, water and blankets). If you’re renting a vehicle, an all-wheel- drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle is helpful. Highways will shut down for hazardous winter-driving conditions, so please check routes before heading out and be flexible with travel plans. For up-to-date road conditions, dial 511. PET RULES Keep your dog on a 6-foot leash, pack out the poops and check ahead so you know where your pup may or may not be welcome. Turn to p. 53 and p. 56 to learn about pet rules at national parks and monuments. Be Flexible & Informed. Do your research and be flexible with plans. If a trailhead parking lot is full, have lesserknown backup options ready. If you plan to camp, understand the differences between designated and dispersed campgrounds and pack accordingly. Learn more at TravelWyoming.com/wy-responsibly. IMPORTANT FIRSTS 1869 The Wyoming Territory approved the first unconditional law in the U.S. permanently guaranteeing women their inherent right to vote and hold office more than 50 years before women could vote and hold office in the U.S. 1872 Yellowstone was designated America’s first national park by President Ulysses S. Grant. 1904 The term “dude ranch” was coined at Eatons’ Ranch in Wolf, which is the country’s first and oldest ranch and still welcomes guests today. 1906 Devils Tower was designated America’s first national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt. WYOMING SEASONS AT A GLANCE SUMMER Summer features warm days and cool nights with low humidity. The comfortable temperatures encourage visitors to partake in activities in Wyoming’s unspoiled wilderness, even when the sun goes down. Things to Do: Camping under the stars, hiking, rodeo watching, horseback riding, rafting, rock climbing and experiencing historical sites and attractions are just a few options. Learn more at TravelWyoming.com/summer. FALL Autumn’s crisp, sunshine-filled days and color-changing leaves enhance the beauty of landscapes statewide. Things to Do: Encounter splendid autumn scenery while driving scenic byways, strolling main streets virtually unchanged since the Old West, fishing in crystalline alpine lakes, and hiking and biking on trails lined with golden aspens. This shoulder season is also an excellent time to visit some of Wyoming’s most popular attractions. Learn more at TravelWyoming.com/fall. WINTER Winter temperatures can dip into the low digits, but the dry air facilitates perfect, fluffy snow for skiing and other coldweather pursuits. Things to Do: Go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fat biking, snowmobiling, ice fishing and ice climbing — or explore the stunning otherworldly backdrops at Yellowstone National Park. Learn more about winter in Wyoming on p. 82 and at TravelWyoming.com/winter. SPRING While snowfall is common through May at higher elevations, increasingly warmer days make spring a great time to enjoy many quintessential winter activities. Things to Do: Enjoy skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling (depending on snow conditions). Since many species of wildlife migrate to higher elevations in search of fresh flora in March, April and May, spring is also a prime wildlife-watching season. Plus, this shoulder season is a superb time to cross some of Wyoming’s most popular attractions off your bucket list. Learn more at TravelWyoming.com/spring. WYOMING TEMPERATURES 1 Bear River State Park & Travel Information Center, Evanston, I-80 | Exit 6 2 Cody Country Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, Take U.S. 14/16/20 to Cody 3 Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, I-80 | Exit 104 to US-191 4 Northeast Wyoming Welcome Center, Beulah, I-90 | Exit 199 5 Pine Bluffs Information Center, I-80 | Exit 401 6 Sheridan Welcome Center, I-90 | Exit 23 7 Southeast Wyoming Welcome Center, Cheyenne, I-25 | Exit 4 8 Summit Information Center (Seasonal), Laramie, I-80 Exit 323 CASPER CHEYENNE CODY GILLETTE JACKSON HOLE LARAMIE RIVERTON ROCK SPRINGS SHERIDAN See p. 109 for all Welcome Center information. PLANYOUR TRIP AIRPORTS Nearly all Wyoming airports — including those in Casper, Cody, Gillette, Jackson, Laramie, Riverton, Rock Springs and Sheridan — offer direct flights to and/or from Denver and Salt Lake City. Nonstop service to and from Jackson Hole Airport increases during the summer months and ski seasons with direct flights from Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Newark, New York City (JFK), Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Denver and Seattle. (All flights are subject to change. Jackson Hole Airport is closed April–June 2022 for renovations, though dates are subject to change; visit jacksonholeairport.com for updates.) DRIVING RESOURCES For driving tips, up-to-date road conditions and other transportation resources, check the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s website at wyoroad.info, call 888-996-7623 or download the Wyoming 511 app. Turn to p. 10 for helpful hints that'll help you stay safe on the road, especially in winter. WYOMING WELCOME CENTERS Discover friendly information specialists, interactive displays, photo ops, free maps and more at eight Welcome Centers — all available at state entry points — to help make your Wyoming visit the vacation of a lifetime. Hours of operation vary by location and season. Check out a list and map of locations on this page (above) and find out more at TravelWyoming.com/welcome-centers.. Visit TravelWyoming.com to discover more trip ideas, places to stay and things to do — and sign up to receive our monthly email. The guide is also available online. See it at TravelWyoming.com/travel-guides. The Wyoming Travel Guide app is available for download at Apple, Amazon and Google Play app stores (just search for “Wyoming Travel Guide”).
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