2021-10-24 20:25:04
WY NOW? In 1872, wonderful Wyoming wasn’t even a state. Yet Americans already revered the region for its grand geologic and hydrothermal gems — and created the world’s first national park to protect it. And, from there, the idea of national parks took off. Fast forward to 2022, and Yellowstone National Park is turning the big 1-5-0. That means generations of visitors have oohed and aahed over the world’s greatest collection of bubbling hydrothermal features, like geysers. They’ve also reveled in Yellowstone’s towering peaks, deeply carved valleys and all the furry and feathered critters that live there — including magnificent woolly bison and memorable sightings of America’s fiercest carnivores, like roaming grizzly bears, cougars and wolves. And here’s the clincher: What we experience there today is more or less the same as what our great-grandparents experienced 100 years ago. Yellowstone enables us to see what wild lands are like — as they once were and how they’ll always be — and this makes the national-park concept shine. A MONUMENTAL IDEA The rationale behind claiming Yellowstone as a national park was, funnily enough, based on the landscape being impractical for agriculture and mineral development. And, in the late 1800s, those who came West did so to get rich off the region’s seemingly endless natural resources. However beautiful, Yellowstone is first and foremost a huge volcanic crater filled with lava. The railroad industry saw it from a different perspective, however — if Yellowstone was even half as magical as everyone was saying, they’d make a fortune bringing people there to see it. Indeed, protecting Yellowstone’s vast landscape — 96 percent of which is found within Wyoming's borders — created numerous benefits over the years. It helped kickstart the science of ecology, encouraged conservation of the world’s most beautiful places and inspired generations of Americans to fall in love with the untamed world. YELLOWSTONE’S SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS Whether you’re here for a day or a week, there are numerous ways you can help keep it pristine and be a responsible traveler, like carpooling, properly sorting your waste and following park signage. Learn all about Yellowstone’s sustainability efforts at yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/sustainability. Learn more about 150 years at Yellowstone at nps.gov/yell. 10 DAYS IN Wild CARBON COUNTY Wyoming adventure awaits in Carbon County’s rugged Western towns. Start your trip from the south and progress west toward Rawlins, with stops along the way to soak up the area’s must-sees. 1 day | BAGGS, DIXON & SAVERY Your road trip begins along the Colorado–Wyoming border as you travel through three charming towns steeped in frontier history — Baggs, Dixon and Savery. Pause for Wild West lore at Baggs Outlaw Stop and the Little Snake River Museum before continuing on the Battle Pass Scenic Byway for winding roads and breathtaking terrain. If you’re feeling thirsty, mosey on over to The Cowboy Inn or the Dixon Club for a refreshing adult beverage. When it’s time to retire, you’ll have everything you need at Dixon Motel & Club. Or, if your schedule is loose: Ranch life calls for an extended stay at Ladder Ranch or Boyer YL Ranch, where you’ll horseback ride, fish and hike through Wyoming’s scenic Little Snake River Valley. 2 days | ENCAMPMENT & RIVERSIDE Found along the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Encampment and Riverside offer a double-dose of outdoorsy bliss for the adventure-loving traveler. Stop for Grand Encampment Museum’s ranching relics, rugged views of Medicine Bow National Forest (enjoyed best on foot along a section of the Continental Divide Trail) and the Thomas Edison marker that looks over brilliantly blue Battle Lake along the Battle Pass Scenic Byway. Feeling hungry? A ginormous bacon burger with avocado and crispy fries at Bear Trap Cafe & Bar will soothe your empty tum. For sweet dreams and lots of rustic allure, stay at the Cottonwood Cabins or Lazy Acres Campground, RV Park & Motel. Or, tack on some extra vacation days at A Bar A Ranch, a nearly 100,000-acre cattle and guest ranch along the banks of the North Platte River. 3 days | SARATOGA Known just as much for its blue-ribbon trout fishing as it is for its toasty mineral hot springs, Saratoga is a nature-lover’s paradise cradled by the massive peaks of the Snowy and the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. You’ll love this laid-back town for its easy access to all the things you love to do in Wyoming, like hiking, camping, hunting, snowmobiling and so much more. Stop to enjoy downtown Saratoga’s unspoiled charm, then take a steamy soak in Hobo Hot Springs or go fly-fishing along the Upper North Platte River — where you just might spot a bald eagle. For some much-needed calories after a day spent outdoors: You’ll delight in heavenly hand-tossed pasta at Bella’s Bistro or high-quality comfort food served with unique whiskeys at Firewater Public House. Then rest your head at Saratoga Hot Springs Resort or Hotel Wolf. Both offer one-of-a-kind Western history and delicious on-site restaurants. 1 day | ELK MOUNTAIN As the northern gateway to the Snowy Range, Elk Mountain is a perfect place to pause for a day of tranquility. Found at the base of its namesake — the more than 11,000-foot-high Elk Mountain — this tucked-away locale got its start in the mid-1800s as a stage stop along the Overland Trail. You’ll love Elk Mountain Museum’s quirky local collections, plus the ample wildlife along the rugged and rolling Pass Creek Road. Be sure to savor the big, juicy steaks at the Historic Elk Mountain Hotel Restaurant before retreating to your room just a few steps away. 1 day | HANNA & MEDICINE BOW Founded originally to serve miners and locomotives, the towns of Hanna and Medicine Bow will appeal to the historian and nature lover alike. You’ll revel in the expansive sage-brush flats — and might see a nimble pronghorn (or three). Tour the Hanna Basin Museum and the Medicine Bow Museum for Western treasures, then head out for some fly-fishing along the cascading Medicine Bow River for trophy-sized rainbow and brown trout. After a day on the go, you’ll appreciate hearty saloon fare and a room for the night at The Historic Virginian Hotel. 2 days | SINCLAIR & RAWLINS Once a remote and rowdy railroad stop, Rawlins — along with nearby Sinclair — delivers a welcoming, Old West atmosphere and lots to do. You’ll love Seminoe State Park’s otherworldly grandeur, downtown Rawlins for dining and shopping (take a walking tour for historic insight), Rochelle Ranch Golf Course’s rolling greens and The Wyoming Frontier Prison’s colorful criminal stories. Make stops for cheesy enchiladas at Rose’s Lariat and savory steaks at the Aspen House Restaurant, then pull over for the night at one of Rawlins’ numerous hotels and motels. PLAN YOUR TRIP Head to WyomingCarbonCounty.com for the most up-to-date travel information as you map out your road trip! Rawlins | Sinclair | Saratoga | Encampment | Riverside | Hanna Medicine Bow | Elk Mountain | Baggs | Dixon | Savery WyomingCarbonCounty.com WY RELOCATE? With our world changing so rapidly, there’s never been a better time to make a move. Relocating to Wyoming means building a life you want, where you can spend less, earn more and adventure most. This is your chance to plant your roots where they have room to grow. SPEND LESS Wyoming’s low sales and property taxes allow more freedom to spend on the things that really matter. EARN MORE Wyoming has the most business-friendly tax climate in the nation, with no personal or corporate state income tax and manufacturing sales tax exemptions. ADVENTURE MOST Wyoming boasts two national parks, five national forests, 12 state parks and countless acres of public land to hunt, fish, bike, hike and climb. Need more information? Visit TravelWyoming.com/wy-relocate.
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