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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. WYOMING TIPS MAKE RESERVATIONS Most Wyoming campsites require reservations, especially during peak season, May– September. Luckily, there are online reservation systems to help: TravelWY.com/statepark- reservations, recreation. gov and yellowstonenationalparklodges.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 waterresistant jacket. Wear your parka, hat and gloves in winter. 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. 50 to learn about pet rules at national parks and monuments. 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. Highways will shut down for hazardous winter-driving conditions, so please check routes before heading out and be flexible with travel plans. Find more driving tips at TravelWY.com/ cartravel. ACCESSIBLE OUTDOORS Wyoming is known for its breathtaking outdoor spaces and national parks — in this guide watch for attractions marked with for travel ideas that can be visited by people of all abilities. Call ahead for the most up-to-date accessibility information at your chosen destination. Learn more about accessibility in Wyoming at TravelWY.com/ accessibility. RESPECT WILDLIFE Do not approach animals to take pictures and always remember to be aware of your surroundings. Please don’t feed the wildlife. Find more Wyoming facts and tips at TravelWY.com/faqs and TravelWY.com/more. WYOMING TEMPERATURES WYOMING SEASONS AT A GLANCE Learn more about Wyoming’s seasons at TravelWY.com/seasons. 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. WINTER Winter temperatures can dip into the low digits, but the dry air facilitates perfect, fluffy snow for skiing and snowboarding at world-class resorts like Jackson Hole and other cold-weather 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 and Grand Teton National Park. Learn more about winter in Wyoming on p. 80. 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. 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. 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 dude ranch and still welcomes guests today. 1906 Devils Tower was designated America’s first national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt. BE FLEXIBLE & INFORMED. Do your research and be flexible with plans. If a trailhead parking lot is full, have lesser-known backup options ready. If you plan to camp, understand the differences between designated and dispersed campgrounds and pack accordingly. Learn more at TravelWY.com/wyresponsibly. PLAN YOUR 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.) Learn more at TravelWY.com/airtravel. 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 TravelWY.com/welcomecenters. See p. 103 for all Welcome Center information. 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 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 TravelWY.com/travelguide. 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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