Sweetwater County Official Travel Guide - 2025/2026
Discover Natural Wonders
2025-04-29 04:54:17
As part of Wyoming’s largest county, Rock Springs and Green River have a bounty of natural beauty to explore, from plateaus peppered with sagebrush and gravity-defying rock formations to riverside oases brimming with a variety of wildlife. Venture out and experience these local treasures for yourself.
PILOT BUTTE WILD HORSES
Run wild and let your mane fly in one of the few remaining places where the spirit of the West still thrives. Visit Pilot Butte, where wild horses roam free and untamed. With a population of about 1,500, you may hear the thundering of hooves before you see these magnificent creatures.
Drive the Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop for the best chance to witness the majesty of these wild horses among some of the most scenic overlooks in southwest Wyoming.
SEEDSKADEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
The Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge is a nature enthusiast’s dream. With more than 26,000 acres of wetlands and open plains, there’s plenty of space to roam.
Tour the refuge by foot, boat, horse or car and keep an eye out for historical ranching sites and pioneer-trail crossings, like the Lombard Ferry. Seedskadee also boasts virtually endless opportunities to engage with native species, from fishing its worldclass trout waters and hunting big game to spotting wildlife like moose, peregrine falcons, trumpeter swans and bobcats.
ROCK FORMATIONS
CASTLE ROCK
Towering above downtown Green River, Castle Rock is one of the area’s most formidable geological landmarks. Over the years, it’s been called the Citadel, Indian Head Rock and Green River Butte.
THE PALISADES
Deeply ingrained in U.S. history, the Palisades have served many purposes. Native Americans used them as protection from the elements, while trappers and traders saw the rock formation as an important marker to guide their journeys through the area.
TOLLGATE ROCK
Standing at 6,440 feet above sea level, Tollgate Rock is likely the tallest “toll station” in history. As the tales go, early Mormons created a road through a natural gate on the rock’s south side. They then charged travelers a toll for passage through the gate, hence its name.
PILOT BUTTE
Dominating the surrounding landscape at 7,949 feet tall, Pilot Butte has been used as a navigational landmark since people first came to the region, and it’s still used as an orientation point today. Head to the summit for panoramic views.
KISSING ROCKS
Suspended mere inches from actually “kissing” each other, Native Americans believed that the spirits of two doomed lovers from opposing tribes inhabited the rocks, only to spend eternity just out of each other’s reach.
BOAR’S TUSK
Boar’s Tusk holds great religious importance to the Native Americans of the region. The core of an ancient volcano, it rises out of the ground like a 400-foot-tall guardian to the Killpecker Sand Dunes.
Disclaimer: Access to some of these areas may require a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle and good navigational skills, as some roads may be unnamed. Be sure to bring water, have a full tank of gas and let someone know where you are going.
ENJOY MORE OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Create an unforgettable trip with help from our planning resources, like a wild-horse-viewing guide or tips for year-round adventures in Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge.
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