Rockies to Tetons REGIONS 50 431 59 116 120 434 192 387 450 26 20 6 189 259 59 26 20 25 5 287 351 135 WY AM I HERE? 18 4 220 487 191 189 28 77 487 26 rockies to tetons Destinations 28 287 30 372 3 80 130 130 487 34 13 80 189 30 25 789 530 230 414 70 230 2 1 “We don’t get to choose where we’re born, but I got here as fast as I could. It wasn’t just the state itself that I fell in love with even though it’s geographically amazing — it was the people,” says Joe Brandl, owner of Dubois’ Absaroka Designs and Tannery. “In Dubois, you’re going to find genuine people who want to go out of their way to help you … and people keep coming back because of that.” OPPOSITE PAGE: FLY FISHING IN THE WIND RIVER RANGE, JAMIE STORROW; LEFT TO RIGHT: VEDAUWOO RECREATION AREA, BRIAN HARRINGTON; WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION, JAMIE STORROW. 1 CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS OLD WEST MUSEUM CHEYENNE 4 INDEPENDENCE ROCK STATE HISTORIC SITE NEAR ALCOVA This museum interprets the storied past of the world’s largest rodeo and frontier celebration, which has attracted patrons from near and far to the state’s capital since 1897. Discover the romance of the very first Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo and let the kids explore the interactive children’s gallery. Learn more about the event on p. 94. To pioneers who made their way west along the Oregon Trail, this was an important landmark — if reached by the Fourth of July, they could make it over the Rockies before winter. They carved their names into the rock, earning it the nickname “Register of the Desert.” Today, visitors can still see the etchings, climb to the top or hike the trail around the base. STATE PARKS CURT GOWDY STATE PARK Near Cheyenne & Laramie This easily accessible park is a mountain biker’s paradise, with varied terrain for beginners and experts alike. Pitch a tent under the stars at one of three campgrounds, or reserve a stay at the historic Hynds Lodge nearby. 2 VEDAUWOO CAMPGROUND & RECREATION AREA BETWEEN LARAMIE & CHEYENNE 5 WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION Towering rock structures, rivers and campsites galore await in one of Wyoming’s most beloved recreation areas. Known to the Arapaho Indians as “Land of the Earthborn Spirit,” Vedauwoo offers hiking and biking trails as well as rock-climbing routes. 3 SARATOGA HOT SPRINGS RESORT & SPA SARATOGA Bordered by the Wind River Mountains, the Wind River Indian Reservation is home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. Learn more about the tribes and their cultures at the Wind River Hotel & Casino’s Northern Arapaho Experience Room. Visit in late June for the Eastern Shoshone Powwow and Indian Days or try your luck year-round at the Wind River Casino or Shoshone Rose Hotel and Casino. SEMINOE STATE PARK Near Rawlins Seminoe has many opportunities to encounter bighorn sheep, elk, deer, coyotes and pronghorn. Explore 180 miles of shoreline along one of Wyoming’s largest reservoirs and camp beneath the beautiful Seminoe Mountains. SINKS CANYON STATE PARK Near Lander This rugged canyon at the foot of the southern Wind River Mountains is named for a unique geologic formation where the Popo Agie River vanishes underground near the mouth of the canyon and reappears as a pool a quarter mile away dubbed “the Rise.” Pass your time trout fishing, rock climbing or hiking. A good dose of relaxation is guaranteed at this pampering resort, where guests are invited to lounge in intimate teepee-covered pools and a 70-foot mineral hot springs swimming pool. Lodging is available in rustic yet cozy guestrooms and suites, while the Healing Waters Spa is housed in the original 1902 State Bath House. 6 NATIONAL BIGHORN SHEEP INTERPRETIVE CENTER DUBOIS During the winter months, the world’s largest wintering herd of bighorn sheep roams this remote area. Stop by the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center to set up a tour — guided or solo — to see the majestic creatures in their natural habitat. TravelWyoming.com 31
Wyoming Official Travel Guide 2018 Wyoming OTJ: Page 31
