Get Off The Beaten Path: WYOMING’S TOP 9 HIDDEN GEMS While Wyoming’s well-known icons (we’re talking about you, Yellowstone National Park) often take center stage when it comes to planning a visit to the Cowboy State, there are countless hidden treasures to explore among our nearly 98,000 square miles. To make it easy for you to make the most of your time in Wyoming, we’ve rounded up nine of the state’s top gems. WY Not? 1 BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA 3 FRONTIER AUTO MUSEUM IN GILLETTE 2 DOWNTOWN CASPER While downtown Casper isn’t a hidden gem because it’s easy to find, the area is often overlooked. However, Casper’s newly rejuvenated downtown is a definite must see on your Wyoming vacation. Stroll the winding streets, catch live music at David Street Station and shop boutiques and galleries for made-in-Wyoming goods before savoring farm-to-table offerings at local restaurants and tasting Wyoming spirits at Backwards Distilling Company. 5 LIFE-SIZE DINOSAURS IN ROCK SPRINGS Situated in the state’s southwest corner is Rock Springs, where you’ll find Western Wyoming Community College. While it looks like a typical college campus, the school’s Natural History Museum has five life-size dinosaur displays and is a highlight along I-80. Dinosaurs on display include Camptosaurus, Plesiosaur, Stegosaurus, Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex. 80 Wyoming Official Travelers Journal SNOWY RANGE SCENIC BYWAY, JASON HATFIELD. OPPOSITE PAGE: BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY, JEFF VANUGA. Located in north central Wyoming and encompassing more than 120,000 acres, Bighorn Canyon is perhaps the state’s best-kept secret. The best access point for exploring the canyon, lake and recreation area is the south entrance, located 11 miles north of Lovell. Visitors can take guided boat tours and soak in the scenery — most notably the walls, cliffs and spires that sit 500 feet above the lake — cast a fishing line for walleye or sauger or hike the 25-plus miles of trails in the South District. Learn more about Bighorn Canyon on p. 71. A definite jewel in northeast Wyoming, Frontier Auto Museum opened in 2016 and welcomes visitors to its antique and upcycled store, car museum and old-fashioned general store. Highlights include classic cars, old-time gas pumps and vintage neon signs. 4 SNOWY RANGE SCENIC BYWAY State Route 130 (aka: Snowy Range Road) is one of the loveliest drives in Wyoming. Crossing the Medicine Bow Mountain Range, it takes its passengers through some of the most stunning alpine landscapes in the West. Access the route via I-80 in Laramie or at Walcott Junction east of Rawlins. While the drive takes center stage, there are abundant opportunities for hiking, fishing and picnicking along the way.
Wyoming Official Travel Guide 2018 Wyoming OTJ: Page 80
