ROAD TRIPS Desert & Peaks ROAD TRIP Discover Wyoming’s vast adventurelands filled with roaming wildlife, dreamy mountaintop vistas and prehistoric gems. = ACCESSIBLE NATURAL AREAS = STARGAZING AREAS START: Rock Springs END: Teton Village TOTAL DRIVING DISTANCE : Approximately 337 miles Rock Springs » Spend a day sandboarding or ATVing down 100-foot dunes and hiking to Boar’s Tusk — it’s what remains of an ancient volcano. Afterward, stay to gaze up at the swirling Milky Way. Carved into a 300-foot sandstone cliff face, these etchings tell the stories of the early Plains and Great Basin Native Americans who called this area home. BONUS: Killpecker Sand Dunes Kemmerer » Fossil Hunting » White Mountain Petroglyphs » Feel like a real paleontologist on the ultimate treasure hunt as you dig for fossils at Fossil Lake Safari (known for its intricate fish fossils) or American Fossil (a Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice award winner). Plus, keep what you find as a Wyoming souvenir. Grand Finale TRIP ADD-ON » R Lazy S Ranch Stay a week in a log cabin and fill your days with outdoor adventures, like horseback riding and trout fishing. Find more ways to experience Wyoming ranches on p. 72. Drive the Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop from Rock Springs to Green River at dawn for the best chance to see the herd galloping through the high desert. Investigate 200-plus plant and animal fossils at the year-round visitor center. In warmer months, add a scenic drive, self-guided interpretive hike or ranger program to your road-trip itinerary. Fossil Butte National Monument Green River » Afton » Intermittent Spring Head to a National Park FROM TETON VILLAGE Approx. 17 miles to Yellowstone National Park Approx. 55 miles to Grand Teton National Park W T’ S N EX T? HA Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area Explore the landscape’s natural kaleidoscopic hues with a local guide on a bus tour through Flaming Gorge Country (explorewy.com/flaming-gorge-tour). Then, camp out and watch twinkling stars fill the night sky. Known as the “spring that breathes,” the Intermittent Spring near Afton is one of only three periodic springs in the world that flows on predictable intervals. Take a detour on the Star Valley Scenic Byway, a picturesque 80-mile stretch of Hwy. 89 beginning at the Idaho– Wyoming border and ending with a descent into the sprawling Star Valley. BONUS: » Home to more than 200 bird species, keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles, trumpeter swans and even moose, or visit the family-friendly welcome center. Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge Jackson » Fort Bridger » Tour restored buildings highlighting the history of this 19th-century fur-trading post, a vital supply stop for wagon trains traversing the Oregon, California and Mormon trails. Fort Bridger State Historic Site Uncover the mysteries of the universe in the first designated International Dark Sky Community. See planetarium shows and fascinating exhibits during the day, then return in the evening for stargazing experiences. Snow King Observatory & Planetarium Desert & Peaks VISITOR CENTERS Rock Springs Evanston Green River Jackson » Million Dollar Cowboy Bar Head to this iconic, Western-style watering hole for refreshing drinks and hearty cuts of steak, like elk tenderloin and bison flank, along with country dancing and live bands. STATE PARKS & NATIONAL FORESTS Ashley National Forest Bear River State Park Bridger-Teton National Forest Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Gros Ventre Wilderness Evanston » Piedmont Charcoal Kilns State Historic Site Teton Village » Jackson Hole Via Ferrata Stop by the ghost town of Piedmont, a former Union Pacific Railroad stop, where giant limestone and sandstone kilns once made valuable charcoal that was hauled all the way to Utah. Explore one of the only remaining complete roundhouses on the old Union Pacific line between Omaha and Sacramento. Tip: Tours can be scheduled Monday through Friday, but you must do so ahead of time. Seeking an adrenaline rush? Scale the mountains of Jackson Hole using a series of iron rungs, ladders and suspended bridges leading to jaw-dropping views of the world below (summer only). Glide to the top of Rendezvous Mountain at over 10,000 feet for unforgettable panoramas of the valley and surrounding mountains and a warm waffle from Corbet’s Cabin . » Roundhouse & Railyards » Jackson Hole Aerial Tram 42
Wyoming Official Travel Guide 2026 Wyoming Official Travel Guide: Page 42
