Skip to main content
Wyoming's Stunning Landscapes
Wyoming's Stunning Landscapes video screenshot
View more

Wide, Open Spaces

The USA’s least populous state, Wyoming is also one of the richest in unspoiled nature. Two of the most famous U.S. national parks – Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park – are located here. These destinations beckon outdoors lovers and adventurers looking to unplug and tune into Mother Nature. It’s not uncommon to spot impressive wild animals like bear, bison, elk and coyotes roaming the plains of this vast and beautiful state.

Yellowstone is dotted with sputtering geothermal geysers and colorful hot springs, the most famous of which are Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring. The Grand Teton mountain range, in the northwestern portion of the state, has mountains great for hiking and winter skiing and snowboarding. The tallest of peaks here reaches 4,200 meters (13,770 feet). In the valley below sits the charming town of Jackson, a posh skiing and hiking respite with a historic “Wild, Wild West” feel. Grand Teton and Yellowstone are connected by the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Parkway; make it a back-to-back trip for the ultimate outdoor holiday.

 

Ranch Life, City Life

Wyoming is truly cowboy country, and there is no better way to experience that first-hand than by booking a stay at a dude ranch. Wyoming dude ranch vacations offer an opportunity to live out the Western way of life, even for just a short time. Dude ranches in Wyoming range from luxurious resorts featuring 5-star dining experiences, spas and entertainment to operational working ranches for a truly authentic experience. Eatons’ Ranch is the country's first and oldest dude ranch, while Vee Bar Guest Ranch, Gros Ventre River Ranch and The Hideout Lodge are also favorites. Many ranch accommodations welcome guests year-round and offer more activities than you'll have time to try out in a single trip: horseback riding, cattle working, campfires under the stars, fly fishing, river tubing, camping, canoeing, hiking and more. Some offer guided horseback riding trips, adults-only getaways and fall hunting excursions.

Wyoming’s big cities are quaint by some standards – even the largest city, the state capital of Cheyenne, has just 60,000 residents – but offer a blend of down-home, Western culture with city amenities. Cheyenne and Casper, the second-largest city, feature museums, special events, local shopping and a hearty culinary scene accompanied by a number of breweries and distilleries. In the popular gateway town of Jackson, look for fine dining and boutique shopping by day followed by spectacular stargazing at night.

 

Wyoming's Stunning Landscapes
Wyoming's Stunning Landscapes video screenshot
View more

Fun Fact

Yellowstone National Park’s Lower Falls
View more

With vast spaces and wonderful wilderness to explore, Wyoming is the USA’s 10th largest state in land mass but the least populated with about 580,000 people.

Statue of Buffalo Bill at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming
View more

The Northwest Wyoming city Cody is named after the famous showman Colonel William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody, who played a part in its founding in 1896.

The Belle Fourche River alongside Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming
View more

Wyoming is home to three national firsts: the first National Forest, Shoshone; the first National Monument, Devils Tower; and the first National Park, Yellowstone.

Photo: Wyoming Office of Tourism

Must see places

Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park

One of the most-visited national parks in the USA, Yellowstone offers incomparable beauty amid the rugged mountains, valleys, spectacular geysers and natural hot springs. Must-see sites include geothermal features – including Old Faithful – at Lower and Upper Geyser Basins, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lamar Valley for wildlife viewing. With nearly 9,000 square kilometers of protected wildlands, Yellowstone offers abundant outdoor recreation year-round.

Two crystalline images of the Grand Tetons

Grand Teton National Park

Backpacking, hiking, horseback riding, snow sports, paddling the Snake River and rock climbing are just a few of the activities available at spectacular Grand Teton National Park. Soak in the views of jagged mountain peaks, pretty lakes and historical sites along several scenic drives throughout the park.

Devils Tower National Monument near Hulett, Wyoming

Devils Tower National Monument

Jutting out of the earth is an awe-inspiring, 65-million-year-old rock formation considered a sacred site by Northern Plains Indians. Hike the Tower Trail and you’ll see prayer cloths placed there by local tribe members, but do not touch or photograph them. To learn about the unique geology, indigenous people and wildlife of the area, take a ranger-led park tour. The truly adventurous – and skilled – can try climbing its sheer vertical sides.

Mounted fossils on display at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis, Wyoming

Wyoming Dinosaur Center

Get a hands-on look at Wyoming's exciting archeological history at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, a world-class facility in Thermopolis with offerings for all ages. The museum is home to one of the largest and most unique fossil collections in the world, as well as interactive exhibits and dioramas. Take a short bus ride to one of the center’s active dig sites, where archeologists work year-round to unearth the fossils displayed inside the museum.

An expert rider at Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo in Wyoming
Wyoming Office of Tourism

Cheyenne Frontier Days

Since 1897, this week-long celebration of Wyoming’s frontier heritage offers a deep dive into American Western culture. Find a recreated frontier town, a substantial rodeo schedule, bull riding, an American Indian Village, concerts, a chuck wagon cook-off and plenty of family-friendly entertainment, including a parade and carnival.

A snowy day at the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, Wyoming
Chad Coppess/Dakotagraph

National Elk Refuge

Take a sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, where more than 7,000 majestic elk –one of the largest herds in the world – spend the winter. Fall is elk-breeding season, which can result in dramatic displays and bull calls. Spring and summer are prime time for bird watching in the refuge.

Entrance to Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Encompassing five museums under one roof – Buffalo Bill Museum, Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum and Draper Natural History Museum – this is the place to learn about the American West. The center and Cody, the city where it’s located, are named after folk hero William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody, a Wild West showman, buffalo hunter and U.S. Army scout.

A Wind River Country powwow

Wind River Country

Set in the expansive Wind River mountain range, Wind River Country is home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes on the seventh-largest American Indian reservation in the USA. Throughout the region’s small towns, you’ll find heritage and cultural centers, historic districts, powwows and trading posts set against a gorgeous mountain backdrop.

Meandering through the Bighorn Mountains

Bighorn Mountains

Scenic highways and overlooks await visitors who travel through this range that leads to Yellowstone. Explore forests, take in the wildlife, visit cultural centers, see a rodeo or enjoy a music festival as you marvel at the wilderness, deserts and craggy peaks found here.

Inspiration at the National Historic Trails Center

National Historic Trails Interpretive Center

This center in Casper traces the incredible journeys of the half-million pioneers who passed through Wyoming on their westward progression via the California, Oregon, Mormon and Pony Express trails. It’s a must-see for history buffs, and admission is always free.

A cowboy exploring the Wyoming wilderness on horseback
View more

Experience Travel Wyoming

Wyoming Office of Tourism