Wyoming is one of the most sparsely populated states in the United States but offers an abundance of amazing attractions. The land is rugged and barren in much of the central and southern parts, consisting mostly of Sagebrush. The Northern half of the state boasts several mountain ranges including The Big Horn Range, Wind River Range, Teton Range, and the Absarokas Mountains. With the diversity in landscape, this state is a great place to visit with fewer crowds and breathtaking Wyoming sightseeing!
Here is a list of our favorite must-see places in Wyoming!
- Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
- Historic Towns
- Hot Springs State Park
- The Town of Cody
- Devils Tower National Monument
- Flaming Gorge National Recreation
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
These two national parks draw around 4 million visitors per year, making them the most popular place in Wyoming. The parks together make up one of the largest intact temperate zone ecosystems on the planet. There is a large diversity of wildlife in Teton National Park and Yellowstone, from grizzlies and golden eagles to wolves, elk, moose, bison, and black bears. Even more, Yellowstone was the first established national park in the country!
Historic Towns
Wyoming is covered with small western historic towns. Jackson is one of the closest towns to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Jackson Hole attractions include historic wooden buildings, galleries, quaint shops, wooden boardwalks, restaurants, and four large elk antler arches in the town square. Don’t forget to check out a scenic float trip on the Snake River while you’re in town! The National Elk Refuge borders the town of Jackson, which protects the largest herd of wintering elk in the world. There is also an abundance of family activities in Jackson Hole!
Hot Springs State Park
Hot Springs State Park, in Thermopolis, is built around the world’s largest single-mineral hot spring. The State Bath House has indoor and outdoor pools that stay consistent at 104 degrees. There are also petroglyphs, and a Rainbow Terrace, a unique geothermal feature.
The Town of Cody
Cody is rich in Western history. The Buffalo Bill Museum has a total of five different museums within it. The Cody Firearms Museum contains a large collection of firearms from around the world. The Draper Museum of Natural History contains wildlife and geology themes while the Plains Indian Museum displays exhibits of the prairie’s first inhabitants. These museums are great for visitors of all ages.
Devils Tower National Monument
Another must-see place in Wyoming is Devils Tower National Monument. This monument is an astounding geological feature that protrudes out of the prairie surrounding the Black Hills. It is considered sacred by Northern Plains indigenous people. Hundreds of parallel cracks also make it one of the finest crack-climbing areas in North America.
Flaming Gorge National Recreation
Flaming Gorge National Recreation area is technically in Utah, but just on the edge of the Wyoming border. This area contains a large reservoir, prehistoric fossils, and more. The same Green River that starts in Wyoming flows through the reservoir and exits the dam to produce one of the best tailwater trout fisheries in the lower 48 states with eight to twenty-two thousand trout per mile!
There really are too many places to name in such a vast state. The list above outlines a few of the highlights and our favorite must-see places in the amazing state of Wyoming. You could spend a lifetime exploring Wyoming and only scratch the surface of what it has to offer!
