Wyoming, a state often overlooked, is a treasure trove of natural wonders and charming towns. With its sparse population, it offers a sense of wilderness that is hard to find elsewhere. From the geysers of Yellowstone to the jagged peaks of the Tetons and the wide-open cowboy country, Wyoming is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.
Over the course of six weeks, I had the privilege of exploring Wyoming’s incredible gems. Here, I share my favorite experiences and the must-visit spots that left a lasting impression on me.
Grand Teton National Park: A Symphony of Nature
My journey began at Grand Teton National Parka place that felt like stepping into a real-life National Geographic spread. The park’s jagged peaks, alpine lakes, and wildlife-filled valleys are nothing short of breathtaking. I spent a week soaking in the park’s beauty, hiking around Jenny and Taggart Lakes, and taking in the far-reaching mountain views that seemed to stretch forever.
One of the highlights was kayaking on the Snake Riverwhere I witnessed rock climbers braving the sheer rock faces of Cascade Canyon. The park’s dramatic landscapes and abundant wildlife made it a truly extraordinary experience.
For accommodation, I stayed at the cozy contemporary Cloudveil Resortwhich offered stunning views of Snow King Mountain and a rooftop telescopic viewfinder to spot distant peaks glowing pink in the evening light.
Jackson: Where Rustic Meets Chic
From Grand Teton, I drove an hour south to the charming mountain town of Jackson. Known for its boutique shops, art galleries, fine dining, and classic Western flair, Jackson is a delightful blend of adventure and style. I spent three days exploring the lively Town Square, admiring the elk-antler arches, and warming up with an oat-milk chai latte from Persephone Bakery.
The town’s Western-inspired treasures, such as those found at Made, and its cute little art galleries added to its charm. However, it’s worth noting that Jackson can be a bit pricey for both dining and accommodation.
I stayed at the rustic-chic 4-star Rustic Inn Creeksidewhere I indulged in a hydrating wild sage and lavender body wrap inside a unique tipi-inspired tent.
Bighorn Scenic Byway: A Drive Through the Wild Heart
The Bighorn Scenic Byway offered a breathtaking drive through the rugged peaks, untouched forests, cascading waterfalls, and wide-open mountain vistas of the Bighorn Mountains. The byway’s rugged yet serene vibe and thin mountain air made it a memorable experience.
I spent two days exploring the byway, staying overnight at the rustic Shell Campground and the quirky 4-star Horseshoe Bend Motel. Highlights included the thundering waters of Shell Falls, the historic Medicine Wheel, and the awe-inspiring views across the Bighorn Mountains.
One of my favorite hikes was the 2.6-mile Bucking Mule Falls Trail, where I spotted clusters of purple lupines and bright yellow mule’s ears wildflowers before reaching the breathtaking overlook of the falls and canyon.
Yellowstone National Park: Nature’s Ultimate Showstopper
Yellowstone National Parkthe world’s first national park, is a place of epic and untamed beauty. From bubbling geysers to rainbow-colored hot springs, thunderous waterfalls, and incredible wildlife, Yellowstone is nature’s ultimate showstopper.
I spent four action-packed days exploring Yellowstone’s greatest highlights, including watching Old Faithful erupt, hiking to Artist Point, spotting wolves and bison in Lamar Valley, paddling across Yellowstone Lake, and standing spellbound by the deafening roar of the spectacular Lower Falls.
For accommodation, I stayed at the rustic-chic 4-star Fox Den Lodgewhere I woke up to a veggie omelet dotted with chives, dill, and garden-fresh parsley, serenaded by a cheerful dawn chorus of robins and sparrows.
Buffalo: A Slice of the Old West
The town of Buffalo felt like a wonderfully preserved slice of the Old West. With its historic downtown, backdrop of the Bighorn Mountains, and laid-back frontier charm, Buffalo is one of Wyoming’s most picturesque towns.
I spent a weekend exploring Buffalo, visiting the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum, checking out antique stores like Crazy Woman Antiques, and hiking in the beautiful Bighorn National Forest. The town’s cowboy-heritage-rich vibe made it a memorable stop on my Wyoming road trip.
I stayed at the Historic Occidental Hotel, where I wandered the creaky hallways gazing at historic photographs and antique saddles from its Wild West heyday. The hotel’s rich history and charming atmosphere made it a standout accommodation.
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area: A Desert-Meets-Alpine Drama
The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a place of stark and otherworldly beauty. With its rust-red cliffs, the mighty Green River, and the sparkling blue waters of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, the recreation area offers a dramatic contrast of colors and landscapes.
I spent four days exploring Flaming Gorge, hiking the Canyon Rim Trail, boating the reservoir, white-water rafting the Green River, and taking a guided tour of the Flaming Gorge Dam. The recreation area’s desert-meets-alpine dramatic vibe made it a memorable experience.
One of my favorite hikes was the Hideout Canyon Trail, a leisurely 2-mile round trip where I spotted mule deer among the fragrant sage-green junipers and ended with a swim in a secluded cove that felt like my own private hideaway.
Cody: A Cowboy-Bold Heritage
The town of Codyfounded by Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896, is a place of cowboy-bold heritage and dramatic mountain scenery. With its handsome historic buildings and warm, welcoming vibe, Cody is a charming stop on any Wyoming road trip.
I spent a weekend exploring Cody, visiting the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, wandering the interesting Old Trail Town, and hiking the peaceful trails in the nearby Shoshone National Forest. The town’s mix of frontier history and easy access to Yellowstone’s wild landscapes made it a memorable stop.
I stayed at the characterful 4-star Chamberlin Inn, where I loved the carefully restored building’s original 1900s charm and the organic foods served, including heirloom tomatoes, wildflower honey, and freshly baked sourdough bread.
Devils Tower National Monument: A Mystical Monolith
The Devils Tower National Monument is a striking natural attraction and a sacred site revered by several Native American tribes. The monument’s otherworldly column of volcanic rock rising dramatically above the plains and forests is both awe-inspiring and mystical.
I spent a day exploring Devils Tower, hiking the Tower Trail, walking along Joyner Ridge, and learning about the monument’s interesting geology and Native history at the visitor center. The monument’s mystical and awe-inspiring vibe made it a memorable experience.
One of the highlights was hearing nothing much except a woodpecker hammering away in the nearby ponderosa pines and the distinctive squeaks of prairie dogs drifting across the grasslands below.
Sheridan: A Mountain-Meets-Ranch Country Charm
The town of Sheridan is a charming place with a mix of rustic historic charm, Western-style buildings, mountain views, and a downtown filled with art galleries, local shops, and tree-lined streets. Founded in 1882, Sheridan’s Victorian-era buildings and Western-style architecture are still beautifully intact.
I spent two fun and intriguing days exploring Sheridan, staying overnight at the Sheridan Inn (where I found Buffalo Bill once stayed!), exploring the Trail End mansion, poking through galleries and quirky shops downtown, hiking in the Bighorn National Forest, and boating at sunset on the beautiful Lake DeSmet.
One of the highlights was dining at the chef-driven downtown restaurant Frackletons, where I loved the friendly waitress, the open kitchen, and their cushion-like potato gnocchi topped with crunchy fried sage.
Medicine Bow Peak: A Majestic Alpine Escape
The remote and majestic Medicine Bow Peak offers a dramatic and alpine escape with its majestic alpine views, beautifully clear lakes, and wild, untouched vibe. The peak’s high altitude and stunning landscapes make it a memorable experience.
I spent two days exploring Medicine Bow Peak, hiking the easy 3-mile looped Lake Marie Trail, and taking in the spectacular summit vistas. The peak’s dramatic and alpine vibe made it a memorable stop on my Wyoming road trip.
One of the highlights was skirting the sparkling shoreline of Lake Marie, adding a two-mile extension to Mirror Lake and Lookout Lake, where I saw the jagged Snowy Range peaks reflect in the mirror-like water and the occasional Clark’s nutcracker dart between the pines.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area: A Rugged and Remote Adventure
The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers a rugged and remote adventure with its towering canyon walls, shimmering turquoise water, and panoramic overlooks. The recreation area’s dramatic landscapes and abundant wildlife make it a memorable experience.
I spent two days exploring Bighorn Canyon, hiking the Rim Trail, taking a memorable boat trip on Bighorn Lake, and visiting Fort Smith. The recreation area’s rugged and remote vibe made it a memorable stop on my Wyoming road trip.
One of the highlights was stopping by the Yellowtail Dam Visitor Center, where I learned how millions of tons of concrete were used to create this engineering marvel and how its turbines still harness the river’s power today.
Hot Springs State Park: A Soothing and Surreal Experience
The Hot Springs State Park offers a soothing and surreal experience with its hot springs, colorful mineral terraces, flower-filled gardens, and pretty views of the Bighorn River. The park’s steamy and slightly surreal vibe makes it a memorable stop on any Wyoming road trip.
I spent two days exploring Hot Springs State Park, soaking in the free State Bath House, wandering the colorful mineral terraces, walking the Swinging Bridge, hiking Monument Hill, spotting bison, and picnicking by the river with a hearty veggie huckleberry, fresh sweet corn, and locally baked sourdough.
One of the highlights was bathing in the naturally heated outdoor pool at the State Bath House, where mineral-rich waters infused with calcium, silica, and sodium bicarbonate left me feeling wonderfully rejuvenated.
Sinks Canyon State Park: A Geologic and Wilderness Wonder
The Sinks Canyon State Park offers a geologic and wilderness wonder with its crimson cliffs, the Popo Agie’s mysterious underground ‘Sinks,’ and tranquil mountain solitude. The park’s rugged, geologic, and quietly dramatic vibe makes it a memorable stop on any Wyoming road trip.
I spent two days exploring Sinks Canyon, visiting the ‘Sinks’—where the river vanishes into limestone caverns—and tracking it a quarter-mile downstream to the ‘Rise,’ where it surges back to the surface as a clear, trout-filled pool. The park’s rugged and geologic vibe made it a memorable experience.
One of the highlights was picnicking at the Bruce Picnic Site, grilling a hearty BBQ beside the rushing Popo Agie River, and listening to sweet western meadowlarks singing from the surrounding sagebrush.
Knapsack Col: A Remote and Wild Adventure
The Knapsack Col offers a remote and wild adventure with its high-altitude vistas, shimmering alpine lakes, dramatic peaks, and incredible sense of isolation. The col’s remote and truly wild vibe makes it a memorable experience for experienced hikers and backpackers.
I spent three days trekking rugged trails, taking in the beauty of Big Sandy and Clearwater Lakes, soaking up the solitude of the wilderness, and watching climbers conquer the Cirque’s spectacular granite spires. The col’s remote and truly wild vibe made it a memorable stop on my Wyoming road trip.
One of the highlights was camping overnight in a tent at remote Peak Lake, where towering peaks mirrored perfectly on the still waters and the strict ‘Leave No Trace’ ethos meant there wasn’t so much as a scrap of litter in sight.
Wyoming State Capitol: A Stately and Historic Introduction
The Wyoming State Capitol offers a stately and historic introduction to the state with its elegant classical revival architecture, striking gold dome, ornate interiors, and beautifully landscaped grounds. The capitol’s stately and historic vibe makes it a memorable stop on any Wyoming road trip.
I spent an afternoon at the State Capitol, strolling through the gardens, joining the free guided tour, and learning all about the state’s interesting political history and legislative process. The capitol’s stately and historic vibe made it a memorable experience.
One of the highlights was walking through the immaculate gardens and admiring both the proud bronze buffalo statue framed by flower beds filled with golden marigolds.
The Red Desert: An Otherworldly Landscape
The Red Desert offers an otherworldly landscape with its shifting, windswept sand dunes, rugged badlands, and truly endless open skies. The desert’s stark and otherworldly vibe makes it a memorable stop on any Wyoming road trip.
I spent two days camping at the Red Desert Rose Campground and exploring the surreal landscapes of shifting dunes and jagged rock formations. The desert’s stark and otherworldly vibe made it a memorable experience.
One of the highlights was going on a fun three-day driving tour, waking at dawn to see the vast Killpecker Sand Dunes glowing gold in the first light of sunrise.
Vedauwoo Recreation Area: A Wild and Whimsical Escape
The Vedauwoo Recreation Area offers a wild and whimsical escape with its towering Sherman Granite formations, fragrant pine forests, open meadows, and peaceful hiking trails. The recreation area’s wild, whimsical, and wonderfully weird vibe makes it a memorable stop on any Wyoming road trip.
I spent one night camping at the stunning Vedauwoo Campground, hiking the photogenic Box Canyon Trail, watching climbers scaling the granite walls, and biking the rugged Turtle Rock Trail. The recreation area’s wild and whimsical vibe made it a memorable experience.
One of the highlights was hiking the Box Canyon Trail, where the towering granite walls closed in around me, creating a dramatic, hidden world where the temperature felt noticeably cooler and every sound echoed through the canyon.
Fossil Butte National Monument: A Prehistoric Wonder
The Fossil Butte National Monument offers a prehistoric wonder with its rugged high-desert scenery and perfectly preserved fossils from a distant prehistoric world. The monument’s quiet, high-desert vibe makes it a memorable stop on any Wyoming road trip.
I spent a full day exploring Fossil Butte, visiting the visitor center’s extensive exhibits, joining a ranger-led hike, watching fossil preparation demonstrations, and taking scenic drives through the stark but beautiful desert terrain. The monument’s quiet and high-desert vibe made it a memorable experience.
One of the highlights was learning about the monument’s fascinating geology and the ancient creatures that once roamed the area.
Grand Targhee Resort: A Friendly and Low-Key Mountain Retreat
The Grand Targhee Resort offers a friendly and low-key mountain retreat with its endless green slopes, breathtaking views of the Tetons, and laid-back, sunny vibe. The resort’s friendly and low-key mountain feel makes it a memorable stop on any Wyoming road trip.
I spent three days exploring Grand Targhee, hiking through wildflower meadows, riding the scenic chairlift up Fred’s Mountain, and biking its trails. The resort’s friendly and low-key vibe made it a memorable experience.
One of the highlights was staying at the unique and cozy Teton Teepee Lodge, where I loved the Insta-worthy circular layout, the awesome sunken circular fire, and the homemade breakfast baked on-site, especially the ultra-moist cinnamon coffee cake.
Wyoming is a state of untamed beauty, where the wilderness still reigns supreme. From the dramatic peaks of Grand Teton to the mystical Devils Tower, and charming towns like Jackson and Cody, Wyoming offers a journey through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the United States. Whether you’re a nature lover, an adventure seeker, or simply looking for a peaceful retreat, Wyoming’s hidden gems are waiting to be discovered.
