Top Things to Do in Wyoming

Much of the Cowboy State – Wyoming – lies well under the radar of many travelers, which is excellent news for those in the know.

Most people equate the state’s incredible natural scenery with its two showcase national parks, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. While it would certainly be a crime not to spend a significant amount of time in these two gems, beyond the iconic parks lies equally spectacular but far less-traveled scenery, notably in the world-class Wind River and Bighorn Ranges.

Combine time in these majestic parks with a sprinkling of the state’s frontier history and Indigenous heritage, and you have the beginnings of a fabulous road trip through the wide-open spaces of the nation’s least populated state – an authentic sampler of the West at its best. Here’s your lineup of the top things to do in Wyoming.

1. Watch Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park

You could spend your entire Wyoming vacation just in Yellowstone National Park. The otherworldly geyser basins, backcountry lakes, and scenic overlooks are world-class. However, for many visitors, it’s the wildlife that makes Yellowstone unbeatable. You’ll likely spot the park’s iconic bison and elk just from the car window; to see wolves or a grizzly, you’ll need to head out at dawn or dusk equipped with time and a spotting scope.

Winter is the best season for wildlife spotting, as animals cluster in lower, warmer, more accessible valleys, making them easier to see against the snow. Particularly in the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley, there’s always something to observe. Our tip: take part in a wolf-watching day trip with a Gardiner-based biologist to see the park from a new perspective.

2. Hike or Backpack Grand Teton National Park

If Yellowstone is all about geological wonders and captivating wildlife, then Grand Teton National Park is all about the mountains. If you’re a hiker, Grand Teton is your place, offering the state’s most remarkable range of day hikes, from family-friendly strolls past enticing turquoise lakes to hardcore canyon scrambles featuring significant elevation gains.

For those with four or five days to spare, consider the Teton Crest Trail, perhaps the Rockies’ premier backpacking trip. The classic 39-mile route takes you through high mountain valleys and three high passes, showcasing the epic lake-filled Alaska Basin. Due to the trail’s popularity, advance camping spot reservations and vehicle shuttling are necessary.

3. Visit the “Smithsonian of the West”

Wyoming’s best museum is undeniably the Buffalo Bill Center in Cody. This complex features five museums, one of which focuses solely on the Western showman Bill Cody. The Plains Indian Museum serves as a peerless resource to learn about regional Indigenous heritage, while the Gallery of Western Art showcases iconic works that define our image of the West.

Lastly, the Draper Museum of Natural History provides an ideal primer for anyone headed to the natural wonders of Yellowstone National Park, located just a couple of hours’ drive west.

4. Attend a Powwow

There’s no better way to appreciate Wyoming’s Native American culture than at a powwow in the state’s Wind River Indian Reservation. These annual gatherings spotlight traditional dances and drumming, showcasing the incredible regalia of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapahoe peoples, made from eagle feathers, shells, bone, and delicate beadwork.

The largest event is the three-day Eastern Shoshone Indian Days Powwow held in June at Fort Washakie, where you can also visit the burial places of Arapahoe chief Washakie and Sacagawea, the famous guide of Lewis and Clark. Entry to the powwows is free, but always ask permission before taking photos of people and their attire.

5. Explore the Bighorn Mountains

The Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming are among the state’s best-kept secrets. Road trippers can traverse two of the state’s most scenic drives: the Bighorn and Cloud Peak scenic highways, while adventurous backpackers might attempt the non-technical hike up to Cloud Peak, the highest in the Bighorns, after camping overnight at Mistymoon Lake.

On the northwest edge of the range, between Lovell and Sheridan, don’t miss the intriguing Medicine Wheel, an 80-foot-wide spoked circle of stones used in ancient celestial and solstice observances, sacred to local tribes for over 7000 years. Equally enigmatic is the Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site, where hundreds of pre-Columbian petroglyphs grace a sandstone bluff, creating a quietly powerful site.

6. Backpack the Wind River Range

If you long for the mountain grandeur of the Tetons minus the camping hassle, the Wind River Range should be your next backpacking destination. The Winds are so magnificent they could fill an entire summer, so focus on two classic routes: an exciting three- to four-night trek to Titcomb Basin or a similarly lengthy trip over high passes into the glaciated Cirque of the Towers. Both routes reveal some of the USA’s grandest granite mountain scenery.

These regions are most easily accessed from Pinedale, where you’ll discover outdoor gear shops and local craft beer. Remember, this is serious backpacking, often above tree line and exposed to storms, so pack accordingly; the prime time to visit is during the brief window of August and September. For an extra twist, consider a horse-packing trip with a local outfitter.

7. Soak Away Your Worries in Thermopolis’s Hot Springs State Park

If you need to relieve sore hiking muscles or just want a delightful half-day family activity, Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis features several soaking pools fed by what is reputed to be the world’s largest single mineral hot springs. The best part is that access is free for the public, thanks to a sale condition negotiated by the Arapahoe and Shoshone Nations in 1896. Natural mineral terraces offer lovely strolls, while privately operated water slides provide additional family fun.

Earn your soak by first exploring the fascinating petroglyphs at Legend Rock, located 30 miles northwest of town. Between October and May, you can pick up the key from the Hot Springs State Park office to enjoy the site in solitude.

8. Track Down Dinosaur Bones and Other Wyoming Fossils

Wyoming boasts some of the richest dinosaur fossil beds in the world, with several locations providing insights into the prehistoric past. Visit Fossil Butte National Monument to make fossil rubbings of ancient stingrays and turtles before joining a ranger-led interactive talk on local fossils.

If you want to dig for real, consider spending a memorable day at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis, where you can search for sauropod bones and allosaurus teeth. The center also features many engaging hands-on programs for kids. The week-long digs organized by the Tate Geological Museum in Casper cater to true enthusiasts, but everyone will enjoy the museum’s (free) exhibits, including a remarkable 11,600-year-old mammoth skeleton nicknamed Dee.

Another fantastic place to delve into dinosaur history is the University of Wyoming Geological Museum in Laramie, showcasing the impressive 75-foot-long skeleton of a sauropod apatosaurus.

9. Stay at a Dude Ranch

There’s perhaps no experience more quintessentially Wyoming than a stay at a dude ranch, which essentially refers to a traditional ranch now welcoming paying guests. The state offers many ranch types to choose from. Working ranches let you learn to rope and round up animals, whereas most focus on horseback riding, fly fishing, and enjoying Western cookout fare. Some ranches are rustic; others provide gourmet meals and hot stone massages. Most are family-run, some for over a century.

For more upscale dude ranches, explore the area around Jackson; traditional ranch options abound around Sheridan and Bighorn. Moreover, numerous ranches are situated along the approaches to Yellowstone National Park, particularly near Cody. To find the perfect ranch for your adventure, check the Dude Ranchers’ Association website.

10. Follow the Ghosts of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Wyoming is rich in sites connected to the legendary gunslingers Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Armed with a good map and a full tank of gas, you can locate the duo’s hideout at the remote Hole-in-the-Wall, about 25 miles southwest of Kaycee, identifiable by the red rock mesa accessible via dirt roads through sagebrush terrain. The gang’s cabins are long gone, but to glimpse these, head to Cody’s Old Trail Town, which features 13 vintage cabins, including one used by the duo.

Butch lived in Meeteetse, south of Cody, where you can still visit the original Cowboy Bar, where he drank and was arrested in 1894; the saloon’s bar dates from the previous year and still bears bullet holes. To see where Cassidy was incarcerated for 18 months, visit the Wyoming Territorial Prison Historic Site, which includes exhibits on its most famous inmate.

11. Road Trip to the Devils Tower

There are many ways to experience northwest Wyoming’s iconic Devils Tower. Climbers flock here to test themselves against the hundreds of vertical cracks forming the tower’s unique structure. Others enjoy hiking the popular Tower Trail, circling its base. Moreover, 20 Western tribes come to pay homage to the sacred site known to them as Bear Lodge.

Regardless of how you choose to visit, be sure to avoid the first two weeks of August when leather-clad bikers from Sturgis flock to the site by the hundreds.

12. Treat Yourself to the Good Life in Jackson

Jackson feels distinctly different from the rest of Wyoming, closer to the sophisticated, celebrity-endorsed vision of the “new West” than the traditional cowboy spirit that prevails elsewhere in the state. Additionally, Jackson serves as Wyoming’s culinary capital, offering a delightful variety of dining experiences—from Thai curry to locally sourced veggie grain bowls—before heading back into the state’s hearty steak-and-potatoes heartland.

Imagine a perfect day in Jackson: indulge in a French pastry at a local bakery, then embark on a scenic float down the Snake River or a nearby hike. In the afternoon, browse the state’s finest outdoor gear stores, art galleries, and boutiques before wrapping up your day with a robust pinot noir at a cozy wine bar. Arrive prepared for indulgence; this is the one place in Wyoming where treating yourself is effortless.