The top 12 things to do in Wyoming

22.07.2024 - 15:07 / lonelyplanet.com

Jul 20, 2024 • 9 min read

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, and it would certainly be a crime not to invest a big chunk of your time in these two gems. But beyond the iconic parks lie some equally spectacular but far less-trammeled 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 – and a sampler of the West at its best. Like the bison, the state animal, it is an American classic. Here’s your lineup of the top things to do in Wyoming.

You could spend your entire Wyoming vacation just in Yellowstone National Park. The otherworldly geyser basins, backcountry lakes and scenic overlooks are all world-class – but for us, 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’ve got to head out at dawn or dusk equipped with time and a spotting scope. 

Winter is the best season for spotting, as the animals cluster in the lower, warmer, more accessible valleys and are easier to spot against the snow, but there’s always something to see, particularly in the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley. Our tip: go on a wolf-watching day trip with a Gardiner-based biologist and you’ll never see the park the same way again.

If Yellowstone is about its geological wonders and attention-grabbing wildlife, then Grand Teton National Park is all about the mountains. If you’re a hiker, Grand Teton is your place: expect the state’s most spectacular range of day hikes, from family-friendly strolls past enticing turquoise lakes to hardcore canyon scrambles that take in 4000ft of elevation gain. 

For those with four or five days to invest, the Teton Crest Trail is perhaps the Rockies’ premier backpacking trip. The classic 39-mile route takes in high mountain valleys, three high passes and the epic lake-filled Alaska Basin, bringing you through the heart of this majestic range. Since this is a popular trail, you’ll need to book camping spots well in advance and arrange a vehicle shuttle. 

Wyoming’s best museum is without doubt the Buffalo Bill Center in Cody – in fact, it's a complex of five museums and only one focuses on Western showman Bill Cody himself. The Plains Indian Museum is a peerless place to learn about regional Indigenous heritage (look for the extraordinary tepee made