The rodeos and ranches of the wild west meet the peaks and wildlife of the Rocky Mountains in the dramatic, sparsely populated and beautiful state of Wyoming.
Wyoming is the least populated state in the U.S., which means that it offers vast swaths of stunning scenery with minimal human impact. Explore breathtaking mountain ranges or drive along expansive prairies, past traditional cowboy ranches.
Visit the Medicine Wheel on Medicine Mountain, a stone monument that hints at the lives of Native American communities in Wyoming, who lived here for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. Settlers moved to the prairies in the early 1800s as people formed frontier towns in order to establish farms and prospect for gold. The official nickname of Wyoming is the “Equality State,” as in the 19th and 20th centuries it pioneered rights for women in the U.S.
Others affectionately refer to Wyoming as the “Cowboy State.” Visit the towns of Laramie, Cody and Cheyenne to enjoy a classical wild west atmosphere. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody features five museums dedicated to life on the frontier. Attend rodeos, wander around historic centers and head to the outskirts to find active ranches.
Watch geysers erupt in Yellowstone, the first national park in the world. Here you can experience the clockwork eruptions of Old Faithful and stand beneath the cascades of the Lower Falls.
Grand Teton National Park is a dream destination for hikers, with the ultimate challenge being the summit of Grand Teton, at 13,770 feet (4,197 meters). Trek around lakes, wander through flower-covered valleys or kayak down the rivers of the park.
Drive out to Devils Tower National Monument. This strange, free-standing rock formation was made famous by the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Return to Wyoming in winter for skiing in the mountains. The stylish resort of Jackson Hole is a welcoming base for hitting the slopes of northwest Wyoming.
Casper/Natrona County International Airport and Jackson Hole Airport both offer numerous flights to the rest of the U.S. Wyoming’s unpredictable and occasionally inhospitable weather means that visitors should pack warm clothes for winter visits. Come here in summer for warm days and classically American festivals.
