The 9 Coolest Attractions In Wyoming That Not Enough People Visit
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Lisa Jensen
Author
When people visit the Cowboy State, they usually hit the well-known attractions like Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone and Old Faithful, or skiing Jackson Hole. What few realize, however, is that Wyoming is packed with other fascinating places and sights that shouldn’t be missed. If you need a for-instance, here are 9 of the coolest attractions in the state that are sorely underrated.
This 130-foot granite outcropping in Natrona County holds a significant place in history. Located along the Oregon Trail, it's a spot where countless pioneers signed their names, carving them into the rock's surface when they reached the landmark before continuing further west. The name stemmed from the goal most emigrants had of reaching the rock by Independence Day which, under most circumstances, would ensure they reached their ultimate destinations before the first snowfall.
This gorgeous wilderness area near Buffalo is an ideal example of glorious Wyoming nature that shouldn't be missed. Carved out of rugged cliffs and populated with rich pines, the canyon is one place that makes it easy to imagine Wyoming is still just a territory and not the modern inhabited state it is today.
Two legends exist that explain how the canyon got its name, one saying it was named for a pioneer woman who had the misfortune of witnessing her family's murder at the hands of Indians, and the other telling the tale of a Native American woman who was driven insane when her tribe left her to live alone in the canyon. Whether one tale is true or they're both simply stories, the canyon is still a stunning place to visit.
Two legends exist that explain how the canyon got its name, one saying it was named for a pioneer woman who had the misfortune of witnessing her family's murder at the hands of Indians, and the other telling the tale of a Native American woman who was driven insane when her tribe left her to live alone in the canyon. Whether one tale is true or they're both simply stories, the canyon is still a stunning place to visit.
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Just a bit to the right of the center of the state lies one of the country's most famous outlaw hideouts. The remote spot in the Big Horn Mountains appealed to bandits and fugitives because it was secluded, difficult to reach, and offered views in all directions to see anyone approaching well before they arrived. Read more in our full article here.
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Wyoming has more than its share of ghost towns, but if you had to pick just one to visit, Kirwin is an excellent choice. Originally a booming little mining town in the Absaroka Mountains, a mine explosion and an avalanche drove most people from the town. None of the attempts to revitalize the mining activity in Kirwin was successful, and it eventually became a ghost town. Want to know more? You'll find our full article here.
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The Devil's Tower is the star of the show on the eastern side of Wyoming, yet many people forget that it's there. It's a unique national monument that has been enthralling people for centuries, and it even has a place in Native American legend. Learn more about this underrated attraction here in our full article.
If you've ever doubted that nature is alive, you need to visit Intermittent Spring. Flowing from a cold water geyser, it's a brook that "breathes." The flow of water down the hillside cycles 18 minutes on, 18 minutes off, as if the spring is inhaling and exhaling. It's truly one of the more fascinating natural attractions in Wyoming, and you can read more about it in our full article here.
At the summit of Medicine Mountain in the Bighorn National Forrest lies a mystical wheel made of stones. Estimated to have been constructed as long as 800 years ago, it's a sacred place where Native Americans still come to leave offerings, seek visions, and conduct ceremonies. It's thought that part of the wheel's purpose was to predict astronomical events because it can still accurately do that today. Want to know more? Click here for our full article.
Along the Continental Divide Trail, there's an enchanting meadow where a creek splits into two streams, one headed for the West Coast and the other eventually coming out on the East Coast. It's been called the only place in the world where you can stand with one foot in the Pacific Ocean and the other foot in the Atlantic. Learn more about this amazing natural wonder in our full article here
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Connecting Thermopolis to Shoshoni, this stunning canyon byway crosses the Wind River Indian Reservation. The 2,500-foot canyon walls are amazing, and many of the formations will take your breath away. The rock structures along this underrated byway are estimated to be over 2.9 billion years old and are among the oldest on the planet. The Wind River flows through the canyon, too, providing a soft contrast to the solid, unmoving cliffs above. At 34 miles long, it's an ideal length for an afternoon drive.
What Wyoming attraction do you think more people should visit?
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