What to see in WY.

[LazyKB]

A buddy and I are going to take a road trip to WY in Sept. for no particular reason than we have never seen that part of the world. We have a mutual acquaintance that owns property in Mearns in the northwester part of WY. As far as I can tell there is no city or town, just a name on a map. There is real-estate available. All of the pictures show miles of sagebrush. Some plots come with a moose. There is a picture of a moose on most of the properties listed. Not sure it isn't the same moose. Need to find out before purchase. Anyway, we want to see as much WY as possible in a weeks time. Other than the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody and Yellowstone we are ignorant.

Iggy you out there?

 

[Shootbrownelk]

If you come in from the north-east, thru the Black Hills. there is "Devil's Tower" NP. In the center of the state there is Hot Springs Park in Thermopolis. Grand Teton park is just below Yellowstone, and is near Jackson Hole. P.S. That moose on every parcel sounds like a silly realtor ploy. Moose are pretty darned scarce in western Wyoming due to Clinton's wolf "Reintroduction" Plenty of grizzlies though, and WELCOME to Wyoming...have fun!

 

[Marshwheeling]

See the Big Horns, Bear Tooth Pass, Sunlight Basin (chief Joseph highway), Thermopolis, Meeteetse, Cody, yellowstone, Tetons, Jackson Hole, Lander, Dubois. If you can, get off the pavement and explore some NF roads. There's more, but that's a start.

 

[Biginge]

Iggy is a special attraction. By appointment only.

 

[chief38]

AND DON'T FORGET THE HUGE FIREARMS MUSEUM IN CODY!

 

[jinx]

The Freedom Arms factory is just south of Jackson in Freedom, Wy. If you are that close, a tour thru the factory is well worth it. Just to see the Tetons is worth it as well as the museum in Cody.

 

[307-Niner]

My neck of the woods...

If you go to the Pryor Mts just outside of Lovell, you can see the wild mustangs. You can also go boating/swimming at Horseshoe Bend, and you can explore Devil's Canyon. There are guided boat tours during the summer.

Or you can head up to the Big Horn Mts, camping, hiking, fishing, 4 wheeling, or whatever. Or you can spend all of your time in the city. Cody has a rodeo every night, you could check out the Silver Dollar Bar, eat a meal at the Irma, the list goes on & on. Thermopolis isn't too far away for a day trip. You could check out the hot springs, and the buffalo.

Couple pics of the canyon.





Big Horn Mts

 

[tops]

King museum in Sheridan. If I ever leave NC I am moving to Sheridan. Larry

 

[Thiokol]

If you head down to Jackson and want to take in some good food and great entertainment, check out the Bar J Wranglers. Bar J Chuckwagon

 

[ersiii]

Depends on what you like...mountains or prairies. Personally I would go through Rapid City SD and the Black Hills on the way out and go through Sheridan...maybe catch a local rodeo there. Then I'd go east over the Big Horn mountains ...eat at the top of the range....on over to the little town of Lovell on my way into Cody and catch the museum there. If you like saddles I'd make a little detour before I got there in the Frannie Tack shop.
From Cody into the east gate of Yellowstone and do that loop coming out the south gate to the Tetons....spend some time there...take the boat ride cause it's worth it. I would head south out of the Tetons then hang a left over the Wind River Range into Dubois. It's one of the coolest, most authentic western towns in Wyoming. Great local rodeos, great trout fishing....friendly. Stay in the KOA campground. From there I'd head southeast to catch Thermoplis and the hot springs there. Stay in the Holiday Inn...you won't believe the bar in that hotel. Owner used to be a big game hunter..I had a drink with him about 10 years ago but he was old then and probably gone now. Real cowboy. From Thermoplis I'd follow the eastern slope of the Wind Rivers down to the little town of Saratoga. It is in a beautiful valley between the Sierra Madres and Snowy Mountain ranges. North Platte River runs through the middle of town....fish with guide service on left as you enter town. Stay at the Saratoga Inn..eat at the Silver Saddle there and use one of the "tepee" hot tubs with natural hot springs.
From there head south...check out Riverside. Two bars, one grocery store and a campground ! Backtrack a few miles and head over the Snowys to Laramie. Go to "old town". Ask for the bar with the bulletholes in the bar...cool place.
Leave Laramie and head over to Cheyenne on your way home. You have seen the best of Wyoming IMHO.
You will notice I skipped Jackson Hole....in my opinion it's a tourist trap owned by the billionaire Californios...but some people like it so that's up to you.
Enjoy...it's my favorite state in the US!

 

[Hellraiser]

Willow Creek Ranch... google it up... outlaw home to Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid... (saw the movie agin last night on TCM).

Most folks think "hole-in-the-wall" was a hideout... they're wrong...

Also... if you like horse rides... ride on out to the Thorofare Ranger Station... one of the most remote places in this great U.S.A.... it's on my list for this fall...
The Thorofare | The American Spectator

 

[Doug M.]

Make sure you keep your gas tank above half full unless you KNOW FOR SURE exactly where the next gas station is. It's a rural state, and gas stations and cell towers are not like leaves of grass. The weather can be transitional to cold, depending on altitude.

Get all the suggestions you can from the folks familiar with attractions (see above), and try to see everything that might be of interest. I like to just get to places that are up higher, and green, and look around as I pass through them to the next similar place, so YMMV.

 

[Rangerpat]

You got to go to Cody and visit the museums: Firearms / Buffalo Bill / Plains Indians / (?) all located in one building. I believe it is the largest private firearm collection in the U.S.A.
Sierra Trading Post is located in Cody also, good place to shop for outdoor clothing.

 

[Iggy]

You have received some very good information from those already posting. The northern third is the most scenic and diverse part of the state.
The southern half is nuthin' but miles and miles of nuthin' but miles and miles.

Devils tower, Sheridan, Wind River mountains,Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody is a must.
Yellowstone and down past the Tetons in Jackson hole.
From there it's figger out the shortest and fastest way to dang near anywhere else.

If you make it to Cheyenne, I'm probably good for cup.

 

[ladder13]

Yellowstone and the Tetons are a must, imo. You won't be disappointed.
Also as mentioned Jackson Hole, and the Freedom Arms factory about an hour or so south of Jackson.

Jackson

Freedom Arms

Tetons

Yellowstone

 

[mtgianni]

Sept in the Northern Rockies can bring temps from 25 F to 85F. Plan accordingly. If you are in the SE corner I recommend Fort Bridger and the Oregon Trail sites as well as in Nebraska.

 

[rwsmith]

The state is indeed.....

Sagebrush as far as the eye can see. It's really pretty and looks exactly like picture post cards. The thing is, it's that way everywhere you look . I even saw a scene of cattlemen watering their stock at a waterhole that would have made a beautiful "Welcome to Wyoming" card. We stopped at a store and a guy came in wearing workclothes, a cowboy hat and boots with small spurs looking like he'd been outside for a long time. Very plain. I said, "Now that's a real working cowboy." The Bighorn mountains give some contrast. I don't live there and I'm not demeaning the place one bit. There is really cool stuff there, but I'm sure people more familiar can point you to the right places.

PS The Buffalo Bill Museum is awesome.

 

[Wyo]

Lots of good suggestions above. If you find yourself in the mid-part of the state, checkout Ft. Laramie. There's been a lot of restoration there, and it was the major military outpost on the Oregon Trail. Much good history there.

 

[307-Niner]

Something else that hasn't been mentioned yet about Wyoming. Force yourself to strictly adhere to posted speed limits. Especially in small towns. The police here are very friendly, and just chomping at the bit to meet new people. Yes, you will probably get pulled over for only 1 or 2 over the speed limit.

 

[feralmerril]

In 1961 I worked for the NPS in the tetons. Bunch of us ate at that chuck wagon BBQ just north out of Jackson. We could eat! The old busted up cowboy cook asked us, "Shall I get a doctor?" I knew downtown Jackson well. They had black jack some nights in the bars going full swing. Then the next night you couldnt find a sign of it. They had a good tip off system of when certain politicians were coming through. Thats where I first got the BJ fever that kept me broke a lot of my life. Our housing and work camp was at beaver creek just north of moose. I enjoyed those six months. Seen the worst fight of my life on the town square pictured.