Some say Wyoming is the place where “the Wild West comes alive.” It certainly is one of the US’ most sparsely populated states and comes complete with rugged, wide-open spaces, cowboy towns, ranches, rodeos, and tribal tales to boot. So, if you’ve been inspired to visit Wyoming, get ready to take notes because here are the 16 top-rated tourist attractions in Wyoming.

The 16 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions In Wyoming   

1. Yellowstone National Park

This is the planet’s first and oldest national park. Well-known for its numerous impressive peaks and geothermal features, Yellowstone was established in 1872. It’s primarily located in the northwestern section of Wyoming but also crosses into Montana and Idaho.  

Highlights here include the Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone Lake, and the lovely Lower Falls. It also includes forests, peaks, valleys, and meadows where you may spot antelope, bald eagles, bears, bighorn sheep, bison, coyotes, deer, elk, moose, swans, and wolves. Most tourists travel here in the summer. 

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Grand Teton National Park

Regular readers know this national park is even stunning in the winter and one of the top 10 most visited as well. It’s beautifully crowned by the rugged peaks of the massive 12-peaked Teton Mountain Range and was created millions of years ago when a specific fault in the ground buckled. Some of the previously mentioned peaks tower over 12,000 feet into the air. Grand Teton, the highest one, is 13,770 feet high. Many species of birds, mammals, and fish live here.

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Jackson

The town of Jackson is nestled in the sprawling Jackson Hole valley at the base of the towering Teton Mountains. Incorporated in 1914, you can stroll along wild west boardwalks and see the rustic wooden buildings, charming shops, and assorted eateries as well. The town square is distinctively framed by elk-horn arches. You can visit the National Elk Refuge and the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Finally, Jackson is a gateway to popular Grand Teton National Park and a convenient stop on the way to Yellowstone too.

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Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis

Popular Hot Springs State Park’s major attraction is undoubtedly its centerpiece, the largest single mineral hot spring in the world. The Big Spring’s steamy mineral water here provides people with a relaxing soak. The water is actually funneled into multiple bathhouses and kept at 104 degrees Fahrenheit. You can kick back in a pair of outdoor pools or visit the popular State Bath House and enjoy the water indoors. Other highlights here include the Rainbow Terrace, the summer flower gardens, petroglyphs, and grazing bison.

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Bridger-Teton National Forest

Outdoor enthusiasts will find much to see and explore in these 3.4+ million acres of rugged mountain wilderness. You can go fishing, hiking, mountaineering, and ski touring. There are three different areas.

The Bridger Wilderness nestled in the Wind River Mountains is highlighted by the mighty Green River, the largest glaciers on the planet, and the state’s highest point, Gannett Peak. The Teton Wilderness is full of bison, grizzly bears, and wolves. The Gros Ventre Wilderness includes the remains of the Gros Ventre Slide and Lower Slide Lake.  

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The Buffalo Bill Center Of The West, Cody

Visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and learn about a significant era in American history. There are five museums here. The Buffalo Bill Museum focuses on the life of the American soldier and showman Buffalo Bill Cody.

The Cody Firearms Museum features a huge collection of different firearms from across the globe. The focus of the Draper Museum of Natural History is on the state’s geology and wildlife. Finally, the Plains Indian Museum is highlighted by a multimedia show on the first recorded inhabitants of the prairies.

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Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

This place was named for the stunning scarlet sandstone cliffs there. The area stretches from the rushing Green River, south and into the state of Utah. This tourist attraction offers boating, camping, fishing, kayaking, and swimming.

More adventurous visitors can river rafting downstream from Flaming Gorge Dam. Get an impressive view of the gorge from the Red Canyon Vista and Visitor Center. Hike the popular Canyon Rim Trail and see the petroglyphs, prehistoric fossils, and colorful rock formations too.

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The Wind River Range

If you enjoy the striking alpine scenery of Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming but would like to avoid the tourist crowds, this is the place to be. It encompasses an area of 2,800 square miles. It includes seven of the biggest glaciers in the contiguous states, wildflower-dotted meadows, snow-capped peaks, glacier-carved valleys, and a number of trout-filled waterways. This is a great place to go camping, climbing, fishing, hiking, and hunting. Watch for deer, elk, grizzly bears, moose, mountain lions, and more.

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The Grand Targhee Ski Resort

If you like skiing but want to avoid long lines and pricey lift tickets, take your next ski vacation here. This family-friendly resort situated on the Tetons’ western slopes is less than an hour and a half away from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. It generally has fewer guests and is overall a cheaper choice. The average snowfall here is over 500 inches of fluffy, light powder. You’ll also find five lifts, a pair of terrain parks, and Nordic trails too.

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National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, Casper

This tourist attraction is not just a museum. It is an interactive educational experience that recreates the different old pioneer trails and their influence on US history. Plan on spending a couple of hours here as it’s one of the top tourist attractions in the city.

Learn of the state’s first settlers, the fur trappers and mountain men, the famous Oregon Trail, the Pony Express route, the California Trail, and the Mormon Trail all via multimedia presentations and full-scale dioramas. Your kids can even get into a covered wagon, watch movies about the pioneers, and enjoy a simulated river crossing. Admission is free!

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The Fort Laramie National Historic Site

Fort Laramie used to be a private fur-trading post and was the state’s first garrisoned post. It served pioneers traveling on the California, Mormon, and Oregon Trails and was an important part of the Plains Indian Wars. It has been a national monument since 1938.

Start your exploration of this 214-acre site at the visitor center and learn about the fort’s history. Take the walking tour and visit the barracks, general store, medical quarters, officers’ quarters, and post office. Period actors help complete the big picture.

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Devils Tower National Monument

This is one of the nation’s most famous natural wonders. It’s found in Crook County, Wyoming and towers 1,267 feet above the mighty Belle Fourche River. The tower was actually created by the ancient intrusion of magma into underground sedimentary rock. 

No less than 25 Native American Northern Plains tribes consider this place to be a sacred site. Feature film fans might recognize Devils Tower from the classic movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Take a ranger-led tour!  

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The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is located on the border of Wyoming and Montana. The rising red cliffs over 1,000 feet above the water and the incredible views from the popular Devil’s Canyon Overlook are picturesque. Here you can hike over 27 miles of trails, go fishing in the rushing Bighorn River’s trout fishery, go swimming or boating at Bighorn Lake, camp out in the raw wilderness, watch for wildlife, and visit the ranches.

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Cheyenne

Cheyenne, Wyoming’s capital, was named in honor of the Cheyenne Indians and used to be the US Cavalry’s largest outpost. It was founded in 1867 as a stop on the famous Union Pacific Railroad. The biggest attraction here is the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. It features 10 fun-filled festive days and is said to be the best in the US. Other highlights here include the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, and the historical railroad displays at the Cheyenne Depot Museum. 

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Curt Gowdy State Park

Explore this expansive, 4,000-acre park roughly halfway between Laramie and Cheyenne. It includes a variety of landscapes and is reportedly “a haven” for outdoor lovers and wildlife lovers. Hikers and bikers will enjoy the 35+ miles of trails here.  

There are three reservoirs as well where visitors can go boating and fishing. This state park also includes a dozen different campgrounds for those into overnight adventures. The campsites can accommodate everything between tent camping and RV camping.

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Old Trail Town, Cody

Old Trail Town will give you a taste of the old Western Frontier. Not far from Yellowstone Regional Airport, it includes a number of different authentic Old West buildings that were unassembled, shipped, and rebuilt here. Here you can stroll through historic homestead cabins, livery barns, and one-room schoolhouses. Nearly all the structures have been furnished with period-authentic artifacts and décor too. This top tourist attraction provides visitors with an exceptional feel for how things were in the state back before the existence of paved roads.

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