Wyoming

Wyoming is the least populated state in the U.S., and yet millions of people know it, because it is home to Yellowstone, the world's oldest national park. A vacation in Wyoming combines geysers, rugged granite peaks, and rodeo arenas with a sense of open space that is rare even in the American West.

The High Country of the Rocky Mountains

Nearly the entire state lies above 1,500 meters (about 4,900 feet). In the northwest, the Teton Range and the Yellowstone Plateau rise up; in the west, the Wind River Range with Gannett Peak. In between stretch dry basins of sagebrush steppe where pronghorn graze. In the northeast, Devils Tower, a massive basalt tower, marks the first national monument in the U.S., designated in 1906. Wind is a constant companion, especially along Interstate 80 in the south. The Beartooth Highway in the northwest climbs to more than 3,300 meters (about 10,800 feet) and ranks among the highest mountain roads in the Rockies.

Sights in Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 and is home to about half of all the geysers on Earth. Old Faithful erupts roughly every 90 minutes, Grand Prismatic Spring shimmers in blue, green, and orange, and in Lamar Valley you can watch wolves and bison. To the south, Grand Teton National Park adjoins it, its peaks rising steeply above Jackson Lake and the Snake River. Fossil Butte, Flaming Gorge, and the Bighorn Mountains are among Wyoming's lesser-known destinations. In the southeast, the wagon ruts carved deep into the rock of the Oregon Trail near Guernsey and the inscriptions at Independence Rock recall the settler wagon trains of the 19th century.

Towns and Cities

Jackson, in the valley of Jackson Hole, is the most elegant town, with wooden storefronts, antler arches on the town square, and ski resorts; in winter, thousands of elk spend the season at the neighboring National Elk Refuge. Cody, founded by Buffalo Bill, has a superb museum in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and puts on a rodeo every evening in summer. The capital, Cheyenne, celebrates Cheyenne Frontier Days at the end of July, one of the largest outdoor rodeos in the world. Laramie is a university town, Casper and Gillette live off oil, gas, and coal, and Sheridan keeps its ranching tradition alive. In Thermopolis, hot springs bubble up, and the state bathhouse in Hot Springs State Park can be used free of charge.

Culture and Cuisine

Wyoming calls itself the "Cowboy State," and the bucking horse emblem is displayed on every license plate. At guest ranches, you can help with the cattle drive. The local fare includes beef steaks, bison, and game, along with trout from mountain streams. The Wind River Reservation is home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho, whose powwows welcome visitors in summer.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Jackson Hole has the only airport in the U.S. located inside a national park; many travelers also arrive via Denver, Salt Lake City, or Bozeman. The best time to visit Yellowstone is June through September, when all park roads are open; September is quieter and brings the elk rut. In winter, skiing in Jackson Hole and guided snowmobile tours to the steaming geysers are the draw. You should book lodging inside Yellowstone many months in advance.