Are you the type of person who can’t get enough of outdoor adventures? In this episode of Wynot Wyoming?, I’m going to take you on a journey from the Rockies to the Tetons. We’ll explore the history and notable sites of the area so you’ll know exactly what awaits you on this amazing trip.
Starting In Laramie
Our third road trip in our five-part series exploring the five regions of Wyoming starts right here in Laramie. We’ll go from the Rockies to the Tetons and discover this beautiful region along the way. Our first stop in Laramie is the House for Historic Women.
You may not know this, but right here in Wyoming, 13 local women paved the way for the women's suffrage movement to give women the right to vote and hold office. On September 6, 1870, Louisa Gardner Swain became the very first woman in the whole country to vote under the Wyoming territory law. This gave Wyoming the name “The Equality State.”
While you’re here, why not visit the Laramie, Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site? Here, you can hear tales of violent and desperate outlaws like Butch Cassidy and more.
Centennial And Saratoga
Just 30 miles to the west of Laramie is a great little town called Centennial. This is a fantastic town to stay in while you explore Medicine Bow and Bitterroot National Forests as well as a few local state parks. Trust me, this area is a great place to be for both summer and winter activities.
The proximity of this town also makes it a great base camp. If you're going to go skiing, hit Snowy Range, which is just about six miles away. I hope you remember to grab your gear because our next stop is Saratoga and the Upper Platte Valley. Spend the day fishing the Six Mile Gap or head over to the Grand Encampment before traveling to the Hobo Hot Springs for a nice relaxing soak.
The entire south end of this region is filled with outdoor activities that would rival any place on Earth. The epic mountain biking trail system and rock climbing are just two of the many activities that keep people coming back again and again.
Rawlins To Wind River Country
Now it's time to get back on the road and head north up to the town of Rawlins. Guess what? We get to take another prison tour. This time, we're going to get to learn all about the Rawlins Frontier Prison. There were more than 13,000 people incarcerated here, including some women. Many of them were rehabilitated by working in the broom factory at what is now known as The Old Pen.
This tour is super fun and only takes about an hour. Once you’re done, we’ll jump right back on the road and continue our journey north towards Wind River Country. Along the way, stop off in the town of Lander to visit the Lander Bar & Grill. It was originally a saloon before becoming a hotel, brothel, and boarding house. This 115-year-old establishment is still a great place to stop off for a cold craft beer or a shot of whiskey if you're feeling that old Wild West vibe.
You can also spend a little bit of time here hugging the rocks—and by that, I mean rock climbing—by visiting nearby Sinks Canyon National Park. Make your way up to Riverton and try your luck at the tables at the Wind River Hotel & Casino. You can even try to pull a few of the one-armed bandits and see you can hit a jackpot.
Wind River Indian Reservation To Dubois
While you’re in the area, head over and take the self-guided driving tour through the Wind River Indian Reservation. This tour took us through a lot of really cool historical sites that helped educate us on all of the tribes that call this area home.
Next, on the way to the Grand Tetons is a fantastic small town called Dubois. It’s located about an hour away from the Grand Tetons National Park, which makes it a fantastic place to set up base camp while you explore the park and all of the surrounding areas. Right there in town are two awesome little cabins called the Cabins on the Wind. Even though these cabins are right there in town, what's really cool is you can throw a line in the Wind River right outside the back door.
Nearby, you can find some really great horseback riding and hunting as well as a bunch of winter activities like snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and more. You're going to want to hurry up and grab one of the hammocks by the campfire pit before everyone gets there, or guaranteed you're out of luck.
The Grand Tetons
After a good night's rest and first thing in the morning, we're off to explore the Grand Tetons National Park. Even though this park shares a border with Yellowstone National Park, it might as well be worlds apart. You're not going to find the hot geysers, super volcanoes, and wild crowds here in this park.
What you will find are peaceful valleys and rugged mountains that offer amazing scenery for folks just like us to come back and partake in year after year. It’s the perfect place to grab your bike and start exploring.
All Roads Lead To Yellowstone
We end our trip, once again, right outside of Yellowstone National Park. As I've mentioned before, in Wyoming, all roads lead to Yellowstone. I hope you've enjoyed today's tour of the Rockies to Tetons region of Wyoming. If you want to know more about making Cheyenne or anywhere in Wyoming your home, feel free to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to assist you.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of Wynot Wyoming?, my show all about living in Cheyenne and the surrounding areas. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!
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