Map view
National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, Casper
- The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is located in Casper, and serves as a significant educational facility dedicated to the history of several major trails that shaped the westward expansion of the United States
- Opened in 2002, the exhibits include highlights such as the experiences of Native Americans and early explorers
- Another exhibit features programs that detail the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, California Trail, and the Pony Express routes
- Programs educate on the journeys of over 500,000 emigrants who traveled through the Casper area between 1840 and 1869 for various reasons, including seeking land, religious freedom, and gold
Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody
- The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is a complex of five museums and a research library featuring art and artifacts of the American West located in Cody
- The five museums include the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Plains Indians Museum, the Whitney Western Art Museum, the Draper Natural History Museum, and the Cody Firearms Museum
- Founded in 1917 to preserve the legacy and vision of Col. William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is the oldest and most comprehensive museum complex of the West
Devils Tower
- Devils Tower is a butte composed of igneous rock in the Black Hills, in Crook County
- Devils Tower National Monument was the first United States national monument, established on 1906, by President Theodore Roosevelt
- The Tower is believed to be a stock, formed by magma that cooled underground and was later exposed through erosion
- The site holds sacred importance for over 20 Native American tribes, including the Lakota people, who refer to it as Bear Lodge
- The name "Devils Tower" originated from a misinterpretation of the local Native American term during a scientific expedition in 1875
Grand Teton Scenic Drive, Grand Teton National Park
Best time to visit: mid-May-late Sept
- The Grand Teton Scenic Drive, also known as the 42-Mile Scenic Loop Drive, is a picturesque route through Grand Teton National Park
- The scenic drive offers views of the Teton Range, glacial lakes, and diverse wildlife
- Travelers can expect panoramas of jagged mountain peaks, expansive sage-covered hills, and crystal-clear lakes
- The area is known for its wildlife, including moose, bison, and bears, particularly during early morning or late evening hours
Jenny Lake Trail, Grand Teton National Park
Walk difficulty: moderate
Best time to visit: mid-May-late Sept
- The Jenny Lake Trail is a scenic hiking route located in Grand Teton National Park
- Hikers can enjoy views of the surrounding mountains, Cascade Canyon, as well as opportunities to see waterfalls and diverse wildlife
- In addition to hiking, visitors can also engage in activities such as boat rides on the lake
Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park
Best time to visit: mid-May-late Sept
- Jackson Lake is in Grand Teton National Park, and is a natural glacial lake that was enlarged by the construction of the Jackson Lake Dam, which was originally built in 1911
- Jackson Lake is one of the largest high altitude lakes in the United States, at an elevation of 6,772 ft (2,064 m) above sea level
- The western shore of Jackson Lake is primitive, with only hiking trails and a handful of primitive campground spots
Taggart Lake Loop, Grand Teton National Park
Walk difficulty: easy
Best time to visit: mid-May-late Sept
- Taggart Lake Loop is a scenic hiking trail located in Grand Teton National Park
- The trail offers views of the Teton Range and leads to alpine lakes, including Taggart Lake
- Hikers can enjoy diverse landscapes, including forests and sagebrush flats, as well as opportunities to see wildlife
#35 in Best Easy Hikes in the USA
Cascade Canyon Trail, Grand Teton National Park
Walk difficulty: moderate
Best time to visit: mid-May-late Sept
- Cascade Canyon Trail is a hiking route located in Grand Teton National Park, accessible via a ferry ride across Jenny Lake, which is a scenic entry point into the backcountry
- The trail follows Cascade Creek and leads to notable landmarks such as Hidden Falls, a waterfall, and Inspiration Point
- The hike provides opportunities to view wildlife, including bears, elk, and moose
- The route is renowned for its glacially carved landscapes
Jackson Town Square
Best time to visit: Jan-June, Dec
- Jackson Town Square, officially known as George Washington Memorial Park, is the center of Jackson, established as a park in 1934
- The square is notable for its four iconic arches made entirely from local elk antlers, which are constructed by hand using around 14,000 antlers
- Jackson Town Square is often described as an outdoor living room, offering a variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment options
Jackson Hole Aerial Tram, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Best time to visit: Jan-June, Dec
- The Jackson Hole Aerial Tram is an aerial tramway located at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Jackson Hole, and has become an iconic symbol of the Valley
- The tram takes people to the top of Rendezvous Mountain, at a summit of 3,185 meters (10,450 feet)
- The current tram holds 100 skiers and 1 operator in the winter
- At 4,000 feet in elevation gain, it is the longest ski lift in North America
- In summer, tourists as well as locals take the tram in order to look at the views, where on a clear day you are able to see the town of Jackson, the Jackson hole Valley, Grand Teton National Park, and the summit of the Teton mountains
National Elk Refuge, Jackson Hole
Best time to visit: Jan-June, Dec
- The National Elk Refuge is a Wildlife Refuge located in Jackson Hole, created in 1912 to protect the habitat and provide sanctuary for one of the largest elk herds
- The Refuge is home to an average of 7,500 elk each winter
- Historically, the original size of the elk herd has been estimated to have been in excess of 25,000
- The elk herd was severely reduced in size due to the hostile climate and lack of food supply, in addition to hunting pressures by both homesteaders and surrounding Native American tribes
- A movement to protect the remaining herd and establish greater numbers was commenced in the early 1900s
National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole
Best time to visit: Jan-June, Dec
- The National Museum of Wildlife Art is located in Jackson Hole, and is dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of wildlife art
- The museum features a diverse collection that includes over 5,000 cataloged items from more than 550 artists, showcasing works that date back to 2500 B.C.E. and extending to contemporary pieces
- The collection primarily focuses on European and American painting and sculpture, featuring works by renowned artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, and John James Audubon
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Teton Village
Best time to visit: Jan-June, Dec
- Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is a ski resort at Teton Village, in the Teton Range of the Rocky Mountains
- It is named after the historically significant Jackson Hole valley and is known for its steep terrain and large continuous vertical drop of 4,139 ft (1,262 m)
- Half of the terrain is rated expert, 40% intermediate, and only 10% beginner
- It appears frequently in the media as one of North America's most expensive ski resorts
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park
Best time to visit: late April-May, Sept-early Oct
- The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is the first large canyon on the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park
- It showcases a complex geological history characterized by dramatic colors and shapes, resulting from volcanic activity, erosion, and sediment deposition
- The canyon features steep rock walls that display a variety of colors due to the minerals present
Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park
- The Lamar River is a tributary of the Yellowstone River, located entirely within Yellowstone National Park, accessed by scenic drive or hiking trail
- Along the river, there are pronghorn, bison, and bear within the area
- Around the world, it is one of the most consistent environments to view wolves
- Birds in the area include osprey and bald eagle
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
- Old Faithful is a famous cone geyser located in Yellowstone National Park
- It was named during the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition in 1870, and it is renowned for its predictable eruptions
- Currently, Old Faithful erupts approximately 20 times a day, with rangers able to predict its eruptions within a margin of about 10 minutes
Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park
- Yellowstone Lake is the largest body of water in Yellowstone National Park
- Yellowstone Lake is the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 ft (2,100 m) in North America
- It offers various recreational activities, including boating and fishing, although swimming is not recommended due to cold temperatures and safety concerns
Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park
- Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world, located in Yellowstone National Park
- It is renowned for its vibrant colors, which include bright bands of orange, yellow, and green surrounding deep blue waters
- The colors are primarily due to the presence of thermophilic bacteria and other microorganisms that thrive in the hot water
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
- Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of geothermal hot springs on a hill of travertine in Yellowstone National Park
- It was created over thousands of years as hot water from the spring cooled and deposited calcium carbonate
- Upper and lower terrace boardwalks allow visitors to explore the formations
Artist Point, Yellowstone National Park
- Artist Point is an overlook point on the edge of a cliff, on the south rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park
- Artist Point was originally named in 1883 by Frank Jay Haynes who improperly believed that the point was the place at which painter Thomas Moran sketched his 1872 depictions of the falls
- The overlook offers views of the canyon and the Lower Falls, which plunges 308 feet