Regions to Explore In and Around Yellowstone Park
Yellowstone Park stretches into three states — Wyoming, Idaho and Montana - and parts of Utah are considered Yellowstone country. These four states are amazing regions, each with its own adventures, activities and recreational experiences you can enjoy on your Yellowstone vacation.
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Known as the “Garden City,” Missoula, a community of nearly 100,000 residents, lies in a mountain forest setting where five valleys converge, located 140 miles from Glacier National Park and 270 miles from Yellowstone National Park. Three major rivers, countless lakes and seven wilderness areas offer a paramount playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Missoula thrives on events and attractions that make this community so unique under the Big Sky. Sporting events, the symphony, live theater productions, gallery events, museums, public markets, festivals and fairs offer an abundance of entertainment throughout the year. Missoula's diverse attractions include A Carousel for Missoula, the internationally-renowned Missoula Children's Theatre, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Aerial Fire Depot and Smokejumper Center, providing unique experiences for families. The annual Montana Festival of the Book, International Wildlife Film Festival and International Choral Festival are among the many events with international appeal. Historic downtown Missoula offers unique boutiques, galleries and specialty stores and Southgate Mall, Montana's premier enclosed shopping destination offers over 100 top specialty stores. In short, Missoula is in the middle of it all - where recreation, culture and fun abound! www.missoulacvb.com Photo credit: Glacier Country Tourism Comm-Donnie Sexton)
As you plan your trip through the West, Utah’s capital, Salt Lake City, is the perfect place to begin or end your adventure. Often known as a gateway city to the National Parks both north and south, Salt Lake has a lot to offer and most will enjoy the easy access of over 800 daily flights in and out of Salt Lake City International Airport. You can enjoy attractions like the new Salt Lake City Library and the Clark Planetarium and IMAX Theater. Shopping is a delight at one of the downtown malls, the Gateway Center or historic Trolley Square. Pubs, bistros, coffees houses, restaurants and bars offer a variety of entertainments and cuisines. For those interested in shaking their family tree, there is no place on earth like the LDS Family History Library. The spirit of the 2002 Winter Games lives on at the Olympic Cauldron Park a stunning museum set adjacent to Rice-Eccles Stadium, on the University of Utah campus, site of the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies. Of course, a pioneering spirit is still strong in Salt Lake and is found in the frontiers of science and technology where today’s explorers target new types of uncharted territory, striving to benefit society at places such as the Huntsman Cancer Institute, Evans & Sutherland or the Eccles Institute of Human Genetics at the University of Utah. For more information, go to www.visitsaltlake.com/
The outdoor enthusiast will find so much to do in Wyoming's Sweetwater County that a second vacation will need to be planned to get it all in. From high desert sand dunes to a 91-mile long lake (Flaming Gorge Reservoir) to majestic wild horse herds, southwestern Wyoming has something for everyone. Flaming Gorge is a trophy fishery with abundant camping and jet-skiing. The Green River runs through the heart of this area and feeds into Flaming Gorge. The Green is world-renowned as a trophy trout fishery. Killpecker Sand Dunes is one of the largest active sand dunes in North America. Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for many types of wildlife species. A wild horse loop tour has been added to show visitors the best locations and provides the best opportunity to view one of the last wild horse herds on the continent. Green River’s Whitewater Park has three drops with pools that are sure to attract not only the kayak enthusiast, but rafters, folks in inner tubes and yes, even the fisherman. The river improvements begin at the Pacific Power pump station, off of N. 8th Street in Green River. Two other structures are located next to Expedition Island. For more information, contact the Sweetwater County Tourism Board at 800-FL-GORGE or 800-46-DUNES or click here: www.tourwyoming.com.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Yellowstone National Park and the Absaroka and Beartooth mountains, Buffalo Bill’s Yellowstone Country is at the doorstep of some of the nation’s most scenic country. Outdoor enthusiasts will be overjoyed. Enjoy camping, hiking, biking, fishing and hunting. The vibrant town of Cody offers unique shops and a variety of restaurants. History buffs will love the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, located right in the heart of Cody. It is the area’s premier attraction with five museums in one – the Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Cody Firearms Museum and the Draper Museum of Natural History. The western lifestyle is alive and well here. There is no better place to see this than the Cody Nite Rodeo. Cowboys and cowgirls from all over the country compete nightly between June 1 and August 31. This is a great event for families. Guest ranches offer big game hunting, blue ribbon trout waters, hiking trails. Enjoy Chuckwagon cookouts, learn to square dance or attend an authentic cowboy-sing along in Buffalo Bill’s Yellowstone Country. For more information contact the Park County Travel Council at 800-393-2639 or click here: http://www.pctc.org.
The southeast gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Wind River Country boasts open prairies and the tallest peaks in Wyoming. There is something for everyone in Wind River Country. Sinks Canyon State Park provides excellent opportunities to see geological formations as well as world-class rock climbing. Historic South Pass City is now a State Historic Site where you can pan for gold near the abandoned Carissa mine. Nineteenth century pioneers crossing the Oregon-Mormon Trail arrived in Wind River Country to face one of the most formidable undertakings of their journey: the crossing of the Rocky Mountains at South Pass. Visit the Wind River Indian Reservation and attend a powwow. You will never forget this experience of bright majestic color, rich tradition and heritage. The National Bighorn Sheep Center in Dubois pays tribute to one of the most stunning of all North America big game animals, the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. Dubois is home to the largest bighorn sheep herd in North America. For more information, contact the Wind River Visitor Council at 800-645-6233 or click here: www.wind-river.org.
Casper is Wyoming's Adventure Capital! Check out what Wyoming is all about. No other destination in Wyoming gives you the chance to experience outdoor recreational activities, culture, dining, sporting events, air service, lodging, history, and superior service, all in one convenient central location! Searching for outdoor adventure? Explore the areas lakes and streams for some of the best fishing in the region. You can also discover Casper's unique beauty hiking, mountain biking and wildlife viewing, or by attending a growing number of festivals throughout the summer months. If golf is your game, relax with the 9-hole Salt Creek Course in Midwest, the Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course at 3 Crowns Golf Club,or three other courses built to test your skill. During the winter, bundle up for snowmobiling, downhill skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing on Casper Mountain. Wander our historic downtown district or the Eastridge Mall for great shopping any time of the year, and don't forget to take advantage of all the available nightlife, from fine dining to barhopping to dressing for the theatre. For more information on the Casper area contact the Casper CVB at 800-852-1889 or click here: casperwyoming.info
Stay and play awhile in the Top of Utah, the most scenic way to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. The northernmost Top of Utah is packed with adventure-from rock-climbing and bird-watching to opera, living history, fishing, golf, and snowmobiling. Visit the Golden Spike National Historic Site where the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads met in 1869. Step back in time for hands-on heritage experiences with fur trappers, Shoshone Indians, farmers, and Mormon pioneer reenactors at the American West Heritage Center’s 160 acres of living history. Experience life on the Oregon Trail at the National Oregon/California Trail Center. View hundreds of species of birds at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy the famous Fruit Way, Cache Valley Food Tour, and raspberry shakes as well as art galleries, performing arts events, festivals, specialty shops, and the breathtaking Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway leading to the turquoise waters of Bear Lake. Your adventure awaits. Enjoy the journey. For more information, visit www.topofutah.org or 199 North Main Street in Logan, or call 1-800-952-UTAH (8824).
Laramie, the cultural capital of Wyoming is home to the state’s only university. Laramie’s earnest charm has developed over the past century from the 1860’s when the railroad forged across the plains, following the route of the Overland Stages. Located between the beautiful Medicine Bow Mountains to the east and the Snowy Range/Routt National Forest to the west, it is situated at an altitude of more than 7,000 feet. Laramie has university-town amenities like bookstores, coffee shops and a Historic Downtown area with unique shops and restaurants. Western features abound, with an annual summer Jubilee Days rodeo, celebrating Wyoming’s statehood, historical museums, to a bronze statue of Chief Washakie featured prominently on the University of Wyoming campus. Traveling west 25 miles on the Snowy Range Scenic Byway will take you to the village of Centennial that sits at the foot of the Medicine Bow Mountains. Stay in a historic hotel or enjoy the home cooked cuisine in one of the quaint and intimate restaurants there. If nature viewing is your call, continue west out of Centennial to the “land of the lakes”, many of which live above timberline. Snow remains in many areas throughout the summer months, so make sure to bring a light jacket. Visitors can enjoy fishing, hunting, snowshoeing, downhill and cross-country skiing, camping, hiking, and biking. There are opportunities to view wildlife, foliage, high alpine lakes and their associate ecosystems. For more information please contact the Laramie Area Visitor Center at 800-445-5303 or www.visitlaramie.org
In most places you can only reminisce about yesterday’s colorful legends. In Cheyenne they come to life, energized by the vitality of one of today’s most vibrant Western cities. The romantic lure of the West beckons visitors to this historic town where you can relive that old west spirit and enjoy unsurpassed western hospitality. In a place where history and progress stand side-by-side, Cheyenne offers visitors the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, opportunity to see a magnificent symphony concert or tour a historic mansion. Enjoy modern shopping. A stroll through the downtown rivals the history housed in Cheyenne’s museums. The architecture of Cheyenne’s downtown buildings boasts of a rich history. You can almost see the cattle barons roaming the streets. With so much to see and do, it is hard to know where to begin. Some of the more unique and interesting options include the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo (held the last week in July), the Frontier Days Old West Museum, the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley (May through September), the Botanic Gardens and the Wyoming State Capitol Building. Cheyenne, Live the Legend. For more information on this capitol city contact the Cheyenne CVB at 800-426-5009 or click here: http://www.cheyenne.org/yellowstone.asp.
Sheridan, Wyoming, the #1 Western Town in America welcomes you! Located midway between Yellowstone National Park and Mt. Rushmore. Visit museums. Experience the arts. View rodeo and polo. Sheridan provides history with a view, from authentic Main Street lined with historic buildings to the Landmark Historic Sheridan Inn where Buffalo Bill once auditioned acts, to the magnificent Big Horn Mountains. The Historic Main Street District provides specialty shopping, antiques, cowboy memorabilia, intriguing boutiques and galleries. The Sheridan area was once the last, most-prized hunting ground of the Plains Indians, center-stage for the culture clash that erupted in the late 1800’s. The “Bloody Bozeman Trail” numerous battle and fight sites are in the area, with the infamous Little Bighorn Battlefield just 70 miles north. Find unlimited, easy-to-access recreation in the Big Horns. Hike, bike, camp, boat, climb or photograph abundant wildlife and scenery, or catch a hunting season. Cast grand-slam fisheries in the Bighorn National Forest’s 180,000 acres of wilderness or play Wyoming’s Golf Capital. For more information, contact the Sheridan CVB at 888-596-6787 or click here: www.sheridanwyoming.org. |
