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The Cowboy State may lie just a few hours north of Denver, but it feels like it’s a world away. That’s because Wyoming has held on to its authenticity. The state’s wide-open spaces still give you the feel of a West that you can explore without crowds of fun hogs and their Sprinter vans squeezing in on your space. Adventure here is rugged and real, sprinkled with towns and communities where you can wind it all down—and all of it easy to access. To that end, we suggest you point the grill north this summer and discover a new beautiful place to find yourself.
SWEETWATER – All the adventure you need.
A lot is happening this summer in one of our favorite wild and wooly places: Southwest Wyoming’s Sweetwater County. Plan your visit around the following can’t-miss events.
Flaming Gorge Days | June 21-23, 2018
“Southwest Wyoming’s Weekend of Fun” kicks off the first official week of summer outside of Green River. Activities run the gamut from basketball, volleyball, horseshoe and dodgeball tourneys to golf, a parade, a festival in the park and children’s entertainment.
International Day | July 14, 2018
Sweetwater County is known as the “Home of 56 Nationalities.” Every year, visitors and locals alike celebrate this diversity. Enjoy local, regional, and international entertainment, kids’ activities, exotic foods, imported beer and unique vendors at this annual event!
National High School Finals Rodeo | July 15-21, 2018
Sweetwater County is proud to be home to the “World’s Largest Rodeo,” the National High School Finals Rodeo. It is the best way to check “attend a rodeo” off of your bucket list!
Wyoming’s Big Show |
July 31-August 4, 2018
If attending a spectacular County Fair is on your list, then bump Wyoming’s Big Show up to the top. In addition to one of the most authentic and action-packed rodeos around, visitors enjoy a concert series, family-friendly carnival rides, renowned food and dining options and 4H and livestock exhibits.
River Festival & Art on the Green | August 17-18, 2018
The River Festival is one of Green River locals’ favorite events, complete with a microbrew garden, a Cajun shrimp boil, a dog show, live music, a car show and fireworks! Top it off with Art on the Green all weekend long.
Visit TourWyoming.com/events, and mark your calendar with some of the best Wyoming events of the summer!
SHERIDAN
It’s no wonder Sheridan is dubbed “Wyoming’s Jewel.” Nestled on the edge of more than a million pristine acres of Bighorn National Forest with another 191,000 acres of wilderness, it’s an outdoor paradise that doesn’t get overrun with summer crowds. Sheridan’s still the real West and it lives up to its decidedly authentic cowboy history.
Best of all, it’s got plenty of adventure to choose from: In-the-know outdoorists target the place for backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing, trail running, backcountry skiing and legendary wildlife viewing. But this is no Disneyland… While you might have the occasional Yellowstone-like black bear or elk sighting, there are no gawking crowds (or fees) to be found.
The real crown jewel here, the renowned Cloud Peak Wilderness Area, named for nearby 13,167-foot Cloud Peak, preserves more than 27 miles of dramatic rock faces, innumerable peaks and jagged summits along the spine of the Bighorn Mountain Range—a worthy prize for alpinists who flock here from around the world. What’s more, the range’s last remaining glacier can still be seen in a recessed cirque on the east side of Cloud Peak. And many of the higher peaks remain snow covered until mid-summer each year.
Once the snow melts, however, it’s time to bust out the bikes and the trail running shoes, as Sheridan plays host to some of the most arduous and infamous trail races in the country: the Bighorn Mountain Trail Run (June 15, bighorntrailrun.com) and the Dead Swed Hundo (June 2, thedeadswedehundo.itsyourrace.com). When the races are over, you can bet your last dollar that all of your new best friends, and many of Sheridan’s 18,000 locals, will gather at one of the town’s Instagram-worthy watering holes, such as the local Black Tooth Brewing Co.
Whether you’re seeking fresh air, sucking wind, or the mind-blowing scenery, Sheridan needs to be on your summer hit list in 2018.
CARBON COUNTY – Get your West on…
Ready. Set. Explore! Come discover why Carbon County is Wyoming’s best kept secret with its rich history of infamous Old West outlaws and colorful characters, all set in some of the most beautiful and unspoiled natural landscapes around. Carbon County is known for its natural hot springs, pristine rivers, excellent hiking and biking trails, crystal clear lakes, classic western towns and fun local events.
Carbon County is situated high on the nation’s Continental Divide, boasting some of the best outdoor recreation you can find. This south-central Wyoming adventure-lover’s mecca sits astride Interstate 80 and is replete with wild spaces, cultural sites, museums, Scenic Byways and more.
If you want adrenaline, Carbon County is home to some of the wildest river running in the West. Both the Encampment River and the North Platte River—also renowned for their world-class fly fishing—are home to some of the best technical kayaking runs in the U.S. Thrill-seekers can get their fix in the famed nine-mile Northgate Canyon, but casual paddlers can also enjoy calm stretches and more than a dozen access points between Saratoga, Encampment and Riverside. No matter what you seek, dial in to one of Carbon County’s numerous guide services for information on how to best get out on the water.
Thirst for adventure still not quenched? There’s hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing and mountain biking. Carbon County also draws bird watchers from around the world as well as wildlife photographers seeking shots of pronghorn, bighorn sheep, bald eagles, moose, elk, black bear and mountain lions. Come back in the winter for some of Wyoming’s best Nordic skiing, dog sledding and snowmobiling. Carbon County’s wide open spaces and low population make for an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true. Come enjoy the genuine Western frontier and “Get Your West On!”
CHEYENNE – The legendary West lives on!
Conveniently situated just an hour and a half north of Denver, Cheyenne, Wyoming has long been a Front Range favorite. Even the name and the town’s motto, “Live the Legend,” bring forth notions of Old West inspired adventure and American cultural history. Cheyenne Frontier Days is the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, dating back to 1897 and kicking off on the last full week of July each year. The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum & Store is a must-see no matter what time of year you’re in town.
Cheyenne is also the perfect jumping-off point for experiencing the West’s greatest natural treasures: Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills and Devils Tower are all less than a day’s drive from this Southeastern Wyoming hub.
Outdoor lovers rejoice in Cheyenne’s cycling, climbing, boating, wildlife viewing and more. Curt Gowdy State Park and Vedauwoo stand out as renowned bouldering and sport-climbing destinations, even by Front Range standards. To cut the summer heat, head to Granite, Crystal, and Upper North Crow reservoirs for all types of boating, from sailing and water skiing to canoeing and SUPing. Curt Gowdy and Medicine Bow State Parks also offer ideal spots for camping away from the masses.
