Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
My Favorite Places to Visit in Wyoming
7
items Ever since I was very young, I have been intrugued by Wyoming. I've wanted to move there for many years, but my better half always said it was too cold.
We've traveled to Wyoming on several occasions and have absolutely fallen in love with the st...
The OG of National Parks. The Granddaddy of them all. One of my favorite places to go… period. There is so much to see here that you can easily spend a month here and not see it all.
Here is a list of my favorite places within and near Yellowstone National Park:
*Beartooth Pass… Few places have the views en route or while at Beartooth Pass. At 10,900 feet in elevation, you certainly know you're at altitude by both the breath-taking views and by your breath being taken away by the altitude. A must see!
*Old Faithful… Yep, it's an iconic natural attraction that brings millions of visitors a year to Yellowstone. Bring a chair and sit back for some entertainment - not just Old Faithful itself, but the people watching. The people watching opportunity here is endless! Enjoy the gift shops, and the restaurant, too!
*Lamar Valley…. Be sure to get up extra early to get to Lamar Valley if you're into seeing wildlife. There's no guarantee that you'll see anything, but it's the best opportunity to see something. It's a beautiful drive to and through Lamar Valley, so take your time - commit a full day to the destination and bring your cameras, binoculars, and some road snacks & drinks. This is a favorite for me to go see.
*Norris Basin… A massive natural hotbed of colors, geysers, hotsprings, and plenty of paths and boardwalks to fill a days worth of walking. Get here very early as the parking lot fills up very quickly - if you don't get there early enough to get a good spot in the parking lot, there's parking along the main road - which includes a bit of a walk to the Basin itself.
*Grand Prismatic… Oh, my…. beautiful colors, wonderful boardwalks, steaming hot water flowing from the hotsprings directly into the Firehole River. Another one that you want to get to early for a good parking space. Another option for this attraction is the Grand Prismatic Overlook, which is about a mile down the road, with paths on the back side of the spring leading up to an overlook of the spring itself. Mostly flat, the last portion is uphill, so take your walking shoes and some water along. Great short hike with wonderful views!
Here is a list of my favorite places within and near Yellowstone National Park:
*Beartooth Pass… Few places have the views en route or while at Beartooth Pass. At 10,900 feet in elevation, you certainly know you're at altitude by both the breath-taking views and by your breath being taken away by the altitude. A must see!
*Old Faithful… Yep, it's an iconic natural attraction that brings millions of visitors a year to Yellowstone. Bring a chair and sit back for some entertainment - not just Old Faithful itself, but the people watching. The people watching opportunity here is endless! Enjoy the gift shops, and the restaurant, too!
*Lamar Valley…. Be sure to get up extra early to get to Lamar Valley if you're into seeing wildlife. There's no guarantee that you'll see anything, but it's the best opportunity to see something. It's a beautiful drive to and through Lamar Valley, so take your time - commit a full day to the destination and bring your cameras, binoculars, and some road snacks & drinks. This is a favorite for me to go see.
*Norris Basin… A massive natural hotbed of colors, geysers, hotsprings, and plenty of paths and boardwalks to fill a days worth of walking. Get here very early as the parking lot fills up very quickly - if you don't get there early enough to get a good spot in the parking lot, there's parking along the main road - which includes a bit of a walk to the Basin itself.
*Grand Prismatic… Oh, my…. beautiful colors, wonderful boardwalks, steaming hot water flowing from the hotsprings directly into the Firehole River. Another one that you want to get to early for a good parking space. Another option for this attraction is the Grand Prismatic Overlook, which is about a mile down the road, with paths on the back side of the spring leading up to an overlook of the spring itself. Mostly flat, the last portion is uphill, so take your walking shoes and some water along. Great short hike with wonderful views!
Yellowstone National Park
Devils Tower is a monolith that rises out of the hilly topography of NE Wyoming. Standing at 1267 feet over the Belle Fourche River, Devils Tower is sacred to the Native American Nations of the Navaho, Lakota, Shoshone, Cheyenne, Crow, and Kiowa. There are ceremonial flags placed around the base of the tower; visitors are encouraged to not take photos of these areas out of respect for the sacred meaning behind them.
There are two trails that you can walk around the monument, Tower Trail is a 1.2 mile trail that hugs the base of the tower, Red Beds Trail is 2.1 miles long and is further out from the base of the monolith. Both trails can be completed in a single day. Walkers are admonished to bring plenty of water and to wear good shoes. There is wildlife that can be seen around the entire circumference. Leave yourself enough time to thoroughly take in the sights. Watching climbers on the tower exemplifies exactly how large this rock outcropping really is!!
Devils Tower was made famous by the 1977 Richard Dreyfus movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” which was partially filmed at Devils Tower. There is a KOA just a short distance away that shows this iconic movie every evening in the summer at 7PM with the monument itself as a backdrop to the movie screen, which truly adds a great element of eeriness to the movie.
Not far away is Prairie Dog Town, situated just across the road from Devils Tower, you can walk the paths through this community of prairie dogs. Watch as they scamper to and fro and you pass by.
There are two trails that you can walk around the monument, Tower Trail is a 1.2 mile trail that hugs the base of the tower, Red Beds Trail is 2.1 miles long and is further out from the base of the monolith. Both trails can be completed in a single day. Walkers are admonished to bring plenty of water and to wear good shoes. There is wildlife that can be seen around the entire circumference. Leave yourself enough time to thoroughly take in the sights. Watching climbers on the tower exemplifies exactly how large this rock outcropping really is!!
Devils Tower was made famous by the 1977 Richard Dreyfus movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” which was partially filmed at Devils Tower. There is a KOA just a short distance away that shows this iconic movie every evening in the summer at 7PM with the monument itself as a backdrop to the movie screen, which truly adds a great element of eeriness to the movie.
Not far away is Prairie Dog Town, situated just across the road from Devils Tower, you can walk the paths through this community of prairie dogs. Watch as they scamper to and fro and you pass by.
Devils Tower National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)
Independence Rock is a large granite monolith in the middle of the high plains of Natrona County, Wyoming. An oasis for those traveling west on the Oregon Trail, Independence Rock has hundreds of names and dates of travelers who passed through in the...
Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails - Independence Rock ...
One of the most iconic national parks in North American, Grand Teton National Park never disappoints. Named by a French-Canadian fur trader, Les Trois Tetons, or the three breasts, Grand Teton became a national park when President Calvin Coolidge signed legislation giving the 96,000 acre area National Park status in 1929. Since then, the park has become a favorite of global travelers.
To think that the park is made up solely of the mountain peaks would be leaving ones self shy of seeing all the beauty of the area.
Some of my favorite places to visit in the park are Colter Bay Village on Jackson Lake, the largest lake in the park. This resort community is a great place for picnicking, shopping among the various stores throughout the community. Don't forget to stop by the visitor center / gift shop along the west end of the community, just on the shores of Lake Jackson.
Jenny Lake, the second largest lake within the park, boasts a seven mile trail around the lake where a myriad of wildlife can be seen. On my last trip, we were fortunate enough to see a Pine Maarten, a black bear, and a moose in Moose Pond, among other wildlife.
There are a number of campgrounds and lodging throughout the park that one can enjoy and are available through gltc.com.
Hwy 89 is the main thoroughfare through the park, going north to south. The route has a large number of pull-outs, parks, and other points of interest, including the famous Cunningham Cabin, and the iconic TA Moulton Barn to stop at along the way.
The park has at least 118 different trails, depending on how the trails are categorized, such as hiking, bird watching, and backpacking. Varying from day treks to multiple night treks, Grand Teton has trails for every skill level. Overnight camping outside of designated campgrounds does require a permit, which can be reserved ahead of time at recreation.gov.
Stout shoes, a variety of clothing for all weather types, and plenty of water is always advised any time one is hiking, birding, or backpacking. There are few places within the park to purchase water & snacks, so it is advised that you bring your own to make sure you are fully prepared.
Grand Teton is bear country, so bear spray and other deterrents, such as bells on your shoes, or talking among yourselves are suggested. Researching best practices for bear encounters is highly suggested. Bears are generally not going to attack unless they feel threatened or are in mama bear mode, protecting their young.
The world famous community of Jackson, WY is just south of the park, as is the skiers paradise of Jackson Hole Resort. Both are highly recommended stopping points on your way through.
Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy the park. There is so much to see and do in the park and the surrounding areas - including Yellowstone National Park just on the northern border of Grand Teton. One can spend a week here and still not see everything!
To think that the park is made up solely of the mountain peaks would be leaving ones self shy of seeing all the beauty of the area.
Some of my favorite places to visit in the park are Colter Bay Village on Jackson Lake, the largest lake in the park. This resort community is a great place for picnicking, shopping among the various stores throughout the community. Don't forget to stop by the visitor center / gift shop along the west end of the community, just on the shores of Lake Jackson.
Jenny Lake, the second largest lake within the park, boasts a seven mile trail around the lake where a myriad of wildlife can be seen. On my last trip, we were fortunate enough to see a Pine Maarten, a black bear, and a moose in Moose Pond, among other wildlife.
There are a number of campgrounds and lodging throughout the park that one can enjoy and are available through gltc.com.
Hwy 89 is the main thoroughfare through the park, going north to south. The route has a large number of pull-outs, parks, and other points of interest, including the famous Cunningham Cabin, and the iconic TA Moulton Barn to stop at along the way.
The park has at least 118 different trails, depending on how the trails are categorized, such as hiking, bird watching, and backpacking. Varying from day treks to multiple night treks, Grand Teton has trails for every skill level. Overnight camping outside of designated campgrounds does require a permit, which can be reserved ahead of time at recreation.gov.
Stout shoes, a variety of clothing for all weather types, and plenty of water is always advised any time one is hiking, birding, or backpacking. There are few places within the park to purchase water & snacks, so it is advised that you bring your own to make sure you are fully prepared.
Grand Teton is bear country, so bear spray and other deterrents, such as bells on your shoes, or talking among yourselves are suggested. Researching best practices for bear encounters is highly suggested. Bears are generally not going to attack unless they feel threatened or are in mama bear mode, protecting their young.
The world famous community of Jackson, WY is just south of the park, as is the skiers paradise of Jackson Hole Resort. Both are highly recommended stopping points on your way through.
Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy the park. There is so much to see and do in the park and the surrounding areas - including Yellowstone National Park just on the northern border of Grand Teton. One can spend a week here and still not see everything!
Maps - Grand Teton National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Cody, Wyoming is the quintessential western town. Full of history, rodeos, museums, and is located where the high plains and the Bighorn Mountain range meet, along with the lesser known Absoraka Mountains and the Owl Creek Mountains. Cody is an enchanting place to visit, surrounded by immense history of western characters, Native American history and lore, and incredible beauty.
The community of Cody, WY is named after famed western personality Buffalo Bill Cody. Established by Bill Cody in 1896, the town took his name and became an attraction unto itself.
Home to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a complex of five different museums and a research library to preserve the legacy of Buffalo Bill. Established in 1917,the five museums are the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum, the Plains Indians Museum, the Whitney Western Museum, the Draper Natural History Museum, and the Cody Firearms Museum. Artifacts from around the west can be found in all five museums.
Also known as the Rodeo Capitol of the World, Cody has daily rodeos called the Cody Nite Rodeo (running June 1, 2026 to August 31, 2026), it is also home to the world famous Cody Stampede, and annual rodeo held over the 4th of July weekend. The Cody Stampede is a PRCA sanctioned rodeo, a potential stepping stone to qualifying for the prestigious NFR in Las Vegas.
On top of the museums and rodeos, Cody is home to a number of other attractions to experience, including Buffalo Bill Dam and Visitor Center, nearby Yellowstone National Park, Shoshone National Forest, and a myriad of other history based attractions,...
Cody is in NE Wyoming and is most easily accessed by air through the Cody Regional Airport and by road via Wyoming Highways 14 and 120, both of which offer incredible sites and views through the surrounding mountains and plains.
The community of Cody, WY is named after famed western personality Buffalo Bill Cody. Established by Bill Cody in 1896, the town took his name and became an attraction unto itself.
Home to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a complex of five different museums and a research library to preserve the legacy of Buffalo Bill. Established in 1917,the five museums are the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum, the Plains Indians Museum, the Whitney Western Museum, the Draper Natural History Museum, and the Cody Firearms Museum. Artifacts from around the west can be found in all five museums.
Also known as the Rodeo Capitol of the World, Cody has daily rodeos called the Cody Nite Rodeo (running June 1, 2026 to August 31, 2026), it is also home to the world famous Cody Stampede, and annual rodeo held over the 4th of July weekend. The Cody Stampede is a PRCA sanctioned rodeo, a potential stepping stone to qualifying for the prestigious NFR in Las Vegas.
On top of the museums and rodeos, Cody is home to a number of other attractions to experience, including Buffalo Bill Dam and Visitor Center, nearby Yellowstone National Park, Shoshone National Forest, and a myriad of other history based attractions,...
Cody is in NE Wyoming and is most easily accessed by air through the Cody Regional Airport and by road via Wyoming Highways 14 and 120, both of which offer incredible sites and views through the surrounding mountains and plains.
Cody, WY | Official Website
Most notably known for the world class ski resort, Jackson Hole, Jackson, Wyoming is also known for its western charm, iconic bars, parks, elk preserve, gateway to Grand Teton National Park, and the world famous Elk Horn Arches in Jackson Town Square... Served by Wyoming Hwy 89 and Jackson Hole Airport several miles north of town, Jackson is a party ground to the rich and famous, and the blue collar worker alike.
Located on the Snake River, Jackson is also home to some world class drift boat fishing with guide services available to book from Jackson and nearby Alpine, WY. Rafting, and daily water play with local rentals are available, too. Nearby Palisades Reservoir is an excellent place for boating, fishing, water skiing / wake boarding / surfing and inner tubing.
Jackson Hole isn't the only ski area near Jackson; there's also Snow King Mountain on the edge of town and Grand Targhee Resort located on the west side of the Grand Tetons.
As previously mentioned, Jackson is also gateway to Grand Teton National Park, one of North America's most iconic national parks known for it's world famous photography opportunities, wild life, and history.
Come see why Jackson is a favorite on so many people's lists!
Located on the Snake River, Jackson is also home to some world class drift boat fishing with guide services available to book from Jackson and nearby Alpine, WY. Rafting, and daily water play with local rentals are available, too. Nearby Palisades Reservoir is an excellent place for boating, fishing, water skiing / wake boarding / surfing and inner tubing.
Jackson Hole isn't the only ski area near Jackson; there's also Snow King Mountain on the edge of town and Grand Targhee Resort located on the west side of the Grand Tetons.
As previously mentioned, Jackson is also gateway to Grand Teton National Park, one of North America's most iconic national parks known for it's world famous photography opportunities, wild life, and history.
Come see why Jackson is a favorite on so many people's lists!
Jackson, WY | Official Website
A hot springs with its own water park? Yep!! Welcome to Thermopolis, Wyoming! Located on the banks of the Big Horn River, Thermopolis is home to Hot Springs State Park, a day use park which boasts a bath house (with a therapeutic pool that is kept at 104F), beach volleyball court, fishing, a boat ramp and a reserve able group ...
Located nearby is Hellie's Tepee Pools, a family themed fun park with indoor & outdoor pools, hot tubs, & water slides (the outdoor slide is currently closed), a sauna, and a steam room on site.
Nearby is the Big Spring, a hot spring (that's really hot!! 127F!!) which feeds all of the parks pools, hot tubs, steam rooms and saunas. The spring water contains at least 27 different minerals, which gives it its emerald green hue.
The Wyoming Dinosaur Center and Dig Sites provides a great opportunity for curious minds to learn more about the dinosaurs that occupied the region millions of years ago. Active dig sites, an excellent interpretive museum, and modern laboratories offer a great learning experience for all ages.
The Hot Springs County Museum offers a look into the historic days of outlaws like Jesse James and the Hole in-the-wall Gang and the bar they sidled up to in their heyday, along with other artifacts and information from the period, along with more re...
Located 23 miles from Thermopolis, the Legend Rock Petroglyph site lends an eye into the inhabitants from as far back as 10,000 years ago! 283 different petroglyphs are on display on 92 different ‘panels’ for the visitor to view.
For the discerning adult who enjoys a distilled beverage, Wyoming Whisky distillery is located in Thermopolis. Tours are available for all ages, and for those 21 years and older, samples of this wonderful beverage are available, post tour. Located in the Big Horn Basin, Wyoming Whiskey uses locally grown grains and their custom fabricated 38 foot tall copper still to distill their spirits. Come check out how small batch bourbon is made!!
Finally, known for it's beauty, Wind River Canyon is one of the most picturesque drives you can take in Wyoming. But that is only part of the charm of this canyon. Some superb fly fishing is found here as well, too. For those who prefer tossing a fly to scrolling a screen, this beautiful canyon offers some world class fly fishing. The canyon is located on the Wind River Indian Reservation, so additional licensing is required.
In addition to fishing, guided rafting and white water trips are available. For those who are into geological history, Wind River Canyon offers a view into the deep history of the region, ranging from 300 million years to 2 billion years, this geologists paradise is a great place for exploring and learning.
There are plenty of hotels to meet your vacation needs in Thermopolis, from the Best Western to Hot Springs Hotel & Spa, you'll find comfort and relaxation!!
Located nearby is Hellie's Tepee Pools, a family themed fun park with indoor & outdoor pools, hot tubs, & water slides (the outdoor slide is currently closed), a sauna, and a steam room on site.
Nearby is the Big Spring, a hot spring (that's really hot!! 127F!!) which feeds all of the parks pools, hot tubs, steam rooms and saunas. The spring water contains at least 27 different minerals, which gives it its emerald green hue.
The Wyoming Dinosaur Center and Dig Sites provides a great opportunity for curious minds to learn more about the dinosaurs that occupied the region millions of years ago. Active dig sites, an excellent interpretive museum, and modern laboratories offer a great learning experience for all ages.
The Hot Springs County Museum offers a look into the historic days of outlaws like Jesse James and the Hole in-the-wall Gang and the bar they sidled up to in their heyday, along with other artifacts and information from the period, along with more re...
Located 23 miles from Thermopolis, the Legend Rock Petroglyph site lends an eye into the inhabitants from as far back as 10,000 years ago! 283 different petroglyphs are on display on 92 different ‘panels’ for the visitor to view.
For the discerning adult who enjoys a distilled beverage, Wyoming Whisky distillery is located in Thermopolis. Tours are available for all ages, and for those 21 years and older, samples of this wonderful beverage are available, post tour. Located in the Big Horn Basin, Wyoming Whiskey uses locally grown grains and their custom fabricated 38 foot tall copper still to distill their spirits. Come check out how small batch bourbon is made!!
Finally, known for it's beauty, Wind River Canyon is one of the most picturesque drives you can take in Wyoming. But that is only part of the charm of this canyon. Some superb fly fishing is found here as well, too. For those who prefer tossing a fly to scrolling a screen, this beautiful canyon offers some world class fly fishing. The canyon is located on the Wind River Indian Reservation, so additional licensing is required.
In addition to fishing, guided rafting and white water trips are available. For those who are into geological history, Wind River Canyon offers a view into the deep history of the region, ranging from 300 million years to 2 billion years, this geologists paradise is a great place for exploring and learning.
There are plenty of hotels to meet your vacation needs in Thermopolis, from the Best Western to Hot Springs Hotel & Spa, you'll find comfort and relaxation!!
Hot Springs State Park - Hot Springs Wyoming Tourism - Thermopolis