Things to Do and Visit in Wyoming
Whether you want to spend your day hiking, enjoying some solitude at a quiet campground, or visiting an interesting or quirky roadside attraction, Wyoming is sure to have the perfect activity for you.
Yellowstone National Park
We’d be remiss not to start with the most famous place to visit in Wyoming: the national treasure that is Yellowstone National Park. Full of hydrothermal features like geysers and hot springs to see, and plenty of hiking trails to explore, there’s a reason that Yellowstone is one of the most visited national parks in the country.
When visiting the park, in addition to checking out some of the more popular tourist attractions (especially if it’s your first time), make sure to explore some of the more quirky and off-beat places too. For instance, the Morning Glory Pool is one of the most colorful areas of the park. There’s also the wreck of the E.C. Waters in Yellowstone Lake, left as a monument to what happens when greed is chosen over respecting nature.
Speaking of respecting nature, unfortunately, some of the natural wonders at Yellowstone have been damaged by littering and pollution. However, if you partner your Bowlus with an electric tow vehicle like a Tesla X, you’ll have a totally emission-free camping trip. The travel trailer is so light and so easy to drive, even around mountain curves, that you’ll feel comfortable pairing most vehicles with it. You can travel to see the natural beauty of Yellowstone without worrying about the negative environmental impact. It’s a much more environmentally friendly way to explore the country.
Grand Teton National Park
While Yellowstone is full of geysers and hot springs, the Grand Teton National Park is known for its picturesque, postcard-perfect scenery. In fact, the park is so beautiful that a portion of it, the Snake River Outlook, was photographed by world-famous photographer Ansel Adams.
The Teton Mountain range is beautiful, and the rest of the park is just as full of natural wonders. There are lakes, rivers, valleys, and forests full of wildlife and wildflowers. It’s also full of history, featuring a few different sites to check out during your trip.
Hiking remains one of the most popular activities to do in the park, but it can be difficult because of the terrain. Our personal favorite hike is Inspiration Point. It takes between two to four hours to complete and rewards hikers with views of Jenny Lake, the Jackson Hole valley, and a 100-foot cascading waterfall.
Speaking of Jenny Lake, don’t forget to spend a little time at the lake. There are hikes to take around it, or you can rent a boat or kayak and explore the lake itself. You can also enjoy the Discovery Trail alongside the lake, with plenty of information about the natural landscape that you’re enjoying.
Our vote for the best camping stop in Grand Teton National Park is the Gros Ventre Campground. Some campsites have hookups, and others do not, so you can make your own choice, depending on how long you intend to stay. That makes the campground perfect for a Bowlus, much like a choose your own adventure. The scenery is impressive no matter what type of campsite you choose, and you can step out of your luxury travel trailer to enjoy a cup of coffee in view of the Teton Mountains and Blacktail Butte.
Devils Tower National Monument
Extending dramatically out of the Black Hills, the Devils Tower is considered sacred by the local indigenous people and Northern Plains Indians. The Devils Tower has hundreds of parallel cracks, making it a magnet for people who enjoy climbing. However, this location is particularly difficult and should only be attempted by experienced veteran climbers.
When it comes to hiking, though, the trails located around the Devils Tower are perfect for any experience level. The Tower Trail and the Amphitheater Circuit can be hiked in an hour, while hiking from the Red Beds to Joyner Ridge can be enjoyed over several hours. No matter what you choose and what your skill level is, every trail has its own spectacular views and is its own unique way to experience the Devils Town and its surrounding area.
There is one campground available on the grounds, the Belle Fourche River Campground. Shaded by cottonwood trees and with plenty of space to spread out, the campground is the perfect place to park a Bowlus for the night.
During your stay at the monument, make sure to turn off all of your lights and enjoy the part of the park that comes alive after dark. It’s one of the best places in the entire state to stargaze without light pollution, which may be something you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing before! You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own travel trailer to do this, as our skylights in the iconic Bowlus shape will allow you to see the beauty of the night sky.
Buffalo Bill Dam
Located in Cody, Wyoming, the Buffalo Bill Dam was the biggest dam in the world at one point. It was named after the historical figure, William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, who proposed the dam and the town of Cody. The dam was built by the United States Bureau of Reclamation over five years before they moved on to create an even bigger dam—the Hoover Dam.
The Visitor Center is offered free of charge and is the best way to see the dam and learn more about its history. When you’re done, you should also make sure to check out the Buffalo Bill State Park, where the reservoir formed by the Buffalo Bill Dam is located. You can enjoy boating, geocaching, fishing, and wildlife viewing before finding a campsite to spend the night.
Camping is allowed at multiple areas in the park, with and without hookups. You’ll be able to find the perfect spot to enjoy a delicious meal cooked either inside or outside of your luxury travel trailer and relax after a day of outdoor fun and adventure. It’s moments like these that your Bowlus is made of.
Whitewater Rafting
If you haven’t ever experienced whitewater rafting, Wyoming is the place to start! It’s an adrenaline-pumping way to experience the scenery by actually getting into it, and there are plenty of companies to help you do that.
One of the top-rated is located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Voted the Best Rafting Company for multiple years in a row, Dave Hansen River Trips has been in operation for 50 years. They offer rafting trips for people age six and up, taking them down Class II and Class III rapids on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park. Each trip accommodates up to eight people and takes between three and four hours. They also offer float trips for people who don’t enjoy the adrenaline rush of whitewater rafting. And, for those who want to do a little bit of both, the company also has combination trips.
As exciting as all the foam, spray, and adrenaline is, once your whitewater rafting trip is over, you’ll likely be ready for a quick nap or even an early bedtime. That’s where traveling with your Bowlus really pays off.
Once you get back to your campsite or boondocking area, you can take a hot shower and collapse onto the comfortable eco linens on your memory foam king-sized bed. The privacy that affords you, and the ability to enjoy your time in nature without having to fight the crowds to be able to shower, is well worth the investment. You’ll never want to sleep on the ground again… and you won’t have to.
In Summary…
Wyoming is much more full of exciting things to do than many people think. With some of the most beautiful scenery in the country in the Teton Mountain range and natural geysers, and activities like hiking and whitewater rafting, you can make any trip to the state an exciting adventure.
When you travel with your Bowlus, you can even minimize your environmental impact, especially when you haul your luxury travel trailer with an electric vehicle. Enjoy Wyoming your way while still keeping your emissions low by investing in the ultimate in both luxury and performance with a Bowlus.
Sources:
https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm
https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/places-to-go/buffalo-bill