14 Prettiest Towns In Wyoming

Most people think that Wyoming is about big skies, vast plains, and large open spaces, and it is: the legendary Yellowstone National Park with its dramatic scenery and lush and large wildlife is among the most recognizable places in North America and the iconic mountain views of Grand Teton National Park leave lasting impressions on millions of visitors a year (2.81 million in 2022, to be exact). With the natural pull of its bright stars and crisp fresh air, it's easy to forget that small towns fitting for the best postcards in the country are dotted all across its dramatic scenery. 

Let's look past the skyline of Mount Helen and through the long, thick fields of grass and roughage that hold the big and husky bison and take a deep dive into the charm of the fourteen prettiest towns in Wyoming.

Saratoga

Saratoga offers hot spring water, streets full of history, and world-class fishing. Some visitors take the opportunity for a relaxing dip in the year-round Hobo Hot Springs. The springs don't offer just peace of mind but also an extra kick of bodily recovery: after being founded in the 1880s, the Saratoga springs became known for their "medicinal" properties. Now, they're complemented by massages and facials using the mineral-rich water. After some rest and relaxation, fish and game seekers scout the North Platte River for the best fly fishing spots. Brown and rainbow trout make it an extremely productive fishing retreat: there are over 4,000 catchable fish per mile. If you're looking for a scenic trail, be sure to try the North Gap Lake loop. 

Thermopolis

True to its name, Thermopolis is home to one of the world's largest mineral springs, "Big Spring." Take a trip to two large outdoor pools filled with water from the springs, "The Star Plunge."Still, if you put the hot steamy reservoirs aside, you can find plenty of character in Thermopolis's wildlife and natural history. Bison herds flood the grasslands behind Hot Springs State Park, grazing in large numbers against the backdrop of rolling red mountains. To get a glimpse into the lives of the Native Americans who originally lived here, you can visit the Legend Rock Petroglyph site to take in beautiful and ancient artwork and stories.

Lander

The charm of Lander is in its authenticity. It doesn't try to impress or meander by polishing bright colors and shining its leather boots; it is small, straightforward, and down-to-earth Wyoming. Check out the nearby ranches and the old school bars, then find the best cowboy hat in the downtown area: get ready to rodeo. Have some real culture at the Lander Pioneer Days Rodeo, where cowboys buckle hold tight while horses jump and holler with all their powerful legs and chest and back. Tourists remember it as a spectacle of power and speed while locals circle the event on their calendar to watch the best riders in Fremont County and beyond. If you're eager for a taste of nature, you don't need to look far: Sinks Canyon State Park nestled inside the Wind River Mountains has world-class geologic diversity and a variety of wildlife to match.

Jackson

Jackson is the gateway to Yellowstone National Park and a playground for some of the best skiing in Wyoming. While Jackson Hole Mountain Resort boasts ski and snowboard runs for agile and smart winter enthusiasts, the mountain range isn't the only good view around; mountain-top vistas overlook the classic style downtown Jackson that shines bright like a star on Earth, especially in the heavy snow that covers it half of year. When the weather is unfavorable for skiing, have a unique guided ride on a snowmobile or a dog sled through the vast backcountry. In the off-season, visitors enjoy Whitewater Rafting on the Snake River. You can float slowly or heart-pumpingly fast. Be sure to make the trek back up the river to catch the stunning views and wildlife.

Cody

Founder Buffalo Bill's vision of this cute town is fully realized today: the last pit stop for people clamouring for the intrigue of Yellowstone National Park, and a bustling tourist destination to bolster the local economy. The world-class museums, featuring Buffalo Bill Cody himself, are accented with nightly rodeos, theatre, and life-size stand-ins of the town that Buffalo Bill built in his own time, including 1800s log cabins with highly-rated accommodations and old-time saloons with all the classic drinks. Some of the most popular nightly tourist events include an authentic Dutch oven 'Chuckwagon' dinner and the gunfight reenactments of the Old West Street theatre.

Afton

For a small town of 2,213 people (2021), Afton's character doesn't speak: it shouts. Visitors are greeted by the Elk Antler Arch across Main Street, and the culture doesn't get any quieter from there. The community is small, tight-knit, and laden with folklore and story tales and storytellers. You can find them at the Lincoln County Fair, tending to their farms and livestock that enclose the area, or taking in the intermittent intermountain spring. For a taste of the modern Wyoming, visit the stunning Star Valley Wyoming Temple: a dazzling white castle-like building accented beautifully by the barren rolling mountains at sunset. 

Pinedale

Pinedale is enclosed on all sides by the Wind River Range, a majestic mountain range that adds ruggedness to the backdrop of the quaint town square and adds to the coziness of daily life. Antelope, mule deer, moose, and elk all roam nearby, and the casual camaraderie of a wooden seat and a fresh pint at the Wind River Brewing Company is even closer. Available outdoor activities are of the highest quality in the country: White Pine Wyoming Ski and Summer Resort town offers pristine powder uniquely secluded from the bustle of large commercial resorts and summer-time mountain biking trails range from an idyllic stroll to daring downhills.

Greybull

Greybull is home to some iconic Wyoming history, namely the 'most haunted place in Wyoming,' the Greybull Hotel. Greybull's downtown was once a playground for bootleggers to stash liquor in tunnels; today, those same spirits lurk in the classic Western-style rooms of the Greybull Hotel, which has played host to a speakeasy, a bank, and now to hospitality over its one-hundred-plus years in service.

And if ghosts aren't for you, walk over to Bighorn National Forest or the unique 'Devil's Kitchen' natuer preserve. Any exploration in Bighorn includes extreme natural diversity — prairies, glacier-carved valleys, and alpine meadows — and 'Devil's Kitchen' is an extra-terrestrial landscape of beautiful colors and rock formations.

Alpine

Alpine is the intersection of all things nature in Wyoming. The small town borders the Snake River Canyon; down below, visitors enjoy some of the best whitewater rafting in the country. Only a float away is the scenic Palisades Reservoir, a valley with forested hillsides and towering snow-capped mountains beset on either side by the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and the Salt River Range. Leave the tranquility of the town through Greys River Road, one of the most popular forest roads in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and enjoy the calm rolling waters of Swan Valley in neighbouring Idaho. There's always another view to find in Alpine.

Moose

Moose, like Jackson, is a part of the Jackson Hole Valley and offers world-class natural settings like Jackson Peak, wildlife like Bighorn Sheep, and outdoor activities like skiing and rafting, but Moose differs in one specific history: Mormon Row. Twenty-seven long-preserved wooden barns and homesteads line the flat grassy plains of Mormon Row where Mormon settlers of the late 1890s made their homes. To make a lasting impression of late 19th-century life in rural Wyoming, continue on to the unique build of the Cunningham Cabin and take in a stunning sunset falling over the flat wide-open meadow and the backdrop of the Grand Teton mountains. 

Buffalo

Buffalo is a popular tourist destination for its celebrity and its accessible wildlife. Newcomers always marvel at the charming down-to-earth brick buildings in the town center and the mystical colours of sunsets that cover the downtown shops in the evenings. For a taste of history, visitors can walk the historic downtown and visit the Occidental Hotel where Butch Cassidy once laid down his stolen goods. Then take to the walkable and scenic Clear Creek Trail where the waterfalls at Slide Creek astonish hikers. Plus, Longmire fans can remake their favourite scenes from the popular show in the same town where it was shot. 

Dubois

Dubois has high snow-covered peaks, striped and red low-mountain peaks to accent, and some of the best cowboy culture in the state. Several dude ranches around the rural town, most notably the Crooked Creek Guest Ranch, offer tastes of cattle drives and horseback riding so you can feel the real inner strength of Wyoming cowboy culture. Nature lovers come for the dramatic Wind River Range and the barren beauty of the Absaroka Range; wildlife lovers come for the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Site and take a guided tour for bighorn sightings; Western lovers come to feel authentic Wyoming in Dubois. 

Green River

Green River is of the largest communities on our list, totalling around 12,000 people, most likely due to its prominence as a stop for pioneers over the course of westward expansion and its attachment to the Oregon Trail. Likewise, the town showcases its historical significance at the John Wesley Powell Museum and posts particular attention to horse culture: visitors can take a unique opportunity to observe wild horses in their natural habitat along the Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop or take in the annual Wild Horse Adoption event. Just south of Green River is the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, a pure blue reservoir accented by alien-like red rock mountains where multiple outfitters offer fishing, boating, and camping experiences.

Sheridan

Sheridan has historical value as a game-changer in the cattle ranching era and the harnessing of the Western frontier; a vibrant art community providing museums, theatres, and festivals; and, to top it off, one of the most charming and creative Western-style downtown areas in Wyoming. The Mint Bar is a staple location for a top-quality Western atmosphere, the Sheridan Inn offers a notorious history-filled stay, and the new Forrest E. Mars, Junior Building features an extensive Western and Native American art collection. For a big breath of fresh air, the Bighorn Mountains offer some of the best panoramic views and a plethora of outdoor activities. Visitors to Sheridan have no problem staying busy. 

Wyoming Towns are both Stunning and Quaint

Ultimately, newcomers to Wyoming expect to be blown away by the extensive mountain ranges and the dramatic scenery and accompanying wildlife, but don't expect the hidden cultural beauty nestled between their national parks. The authentic Western culture in these small towns is sure to leave a lasting impression on any visitor; most tourists come for the views, enjoy the charm of the historic towns, and remember the beautiful ruggedness of the people.