9 Most Picturesque Small Towns in Wyoming
In 1890, Wyoming took its seat as the 44th state in America's grand union, with its immense landscapes and a proud history of frontier determination.
It is home to some of the top-rated parks nationwide. Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, with their imposing natural beauty, are both names famous globally.
Wyoming left its mark by being the first to extend voting rights to women - an identity proudly remembered through its slogan, the "Equality State."
Despite boasting the smallest population amongst all states, the state has a sizeable collection of towns proudly holding on to that unique, western spirit that the state represents so well. Come check out 9 of the most picturesque small towns in Wyoming.
Jackson
When you are walking through Jackson, the smell of old wood hits your nose as you tread over old boardwalks and classic Western-style architecture.
If you are strolling through town and you feel a bit lost, look for the antlers. The town square has four large elk antler arches, so it is a good way to orient yourself. These arches are made from shed elk antlers collected from the nearby National Elk Refuge.
Speaking of the National Elk Refuge, anybody coming through Jackson has to make time to see the park, to witness the thousands of elk gathering during the winter months.
In December, guests even have the opportunity to go on sleigh journeys for an intimate viewing experience of these awe-inspiring animals. There is also some great skiing not far off. The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is close by and will give days of fun without having to leave the hill.
Pinedale
In Pinedale, the echoes of the Old West reverberate vividly. The townspeople keep this connection alive in a multitude of ways. One way they do this is by holding the Green River Rendezvous every July, as a tribute to their past roots as a fur trading hub.
If you want to learn about their local history, look into the Museum of the Mountain Man. Inside it has a big collection of artifacts teaching about how both frontiersmen and Native Americans lived and traded.
The town is also called the “Gateway to the Wind River Range." These beautiful mountains, part of the Rockies, offer countless chances to camp, hike, or just take a casual walk on a soft forest path.
The local mountains are celebrated for their craggy summits and the pretty mountain lakes tucked away at their feet. One of these bodies of water, Fremont Lake, happens to be one of Wyoming's largest naturally formed glacial lakes. Its reputation is anchored on its crystal-clear waters and magnificent mountainside setting.
Ten Sleep
Approaching Ten Sleep from the east provides a glimpse of the Bighorn Mountains' remarkable flat-topped foothills and expansive prairies.
The town got its name from a Native American technique to calculate distance, since it took ten sleeps to get from Yellowstone to Ft. Laramie.
Nowadays, the town is home to around a couple of hundred people. That has not stopped the town from offering a friendly welcoming atmosphere to any and all visitors. It is a great place to discover and experience small-town life.
When you are here, collect your gear and join in a thrilling mountainside journey. Ten Sleep is renowned for its cliff scaling opportunities. With more than a thousand climbing routes, the adjacent Ten Sleep Canyon will promise an escape from boredom. After that, if the craving for a cold drink strikes, try out Ten Sleep Brewing Company, which has an assortment of beers to enjoy on warm summer days.
Sheridan
Sheridan has lots of physical beauty around it, from mountain views to the Western spirit that remains in its historic buildings.
The town used to be a hub for ranching and mining. You can explore that history at the Sheridan County Museum, which teaches history from the Indian Wars to modern times.
That is not the only museum in town. The King's Saddlery and Museum shows off all the best in Western art and cowboy gear. It also has a huge collection of saddles, collected over the years.
The folks here embrace their Western heritage, and you can feel this during the Sheridan WYO Rodeo, one of the oldest rodeos in the United States.
The town also has a surprising connection to polo, being one of the few places in the western United States with an active polo scene. The Flying H Polo Club and the Big Horn Polo Club host regular polo matches during the summer.
Cody
If you have heard of the famous Buffalo Bill, he was one of Cody’s town founders. In return, the town took his surname as its title. Cody has some of the best parks in the state, only a short drive away. A two-hour trip westward takes you to Yellowstone, while the vastness of the Shoshone National Forest can be reached in less than 60 minutes by car.
Shoshone National Forest is the first national forest in the country and lends out 2.4 million acres of space to explore.
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, an internationally esteemed collection of museums dedicated to the life and contributions of Buffalo Bill, sits in town. Made of five separate institutions, it provides a thorough exploration of the culture of the American West.
Cody claims the title of being the "Rodeo Capital of the World." The community organizes an event known as Cody Nite Rodeo, gaining fame as it has been running nightly longer than any other.
Buffalo
Buffalo was established in 1870, and according to local legend, its name was chosen randomly by drawing ideas from a hat.
Buffalo's city center carries a quaintly maintained aura of its treasured past and history. The red stone façade of the treasured Occidental Hotel will be hard to miss. When you walk its hallways, you are treading where icons like Buffalo Bill Cody and Teddy Roosevelt once did.
Close by Buffalo lies the awe-inspiring Bighorn Mountains. They provide a perfect location for hiking, fishing, or whichever outdoor activity sparks your interest.
Make sure to explore areas like Crazy Woman Canyon in the Bighorns. The canyon features a slender, serpentine road threading its way through, granting great views of nearby cliffs and rock patterns.
Not far from town, you can find the renowned hideaway called Hole-in-the-Wall, located deep in the Bighorn Mountains. It formerly offered shelter for notorious individuals like Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid. The "Hole-in-the-Wall," is a tight mountain pass that served as natural camouflage against unwanted eyes.
Dubois
Some towns love the Western heritage that helped build their community's foundations. Dubois doesn't just love it, it lives it. Dubois exhibits its western lineage with pride, garnering the esteemed status as Wyoming's "most western town."
A vibrant cowboy culture permeates throughout this place. It has regular rodeos, buildings oozing Western charm, and a welcoming ambiance that echoes the good old days of The Wild West.
It doesn't hurt the town’s appeal that they get to wake up every morning to incredible mountain ranges outside. With three mountain ranges near the town, it is an alpine lover’s dream.
The people here love their wildlife, and this shines through at the National Bighorn Sheep Center in town. The site is dedicated to teaching about these animals and their habitat.
Dubois holds honor as the 'Jackalope Capital of the World' and with some luck during your visit, you may spot one of these mystical animals popping its head around town.
Lander
Welcome to the “Gateway to the Winds.” The nickname comes from the town's closeness to the stunning Wind River Mountain Range, famed for its challenging rough terrain and some of the most picturesque lakes in the state.
Amongst rock climbing enthusiasts, this range offers a well-known mountain challenge spot called Cirque of The Towers.
Climbers by nature are a tight-knit group unified by their collective passion. Lander invites them all each year for the International Climber’s Festival event which celebrates achievements within mountaineering culture through workshops, competitive activities, and social gatherings.
In addition, the town has the Sinks Canyon State Park, referred to as "The Sinks”, found right near Lander. This geological phenomenon features a river that disappears into a cave, only to reemerge in a trout-filled pool known as "The Rise."
Lander is another Wyoming town that is proud of its Western heritage. Stop off at the Museum of the American West which teaches about the region’s history. It is a fun way to learn about local legends lost to time.
Thermopolis
The name of this town has a Greek ring to it. That is because its name translates to "hot" and "city" in the Greek language, named after the neighboring hot springs.
In Thermopolis, the largest mineral hot springs in the world are in nearby Hot Springs State Park. The Big Spring inside the park supplies millions of heated and mineral-abundant water to the Bighorn River every day.
Also inside the park, a herd of bison roams freely in a designated pasture. It is a rare chance to observe these beautiful American animals in a natural setting.
A popular landmark inside the park is the TePee Fountain, a geological formation and hot spring that releases mineral-laden water, creating a cone-shaped deposit resembling a teepee or cone. Originally conceived as an artificial fountain, its growth presently clocks one to two inches annually.
The town is near the majestic Wind River Canyon features awe-inspiring red rock structures and is cut through by the coursing Wind River itself. The canyon has some of the state's most breathtaking views and also has a lot of opportunities for cliff-scaling.
In Conclusion
When you visit Wyoming, there will be a lot of options on your plate. From its iconic parks to the charm of the Western towns, each place has something that can bring pride to Wyomingites.
The state is committed to keeping its past alive, including its role in women's suffrage and its deep roots in cowboy culture, something you can see and feel in its museums, historical sites, and events.
Regardless of why you are coming— be it seeking outdoor thrills, delving into historical lore, or simply embracing the calmness of secluded locales — expect Wyoming to deliver.
The towering peaks of Wyoming are calling, so gather your belongings and brace yourself for an exciting journey into the West.
