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Backcountry Snow Sports
In snowriders' parlance, "backcountry" means a place beyond ski area boundaries, and any on-the-edge skier or snowboarder will tell you that the snow is best and adrenalin quotient highest there. Beyond the thrill of the ride, there is the sense of pride in earning your turns by hiking up before skiing or riding down. more...
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Backpacking: Camping the Way It Was Intended
I'm a fan of any and every type of camping, be it car camping with plush sleeping pads and down pillows or in a forest service cabin with a wood-burning stove. But, for me, the undisputed king of camping is backpacking: hiking into the wilderness with all the necessities for surviving the next night, or two, or three, on my back. Little else in life feels as good as finding the perfect spot for the night and settling in. more...
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Beginning Biking in Jackson Hole
Despite the astonishing rise of the Teton Range, which practically jumps 7,000 feet straight up from the floor of Jackson Hole, cycling about the valley is not entirely built around hill climbs. more...
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Best Bets For Sighting Wildlife
Northwestern Wyoming is a sprawling, open-air zoo. Here, forests, mountains, clear-running streams and verdant meadows nourish wolves, bison and bears - not too mention elk, eagles and bighorn sheep. These are nature's own wild creatures, not docile animals, that allow you briefly into their world - from
a safe distance. Remember - in national parks, it's against the law to approach within 100 yards of a bear while you are on foot, or within 25 yards of other wildlife. more...
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Biking the National Forests
Southeastern Wyoming seems to be little more than a vast sweep of high plains. But look closer and you'll discover sprawling national forests that nurture mile after mile after mile of mountain bike trails that will thrill any level of cyclist. more...
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Birding in Wyoming
With some-400 species overhead, the word's out about birdwatching in Wyoming. Local birders are happy to share their knowledge of the sport and the state's avian attractions – pick up one of their books or scan our primer; then take to the self-guided nature trail at the Audubon Center in Casper. Too, the National Wildlife Refuge and national park systems host several sites across the state for birding expeditions. more...
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Boulder Basics
The chiseled profile of the Teton Range - there is no more dramatic panorama in Wyoming. Craggy and snowcapped, these battleship-gray mountains with their glacial spars harbor a realm of world-class mountain climbs as well as moderate hikes that invite you into the landscape. more...
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Calling All Powder Hounds
Whether you ski the steepest slopes or have never carved more than a snow angel in the stuff, snow – and plenty of it – is one thing you’re certain to find in Wyoming every winter. And while there’s something to be said for appreciating the soothing backdrop of our snowscapes from inside a warm place, you’re not going to hear the phrase “snowed in” often around here. More snow means more excuses to get out in it. Here are a few good ways. more...
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Camping 101
It was love at first sight for my daughter and the Riverside Campground near Dubois. She ran to the centrally located playground, instantly making new friends on the tire swing while smaller children dug in the sandbox nearby. more...
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Camping with Horses
I have tried hiking into the depths of the Wind River Mountains, the unofficial heart of Wyoming's Bridger Teton National Forest three times. I have failed three times. Or, not really "failed" as it isn't possible to fail when enjoying great hiking in one of the most remote backcountry areas of the Lower 48 states; rather three times I was not able to reach my objective end destinations because well, the going is tough when on foot with 50-some odd pounds strapped to your back and you have an area roughly the size of Connecticut (3.4 millions acres or 5,300-square miles) at your disposal. more...
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Devils Tower Centennial
Writer M. Scott Momaday once waxed poetic about Devils Tower, proclaiming "There are things in nature that engender an awful quiet in the heart of man." President Theodore Roosevelt showed his love of preservation (and an economy of words) when he declared this "lofty and isolated rock" a national monument 100 years ago. Thirty years ago, Steven Spielberg celebrated the monument's otherworldly appeal by choosing Devils Tower as the UFO landing site in his movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. more...
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Dining in the Parks
It wasn't too awfully long ago that dining in national parks left much to be desired, with entrees built primarily, and unceremoniously, around chicken, beef and trout. That's not to say a good meal can't be built around these base ingredients. But after a long, sun-filled day hiking Yellowstone National Park's geyser basins or trekking into Garnet Canyon in Grand Teton National Park, a meal that's as stunning as the landscape. more...
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Dogsledding in Bridger-Teton National Forest
Here I am in Bridger-Teton National Forest with six feet of snow on the ground. I’m on the back of a 60-pound sled behind eight Alaskan huskies. And these dogs love to run. I started off my morning the toughest way possible – rolling out of 400-thread-count sheets in my room at the Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole, flicking on the gas-burning fireplace and drawing back the shutters to look out on the mountain. more...
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Dude, Where's My Horse?
I am expecting a beast ready for the glue factory. Let me restate: I am hoping for a beast ready for the glue factory. Saber, a fit and feisty seven-year old gelding, is most definitely not that however. He is most definitely a good teacher. At least that’s what the head wrangler tells me when matching me with him the day of my arrival at a dude ranch tucked into the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains. more...
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Extreme Powder in Jackson Hole & Grand Targhee
On either side of Wyoming's Teton Range are two of North America's most iconic ski resorts known for steep runs, deep powder and an absence of crowds: Jackson Hole on the east and Grand Targhee on the west. more...
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Family Wildlife Tour
Follow this three-day trek through Cody's kid-friendly Draper Museum of Natural History, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and Jackson Hole, where young naturalists can eye bison, bighorn sheep, birds, pronghorn and – just maybe – a bear, moose or wolf. Along their wildlife safari, families can learn about the Yellowstone ecosystem, picnic, camp, participate in ranger-led activities or go whitewater rafting. more...
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Fat Tire Finds in Jackson Hole
I've learned there are plenty of trails that are open to bikes in Jackson Hole. After all, the Tetons are only one of the four mountain ranges in the area and Grand Teton National Park only covers a portion (albeit a large one) of the Tetons themselves. Here are a few trail recommendations for varying difficulty levels, as well as some Jackson Hole bike shops happy to give out more bike info. more...
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Fishing for the Cutt Slam
The only native trout species in Wyoming is the Cutthroat Trout and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has a program that recognizes anglers who catch each of the four subspecies of cutthroat trout - Bonneville, Colorado River, Yellowstone and Snake River Cutthroat - known as "the Cutt Slam." more...
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Following Pioneer Trails
Fort Laramie is a great place to begin any journey on Wyoming's trails. As one of the earliest permanent frontier posts, Fort Laramie served the Oregon, Mormon, California, Pony Express and Bozeman trails; was a stop on the Cheyenne-Deadwood Stage Route; and was near the north-south Texas cattle trail. Now a national historic site, Fort Laramie's recreated and restored buildings depict the site's colorful history. more...
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Fountains of Youth
Thermopolis should be proud of its hot springs; not only are they among the world's largest, but quite possibly the friendliest. And, if the hot springs themselves aren't impressive enough, did we mention there's a resident herd of wild bison roaming the grounds? more...
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Getting Soaked on the Snake River
Craggy peaks framing the Snake River Canyon, cold river water, hot sun overhead. It's a perfect recipe for an afternoon of bucking the rapids on one of the West's most fabled rivers. more...
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High Horsepower Sledding
Since most of Yellowstone's 350 miles of roads are closed to cars from November through April, getting into the park, be it to Old Faithful, Norris Geyser Basin or Yellowstone Lake, is a bit more of an adventure come winter. The park itself isn't closed of course – there are still entrance fees and lodges, hotels, restaurants, bars and gift shops are open – it's just that the only ways to get inside are by ski, snowshoe, snowcoach or snowmobile. more...
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Hunting the Hunted
Although Yellowstone’s wolves live their lives fully in the wild – they are not fed or taken care of by humans – several dozen wolves wear radio collars that allow them to be tracked. And several of the packs just happen to regularly hang out in areas easily visible from the road. There are numerous companies happy to take wanna-be wolfers on a guided trip, but it’s not that difficult to do on your own, provided you have a decent spotting scope or pair of binoculars. more...
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Interstate 80: Ride with the Legends
Give or take a few, it is 400 miles across Wyoming on Interstate 80. By anybody’s standard that is a solid day’s travel. But hey, don’t just buzz through the state. There is a lot to see and do along the way. So much, in fact, that it’s best done in sections. So instead of hitting Wyoming at Pine Bluffs, putting the cruise control on 75 mph, and blowing out of the state around eight hours later at Evanston, set your sights on just some of the towns.
Begin your trip in Laramie, about 1/4 of the way across. This is cowboy country. more...
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Jackson's Other Mountain
Jackson's Town Square is in the heart of one Wyoming's best-known towns. Snow King, with a 1,571-foot vertical, is just a few blocks from the center of town. When I ski at Snow King, I am sharing trails with locals. Little wonder. Instead of hanging out at a non-existent mall, kids grow up skiing there after school. Supporting “the King” doesn't cost much. Because residents can buy a $99 adult season pass, even big-mountain riders often also purchase a Snow King pass for mid-day ski breaks. more...
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Laying Tracks
The largest active dune field in North America (yup, right here in Wyoming), the Killpecker Dunes total nearly 109,000 acres (three times the size of our nation's capital) in the Red Desert and stretch 150 miles each from the Green River Basin across the Continental Divide and into the Great Divide Basin. For those unfamiliar with the intricacies of Wyoming geography, they're generally in the southwestern part of the state. more...
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Mother Nature's Oddities
Deep in the Teton Wilderness, I have one foot in the Atlantic Ocean. The other is in the Pacific. I turn 180 degrees. The foot that had been in the Atlantic is now in the Pacific and the Pacific one in the Atlantic. I lift my one foot out of the Pacific and, springing off the one in the Atlantic, land with both in the Pacific. Another standing broad jump has both feet in the Atlantic. more...
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Natural Wonders & Historic Treasures
Wyoming may be one of the newer states (became the 44th state in 1890), but the land within its borders can take you back millions of years, revealing long-extinct animals and the beginnings of mountain ranges. more...
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On The Water
Between Yellowstone National Park and its trio of big lakes and Grand Teton National Park with its four main lakes and the Snake River, Northwestern Wyoming will satisfy those who travel with paddles in their luggage. more...
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Secret Yellowstone
Yellowstone entertains nearly three million guests annually, but some 99-percent of them never venture more than 200 feet away from a road. Much less deep into the backcountry. more...
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Simple Snowy Range
Skiing at Snowy Range is simplicity itself. It is only a ski area – not a resort with high-speed lifts, ski-in/ski-out lodging, pay parking or other trappings of big-league resorthood. more...
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Snowmobiling Adventures on the Continental Divide Trail
Of Wyoming's roughly 2,000 marked (and often groomed) snowmobile trails, the 675-mile Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail has been called the top snowmobile route in the West by SnoWest magazine. Arguably the best part is between Lander and Dubois, threading through the scenic Wind River Range and flirting with the Continental Divide itself. more...
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Snowy Soaking
During the chilly months, spend some time soaking in steamy hot springs. Wyoming is home to thousands of thermal features – with some at just the right temperature and in just the perfect location to keep you warm and toasty for a three-day trip. From public and resort pools in Wyoming towns to those off the beaten (or snow-strewn) path, this hot springs itinerary will lead you to some of the best. more...
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Steamy Romance
Wyoming's hot springs aren't the architectural wonders like those built by the Romans millennia ago, but our natural hot waters are every bit as therapeutic, relaxing and healing. Because we have doctors and medications of all sorts, most modern hot springers aren't looking for therapeutics or healing though. I've come to Granite Hot Springs for romance; others come for family fun or just to see what hot springs are all about. more...
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Sustainable Tourism
Clearly, Wyoming's natural attractions have been around a long, long time. But human demands on the land have dramatically changed the face of Wyoming over the past century, and not always in a positive way. That's why a growing number of the state's travel and recreation businesses are working hard to conserve natural resources and lessen their long-term impact on the environment. It's all about making sure future generations can enjoy Wyoming's wonders, too. more...
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Tetons for Two
While national parks have been a favorite family vacation for years - my family made sure to hit at least a few every summer - they can be surprisingly couple-compatible too. If you know where to go. more...
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The Ball Does Go Further Up Here
While there are close to 100 courses scattered throughout the state (and new ones seem to open every year), Jackson Hole and Sheridan are the epicenters. Here's what you'll find in each. more...
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The Road to Fantastic Fishing
I'm surveying the sage-covered prairie stretching in all directions and watching an eagle launch loop-de-loops in the cloudless sky above rather than listening to my fly-fishing guide. more...
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The Secret Spot
Hiding six miles from the nearest "road" (a barely-discernable dirt track narrow enough to make spelunkers claustrophobic), I'm thinking the fish I am in search of aren't as stupid as I've been told. If they were stupid they'd be right off the road, where even the laziest of fishermen could toss a line in. more...
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Three Days of Fishing
Wyoming's 96,000 square miles have so many rivers, streams, creeks, ponds, marshes and lakes that all of the bodies of water aren't named. And if we can't even get them named over the course of the 200 years white men have been naming things in this area, you certainly aren't going to be able to fish them in three days. What three days is perfect for however is to sample three of Wyoming's very different types of fishing. more...
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Wild Horses Loop Tour
Galloping across the prairie with manes and tails flying and hooves kicking up dust, there is nothing more iconic in the West than a wild horse. Whether you spot them racing like the wind, clustered around a waterhole or grazing contentedly, wild horses evoke a bit of the Old West, erasing the 21st and 20th centuries and shuttling you back to the 1800s. more...
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Wildlife Gear up for Winter
There's a tiny town at the southern entrance of Grand Teton National Park called Moose. It might not even have an official population. Of humans at least. more...
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Wind River Floats
Some of the Earth's oldest rocks, and some of Wyoming's most challenging whitewater, can be found just south of Thermopolis in the Wind River Canyon, chiseled by time and gushing water through the Owl Creek Mountains. more...
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Wyoming Winterland
Winter never passes Wyoming by. Locals and visitors treasure cold crisp air, sparkling snow, abundant scenic beauty, real Western authenticity and an astonishing absence of crowds. Excellent places for a winter getaway are the smaller towns offering a rare combination of outdoor adventure, tranquility and off-season bargain prices. more...
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Wyoming's Fall Foliage
These are Wyoming's golden days. Aspen leaves dance in the sunlight, with dabs of red and orange dappling the roadsides, too. The air is bracing, the skies are a brilliant blue, and you might just hear elk bugling. Late September and early October are perfect times to plan a long weekend exploring Wyoming's fall splendor. more...
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Yurt-to-Yurt in Evanston
This winter, put a new spin on backcountry camping – reserve a dome-shaped yurt with family or friends in Wyoming's Uinta Mountains, outside Evanston. The remote location provides some serious solitude while also letting you enjoy plush backcountry camping quarters. It's the perfect setting to enjoy the snowy outdoors – or to spend quality time in the toasty confines of the yurt playing cards or sipping hot chocolate. more...
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