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.
We asked Wyoming residents to name their favorite seasonal road trip destinations. Here are some they mentioned in a three-day itinerary that will help you discover why so many people fall for autumn in Wyoming:
Day 1: Head west from Laramie on state Highway 130, which becomes the Snowy Range Scenic Byway across the Medicine Bow Mountains. This road, which tops out near 11,000 feet, features plenty of fall color and thrilling views of mountaintop vistas and alpine lakes.
Southwest of the byway, state Highway 70 leads west out of Encampment to a stretch known whose showy autumn displays have
Esther Morris Hat Shoppe in South Pass City
earned it the name Aspen Alley. Spend the night in historic comfort at either the Wolf Hotel in Saratoga (a short walk from the town's famous hot springs) or the Elk Mountain Hotel.
Day 2: Head northwest out of Rawlins on U.S. 287, watching for pronghorn leaping along the lightly traveled road. At Muddy Gap Junction, you might want to drive 12 miles east on state Highway 220 to see the Mormon Handcart Visitors Center and learn how a band of pioneers was surprised by an early blizzard at nearby Martin's Cove in October 1856, with tragic results.
Continue west to the intersection of state Highway 28 and follow the signs to South Pass City State Historic Site. This evocative old mining town is always worth wandering through, and its visitor center and some buildings stay open through September 30. Backtrack north on Highway 28 and enjoy fall camping in Sinks Canyon State Park, or get a room in
Mt. Moran Above Aspen Trees in Grand Teton National Park Fred Pflughoft
Lander, Riverton or Dubois.
Day 3: Cross the Wind River Range over Togwotee Pass and drive on to Jackson Hole. Magnificent in every season, Grand Teton National Park is especially lovely in the fall. Enjoy a hike in the park, then head south toward Jackson on the Moose-Wilson Road, where wildlife ambles amid the glorious aspen stands. For a naturalist-led trek featuring a chance to see and hear rutting bull elk, contact the Hole Hiking Experience, which has been guiding area visitors since 1989.
From Jackson, continue south on U.S. Highway 89 through the Star Valley. See the arch made from 3,011 elk antlers on Afton's Main Street, then head 5 miles east out of town via Second Avenue into Swift Creek Canyon. Hike the easy 3/4-mile trail to view Periodic Spring, the only natural phenomenon of its kind in North America and one of only three in the world. The cliff-side spring naturally cycles off and on every 12 to 18 minutes – a phenomenon that led Shoshone Indians to call it "the spring that breathes." You'll enjoy catching your breath this fall in Wyoming, too.
You just never know what you might discover in Wyoming's small towns. I remember opening the window of my hotel room in downtown Buffalo to catch whiffs of barbecued steaks, which I'd expect in Wyoming – and riffs of live jazz, which I never dreamed I'd hear in this town of fewer than 5,000 folks. A leisurely three-day loop tour out of Casper will help you discover small-town Wyoming history, hospitality and surprises, too. read more
Surrounded by fantastic, mountainous scenery, the park offers camping, picnicking, excellent trout fishing and is Wyoming’s premier wind surfing reservoir. read more
