Start your adventurous Wyoming road trip long before you arrive at Yellowstone National Park. Detours through Black Hills National Forest, Devils Tower National Monument and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area will make you “oooh” and “ahhh” all on their own.

SUNDANCE TO GILLETTE

Make your first stop at the Vore Buffalo Jump, a natural sinkhole (and archeological gem) used by Native Americans as a bison trap from about 1500 to 1800. Then, motor over to see the United States’ first-ever national monument — Devils Tower National Monument — for lofty pillar views and all the hiking you could ask for.

GILLETTE TO BUFFALO

After Devils Tower, meander over to the Campbell County Rockpile Museum in Gillette. Make time for a real coal-mine tour or see Durham Ranch, one of the oldest and largest working bison ranches in the world.

BUFFALO TO SHERIDAN OR WORLAND

Nestled between Wyoming’s rolling plains and the Bighorn Mountains’ peaks, Buffalo is a perfect spot to explore with a bike, boat or your own two feet. It will also serve as your fork in the road — between Sheridan and Worland.

If you go to Sheridan: With more than 70 buildings in its national historic district, Main Street is where Old West charm meets modern-day comforts. First stop at King’s Saddlery, then head toward Lovell to see Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area’s 1,000-foot cliffs.

If you go to Worland: Washakie Museum and Cultural Center tells the story of how life once was in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin. From there, head 40 minutes north to Greybull for outdoorsy day trips like fishing, horseback riding and camping.

LOVELL TO CODY

Whichever direction you go, you’ll end up in Lovell. Here you’ll discover easy access to Bighorn National Forest and see wild mustangs at the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. Stop in Powell on your path toward Yel­lowstone for grand, peak-strewn views of the Bighorn, Pryor and Absaroka mountain ranges.

CODY TO YELLOWSTONE

Continue west to Cody, where you’ll experience all kinds of outdoor adventure — from rock climbing and fly-fishing to horseback riding. Before you leave, pause at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West for Western history, local lore and native culture.

Now, it’s time for the main event: the East Entrance of Yellow­stone National Park! With more than 2 million acres of rambling wilderness, Yellowstone is the first-ever national park and a great American treasure. See iconic spots like Old Faithful, Lower Falls and Yellowstone Lake while you’re there.

 

Find more travel ideas at TravelWyoming.com.