Explore Wyoming through a range of themes: striking landscapes, fossils, and historical stories offer different starting points for planning your trip. First, consider what interests you most—a particular natural setting, geological topics, or history presented through exhibits and interpretive trails. This can help you choose destinations based on their individual highlights.
Rock Landscapes and Fossils
Devils Tower rises 867 feet from its base to its summit. Devils Tower National Monument is accessible by a single road, WY Highway 24. If you plan to visit the monument, check current road conditions before setting out.
The visitor center at Fossil Butte National Monument displays fossils from Eocene Fossil Lake. The collection includes fish, insects, plants, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Its wide-ranging selection makes the exhibit a versatile introduction to fossil history. Separately, southwestern Wyoming is home to some of the best-preserved fossils in the world—another paleontological aspect of the region.
Fossil Butte National Monument has hiking trails and a scenic loop drive; you can also travel on unpaved roads there. The loop drive may close seasonally. On Bighorn Lake, you can go boating beneath cliffs that rise up to 1,000 feet. Boating access and rules may vary by season, so check ahead. Red Canyon Overlook offers a particularly scenic viewpoint in Wyoming.
History, Exhibits, and Interpretive Trails
Fort Laramie grew from a private fur trading post founded in 1834 into the largest and best-known military post on the Northern Plains. The visitor center at Fort Laramie National Historic Site includes visitor information, an auditorium, a museum, and exhibits. Both the site's historical development and visitor facilities are central here.
The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center tells the stories of Native Americans, early explorers, and the Oregon, Mormon, California, and Pony Express Trails. Interactive exhibits simulate journeys in covered wagons and stagecoaches. The grounds also include more than four miles of interpretive trails. You can explore historical topics through exhibits, vivid simulations, or outdoor trails.
Another historic stop is South Pass City, a historic gold-mining town. For nature and landscape, Red Canyon Overlook serves as a viewpoint. The Wyoming Office of Tourism operates two visitor centers. If one is part of your plans, check the latest information before visiting.
Choose a Focus for Your Trip
The places mentioned also differ in how you can engage with their themes: Fossil Butte combines a visitor center exhibit with hiking trails and a scenic loop drive, while the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center focuses on historical stories, interactive simulations, and interpretive trails. This comparison can help you sort out your interests before choosing destinations and hotels in Wyoming. Whether you set aside more time for exhibits, trails, or scenic views depends on which of these experiences matter most to your trip.
Discover more destinations: Natrona, Teton, Park, Sublette, Carbon, Laramie, Campbell, Albany, Sheridan, Johnson County, Weston County, Sweetwater County, Hot Springs County, Uinta County, Fremont County, Platte County, Crook County, Big Horn, Niobrara County, Converse County, Washakie, Lincoln.
For the broader travel overview: USA.
