The following is partner content from Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism
Plan an unforgettable adventure to southwest Wyoming.
Here, Sweetwater County’s abundant natural playgrounds offer all kinds of opportunities to get out and play. Beyond outdoor escapades, you’ll find exciting summer shows, chances to see desert wildlife and a historic look at the Great American West at a variety of museums.
For the ultimate summer-vacation experience, here’s a list of our top eight adventures:
1. Explore Flaming Gorge Country
Flaming Gorge Country is a can’t-miss experience when visiting Rock Springs and Green River. This national recreation area offers more than 207,000 acres of outdoor adventure — perfect for hiking, fishing, mountain biking, ATVing and camping.
The best way to explore the area is on an all-inclusive Flaming Gorge Tour. Travel with friends and family on a guided bus tour through stunning high-desert landscapes on one of only 37 designated All-American Roads in the United States. Experience dramatic canyons and rock formations, learn about local history and glimpse roaming critters, like antelope, wild horses, bighorn sheep and eagles.
2. Catch a Show
Summer in Sweetwater County means sunny weather, outdoor thrills and events like no other. Wyoming's Big Show attracts crowds from across the nation and features a concert series, carnival, local cuisine and daily entertainment. The National High School Finals Rodeo draws riders from around the world with 1,500 competitors and more than 100,000 enthusiastic fans flocking to the Sweetwater Events Complex.
3. Spend a Day on the Water
Plan a day at Lake Flaming Gorge for boating, jet skiing, water skiing and fishing. The lake boasts nine boat ramps and three marinas, so you’ll have plenty of places to launch or rent a vessel, from houseboats to kayaks. Lake Flaming Gorge also offers some of the best cold-water fishing in the nation, including trout, channel catfish, burbot and kokanee salmon.
In Green River, water adventurers will love kayaking, canoeing, rafting and tubing around Expedition Island and the Green River Whitewater Park and Tubing Channel. Or cool off with the kiddies at the free splash park at nearby Evers Park.
4. See the White Mountain Petroglyphs
See Native American rock carvings and petroglyphs at White Mountain. This stunning site gives us an inside look at the life and culture of the Indigenous people who lived in this region 1,000 years ago. Take a quarter-mile hike to a 300-foot sandstone cliff face, where you’ll see etchings carved by the area’s earliest inhabitants.
5. Ride the Killpecker Sand Dunes
The Killpecker Sand Dunes are popular among motorsports enthusiasts. Bring or rent ATVs and dirt bikes for a thrilling off-roading experience over dunes that reach up to 100 feet tall. As you explore this 11,000-acre area, take in the stunning rocky outcrops, buttes and spires that dot the landscape, like the famed Boar’s Tusk.
You can also try surfing or sledding the dunes on a sandboard or sled. Non-motorists of all ages will get a kick out of gliding down these sandy slopes. Buy your gear at the Explore Rock Springs & Green River Visitor Center in Rock Springs or get a rental at Rockin Rollin Rentals & Sales and hit the slopes.
6. Go on the Hunt for Dinosaurs
Yep, you read that right — dinosaur hunting. Millions of years ago, southwest Wyoming was a dino hotspot. Now, you can see hundreds of fossils discovered in the region. Visit the Western Wyoming Community College Natural History Museum to learn more about the area’s archaeological and geological discoveries. Plus, you can see five life-size dinosaur replicas on display, including a ferocious Tyrannosaurus rex.
7. Delve into Western History
A crossroads for weary travelers during the 1800s, Sweetwater County is steeped in Old West history. Get a glimpse into the Rock Springs’ coal-mining and outlaw past at the Rock Springs Historical Museum. At Sweetwater County Historical Museum in Green River, you’ll discover 19th century artifacts and photography, like a Sharps buffalo rifle and Sioux art pieces. Explore abandoned mines and uncover their stories with a visit to the Superior Museum. Trek through time with a ghost town tour of Reliance Tipple or a walk along pioneer and outlaw trails.
8. Spot Extraordinary Wildlife
With its high-desert terrain and mountainous landscapes, Sweetwater County is home to a number of rare species and unequaled wildlife viewing. The Pilot Butte Wild Horses are a famous herd of more than 1,000 individuals descending from horses of the Wild West. For the best sighting opportunities, take the 24-mile off-grid scenic loop.
Another can't-miss nature destination is Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, where you can spot moose, pronghorn, elk, trumpeter swans, short-horned lizards and much more. Plus, the refuge offers chances to fish, hunt, birdwatch, camp and ride ATVs.
