Out here, we pundits like to call our state the “Big Empty.”
This is a takeoff on the slogan for New Orleans, known as the “Big Easy.” We also say it because the expression Big Empty sort of mocks one of our great Cowboy State slogans: Big Wyoming.
After wandering up, down, back and forth across Wyoming for 55 years, I can call myself an expert on what to do and where to go in this state.
Folks, I have concluded that damn, there is a lot to see here in the Cowboy State.
I have tried to see it all but there are some holes in my list of things never seen yet.
Each year I put together what I call my “Wyoming Bucket List,” – places that are on my to-visit list for the summer and fall. Most of them are not that most famous, just places that are of interest to me.
I have written prior about the famous Ranch A and the Vore Buffalo Jump in northeast Wyoming, and Crazy Woman Canyon outside of Buffalo; Sunlight Basin north of Cody, plus the unique little towns of La Barge and LaGrange. In recent years we included the Arapaho Ranch west of Thermopolis, the Hobo Hot Springs in Saratoga, the Goldfish Ponds in Thermopolis, Curt Gowdy State Park near Cheyenne, Keyhole Reservoir north of Gillette, and Firehole Canyon southwest of Rock Springs plus dozens of others, including those concrete arrows that marked the routes for the early air mail pilots.
This Year’s List
There’s a big butte in the Red Desert southeast of Farson called Steamboat Mountain, near the tri-territorial marker, where it shows that present-day Wyoming was once part of three great nations, France, Mexico, and Great Britain.
My late friend Dave Kellogg always planned to give me a personal tour of the Steamboat Mountain area. Unfortunately, I lost that opportunity. I may reach out to desert rats John Vase, Paul Ng, and Kurt Hensley of Rock Springs to help me scope out the place in a proper manner.
There is another spot in northern Carbon County where Texas once reached up to present-day Wyoming, back when the Lone Star State was a sovereign nation. I would like to go there and see if there is any kind of marker.
To me it is amazing that parts of Wyoming were once part of FOUR great nations besides the United States.
Ayers Natural Bridge
Tucked away in a little valley between Glenrock and Douglas is a natural formation that was one of Wyoming’s first tourist attractions – Ayers Natural Bridge. I was hoping to get there in 2024 but did not make it. It’s on my list for this summer.
A great many of the Oregon Trail emigrants spent wonderous times looking at this natural land bridge and splashing in La Prele Creek. The trip behind these hardy travelers had been dusty but they had no idea what kind of dust clouds and relentless winds lay ahead of them. Ayers was a great respite. And they enjoyed it.
I love everything about petroglyphs. It's been way too long since we marveled at Castle Gardens some 50 miles east of Riverton. Like an oasis in a sea of sagebrush, this rock formation was a landmark to early peoples over eons. Some of the more artistic people took the time to create wonderful rock art.
Out west near Evanston are the Piedmont charcoal kilns. I have never seen them, but look forward to visiting them this summer. Located near one of my favorite Wyoming towns, these 30-foot high and 30-foot wide conical structures were used to make charcoal back in the time of coal-fired trains. It is a state historical site.
You Gotta Love Saratoga
Doug Campbell and Joe Glode gave us a tour of the Saratoga area a few years ago and we are anxious to go back.
I love the micro-brewery in that town plus Hobo Hot Springs, the Saratoga Inn, the Old Baldy Club, and lots of other interesting places. The fancy Brush Creek dude ranch there is also on my list.
State Sen. Dan Dockstader has promised me a personal tour of the sights and sites in Star Valley. Hope to get that stop in this year, too.
Dave Peck up in Lovell has long promised me a tour of his wonderful area, especially Big Horn Canyon. Maybe this will be the year.
There is a tiny patch of amazing hoodoo formations east of Lander near Government Draw that I have never seen. Anxious to check that one off with the help of Andy Gramlich.
It would be fun to join a dinosaur dig near Thermopolis, too.
The Northeast Calls Me
It has been a while since we dropped in on Ogden and Zannie Driskill at their wonderful ranch in Crook County. The Driskills run an excellent RV campground at the base of Devils Tower, too.
The Wyoming Black Hills in northeast Wyoming is a stunning place. The towns of Upton, Hulett, Sundance, Newcastle, and Moorcroft are gems on the landscape there.
About a decade ago we finally visited the historic Aladdin Store in that funky little town and spent some quality time at Keyhole Reservoir.
I would love to visit the townsite called Recluse. The perfect name for a place out on the lonely Wyoming high plains.
Notice I did not mention Yellowstone or Teton National Parks or Devils Tower or quality museums like the Buffalo Bill Center in Cody or the National Military Museum near Dubois. Please go see them, too.
This list is a tiny portion of some of the out-of-way places I love about the Cowboy State.
What are your lesser-known but favorite places? What’s on your Wyoming Bucket List? Let me know at bill@cowboystatedaily.com.
