Bill Sniffin
Bill Sniffin has been a publisher and author in Wyoming for 53 years. He formerly owned all or part interest in 20 different newspapers, magazines, print shops, ad agencies, and internet companies.
He is one of Wyoming's best-known columnists, having written a statewide column for more than 22 years and a local column for 38 years prior to that.
Sniffin has published six books including three Wyoming-themed coffee table books, called the Wyoming Trilogy. He lives in Lander with his wife Nancy.
Latest from Bill Sniffin
Bill Sniffin: ‘Taking Chance’ Is Wonderfully Sincere Movie About A Wyoming Marine’s Death
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “This movie is the story about a young Marine from Dubois named Chance Phelps, who was killed in Iraq on Good Friday, April 9, 2004. The movie is about Lt. Col. Mike Strobl’s journey bringing the young man’s body home to Wyoming.”
Bill SniffinOctober 07, 2025
Bill Sniffin Has Traveled To Yellowstone 55 Years In A Row
You could feed the bears in Yellowstone until 1970, and there weren’t the crowds of tourists there are now. But Bill Sniffin says after 55 straight years of visiting, in all the ways that count, it's still the same spectacular Yellowstone.
Bill SniffinOctober 04, 2025
Bill Sniffin: How Was Your 2025 Wyoming Bucket List? I Did Pretty Well
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Each year I put together what I call my ‘Wyoming Bucket List,’ which is a list of places that are on my to-visit list for the summer and fall. This has been a great year!”
Bill SniffinOctober 04, 2025
Bill Sniffin: ‘Heal Up And Hair Over?’ Early Yellowstone Visitors And A Cheyenne Bell Ringer
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “One of the benefits of writing a statewide column is all the mail I get from readers with lots of interesting perspectives. Here are just a few of them.”
Bill SniffinOctober 01, 2025
Bill Sniffin: Do You Ever Wonder What Old Men Think About?
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Being older than most everyone else gives you a chance to share your wisdom and endlessly tell old stories. Perhaps we talk too much?”
Bill SniffinSeptember 27, 2025
Bill Sniffin: A Wyoming Newcomer? Here Are Some Tips For Getting Along In The Cowboy State
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Wyoming may have lots of newcomers based on projections of the current energy boom. What advice should we give these newbies?”
Bill SniffinSeptember 23, 2025
Bill Sniffin: ‘Home On The Range’ Probably Should Have Been Wyoming’s Original State Song
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “'Home On The Range' is so much about Wyoming. It describes the place that most of us know as our home state.”
Bill SniffinSeptember 20, 2025
Bill Sniffin: My 538-Mile Loop Drive Included Spectacular Wyoming Rivers And Lakes
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “During the first week of August, I traveled from Lander up to Lovell and then over to Yellowstone and then back home. This amounted to 538 miles of dry country interrupted by fertile fields, beautiful rivers, and spectacular lakes and reservoirs."
Bill SniffinSeptember 16, 2025
At 2,500 Feet Deep, Bighorn Canyon Is 55 Miles Of Spectacular Wyoming Landscape
Unlike Yellowstone or Grand Teton national parks, there are no long lines of RVs or crush of tourists with cameras at Bighorn Canyon. The canyon feels like Wyoming’s secret, a place many lifelong residents have never seen.
Bill SniffinSeptember 14, 2025
Bill Sniffin: ‘I Think We Lost The Governor,’ Was Fear Of One Shot Hunt 25 Years Ago
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Wyoming’s governor is the official host of the Lander One Shot Antelope Hunt. He is not supposed to go missing during the hunt!”
Bill SniffinSeptember 13, 2025
Bill Sniffin: Wyoming Is Known Far And Wide For ‘Firsts’
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “From the creation of Yellowstone to giving women voting rights, a lot of ‘firsts’ occurred here in the lowest populated state in the union over the years.”
Bill SniffinSeptember 10, 2025
Bill Sniffin: Wyoming Could Use A Big New Monument - How About The Historic Oregon Trail?
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “The Oregon Trail has significant sites and sights all across Wyoming that are still in place which deserve recognition. It is worthy of a more important national designation.”
Bill SniffinSeptember 06, 2025
Bill Sniffin: It Was History, Not Parents, That Spoiled The Baby Boomer Generation
Bill Sniffin writes: “Yes, us baby boomers were born on third base and thought we had hit a triple. This means whatever advantages we had in our lives, they were not created by us. Our parents set us up for success. And relished in it."
Bill SniffinSeptember 02, 2025
Wyoming’s Vast Killpecker Dunes: Like Another Planet Where The Sand Sings To You
Spending time in Wyoming’s vast Killpecker Sand Dunes deserves a spot on anyone’s bucket list. It feels like visiting another planet — a place where the sand sings to you.
Bill SniffinSeptember 01, 2025
Bill Sniffin: How To Deal With 2,000 Hippies When They Invaded Wyoming Over July 4 Holiday?
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “It is hard to imagine today what a potential disaster it would be when 2,000 hippies invaded Cowboy Country back in 1973. They ultimately camped at Freak Mountain. Yes, Freak Mountain!”
Bill SniffinAugust 30, 2025
Bill Sniffin: Serving As ‘Bear Bait’ May Have Been Worst Job In The World?
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Ranger Steve Frye waited for a bear to enter the cage, while squatting in putrid garbage. It was him or the bear. Yikes.”
Bill SniffinAugust 27, 2025
Bill Sniffin: My Very Own Wyoming Painted Morning – Just Me And The Ducks
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes, "Walking along a Wyoming river during the early morning hours is perhaps the most therapeutic thing you can do during the best time of the day.”
Bill SniffinAugust 23, 2025
Bill Sniffin: My Friend Buck Valdez Died On One Of My Favorite Roads – US 287
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes, "This column was going to be my love letter to U. S. Highway 287, which I drove this past weekend from central Wyoming to Fort Worth, Texas. I paused to say a prayer for my friend when I came over that hill and drove down to the site where the horrible collision occurred."
Bill SniffinAugust 20, 2025
Bill Sniffin: ‘Home Town’ Emphasis Was Key To Saving Eight Wyoming Newspapers
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Folks in eight Wyoming towns breathed a big sigh of relief when the announcement was made that veteran newspaper publishers Robb and Jen Hicks of Buffalo plus Rob Mortimore of Torrington were stepping in to save the publications.”
Bill SniffinAugust 16, 2025
Bill Sniffin: Wyoming Is Full Of Scenic Drives – Here Is A Favorite
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “One of Wyoming’s major north-south routes, which follows the BNSF Railroad Line, is a pleasure to drive this time of year. Lots of wonderful towns and small cities.”
Bill SniffinAugust 12, 2025
Bill Sniffin: It Is Tragic To See Eight Newspapers Close -- Especially How It Occurred
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “What is so tragic is the way these newspapers were shuttered. Just no warning. Hard on both the employees and the communities.”
Bill SniffinAugust 09, 2025