Wyoming is a state found in the United States of America. It is located on the eastern side of the Mountain West region.
In this article, you’ll learn about some fun facts regarding the state of Wyoming, and some must see unique places to visit while vacationing in the state.
Where Is Wyoming?
Wyoming is a landlocked state in the Mountain West region of the U. S. It is bordered by Montana to the north, South Dakota to the northeast, Nebraska to the southeast, Colorado to the south, Utah to the southwest, and Idaho to the west.
How Big Is Wyoming?
Wyoming is the tenth largest state by area in America, boasting over 97,000 square miles. Despite this, Wyoming has the smallest population of the fifty states with less than 600,000 people in residence.
Although it spans such a large area, almost half of Wyoming’s acreage is actually owned by the government. These federally owned lands are the National Grassland, national parks and forests, and an Air Force Base.
What Are Some Important Historical Facts About Wyoming?
In an effort to draw more settlers within its borders, Wyoming became the first state to grant women over the age of 21 the right to vote in 1869. Wyoming was also the first state to have a female governor – Nellie Tayloe Ross who completed her husband’s term from 1925 to 1927 after he passed away.
What Are Wyoming’s Natural Resources?
Coal is one of Wyoming’s leading natural resources with the Black Thunder and North Antelope Rochelle, the two largest coal mines in the country.
Wyoming is responsible for 40% of America’s coal supply. Crude oil, natural gas, and uranium are also big industries in Wyoming making it a leading state in terms of energy resource production.
What National Parks Are in Wyoming?
Wyoming is home to America’s first national park – Yellowstone National Park. Located in the northwestern corner of the state, Yellowstone National Park provides 2 million acres worth of fishing, hiking, scenic wildlife, and horseback riding.
The most iconic spots to visit include Lower Falls, Old Faithful, and Yellowstone Lake.
Wyoming is also host to Grand Teton National Park located near Jackson, Wyoming in the Grand Teton Mountain Range.
There is much to do within its 310,000 acres of mountain meadows and peaks, valley floors, and alpine lakes including camping, backpacking, boating, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, and hiking.
What National Monuments Are in Wyoming?
Devils Tower and Fossil Butte are the national monuments located in Wyoming. Devils Tower National Monument can be found in the northeast corner of the state while Fossil Butte National Monument is near the southwest corner of Wyoming.
Devils Tower is a unique formation of igneous rock which towers over the prairies at almost 900 feet high.
The Native American tribes of the region still regard it as sacred and perform sun dances and ceremonies there. Tourists are invited to participate in ranger led programs, hike around it, or even climb to the top.
Fossil Butte is home to a dried up lake which hosts thousands of fossils from a variety of bat, horse, plant, insect, turtle, alligator, and fish species.
In the summer, visitors are encouraged to participate in the Fossil Butte Quarry Program to help dig up fossils for scientific research.
What Are Some Historic Places to Visit in Wyoming?
Wyoming is rich in history from being a part of the Oregon Trail to boasting some of America’s richest fossil outcrops.
One of the best historic places to visit include For Laramie National Historic Site which played host to Army soldiers, emigrants participating in the westward expansion of America, and Native Americans.
Wyoming also has a variety of top quality museums to visit including the Depot Museum, the National Historic Trails Center, the Buffalo Bill Center, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and the Wyoming State Museum.
What Are Some Outdoor Recreational Places to Visit in Wyoming?
In addition to Wyoming’s national parks and monuments, the state also plays host to the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Continental Divide Trail, and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area provides beautiful landscapes of green forest, red rock canyon walls, and blue waters.
There are plenty of biking, hiking, backpacking, and camping opportunities in addition to the plethora of water activities including tubing, rafting, kayaking, fishing, water skiing, and wakeboarding.
The Continental Divide is a popular trail spanning 3100 miles from Mexico to Canada which makes up one of the three “Triple Crown” trails, the other two being the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.
Not only is it an attraction for hikers, but fishing, snowshoeing, and horseback riding are also popular activities.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area hosts Bighorn River and Lake which are surrounded by 1000 foot high cliffs and provide picturesque scenery for boating, fishing, and hiking.
What Are Some Scenic Drives to Take in Wyoming?
If you’re not much of an outdoor activity person but still enjoy the beauty of nature, taking a car ride along one of Wyoming’s twenty-one scenic byways is the perfect way to enjoy this beautiful state.
In the northern part of the state, you’ll find the Bighorn Scenic Byway, Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway, Cloud Peak Skyway, Red Gulch/Alkali National Back Country Byway, Medicine Wheel Passage, Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, Black Hills Scenic Byway, and Beartooth Scenic Byway.
Central and eastern Wyoming are home to the Seminoe to Alcova Scenic Byway, Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway, South Big Horn/Red Wall Scenic Byway, and Oregon Trail Historic Byway.
The scenic byways located in the southern part of Wyoming include the Snowy Range Scenic Byway and the Battle Pass Scenic Byway.
Lastly, the southwestern part of the state plays host to the Bridger Valley Historic Byway, Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, Star Valley Scenic Byway, Muddy Creek Historic Backway, Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway, Flaming Gorge-Green River Basin Scenic Byway, and Big Spring Scenic Backway.
