6 Best Natural Wonders To Visit In Wyoming This Year

Wyoming is home to about 96% of Yellowstone National Park, and the park alone carries natural features worth the trip: Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful, and Yellowstone Lake among them. But Yellowstone is only the start. For a road trip through the state, start with the park and work your way through stops like Devils Tower, Jenny Lake, and the Intermittent Spring.

Grand Prismatic Spring And Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone, the first national park in the United States, holds roughly half of the world's active geysers (around 500) and the largest hot spring in the country, Grand Prismatic. Wildlife viewing is a major draw, with bears, bison, and wolves all present in the park. Yellowstone Lake is worth a stop: it sits within the caldera formed by the last massive Yellowstone eruption about 640,000 years ago, and is a major destination for fishing and boating. For waterfalls, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and its viewpoints at Inspiration Point and Artist Point look out on the 308-foot Lower Falls. Inspiration Point also opens up a sweeping view of the Yellowstone River.

For a flat hike, the Fairy Falls trail handles the stunning Fairy Falls without serious elevation gain. Old Faithful eruptions, the Upper Geyser Basin, and Geyser Hill round out the must-dos. September is the best window for fewer crowds and strong wildlife viewing. July and August have full access to facilities but are the busiest months.

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is roughly five to six hours from Yellowstone and extends across the border into Utah. Its centerpiece is Flaming Gorge Reservoir, ringed by red sandstone cliffs. An America the Beautiful pass covers entry. The area supports hiking through ponderosa pine forest, river rafting on the Green River, and reservoir recreation. Out of the water, the Red Canyon Rim offers a different angle on the gorge, and a Flaming Gorge Dam tour walks you through the passageways that keep the dam functional. Most campgrounds are open between Memorial Day and September. Summer is prime for rafting, and the Cow Country Rodeo in Manila, Utah, runs in July.

Devils Tower National Monument

Roughly 450 miles from Flaming Gorge, Devils Tower National Monument dominates the northeastern Wyoming landscape. The flat-topped formation was created by the intrusion of magma into the surrounding sedimentary rock, though geologists still debate the specifics (volcanic plug versus laccolith remnant). Northern Plains tribes, including the Lakota and Kiowa, hold oral traditions in which a giant bear created the tower's vertical grooves while chasing children, with the ground rising to carry the children to safety as the bear's claws broke against the rock. Devils Tower was proclaimed the first U.S. National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. Today, a base trail circles the formation, and experienced climbers still climb the tower itself. The shoulder seasons of April-May and September-October offer cooler weather and fewer crowds.

Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake is one of the main natural attractions in Grand Teton National Park. Visitors can take a motorboat out or book a shuttle that runs daily across the lake from May to September. A visitor center and campground sit on the south side; a trailhead, picnic area, and boat launch are on the north side. Across the lake, a popular hike leads to Hidden Falls through bridges and streams, then continues to Inspiration Point with a steeper climb. The lake was formed about 12,000 years ago when glaciers pushed up rock debris that carved Cascade Canyon, leaving the lake in a moraine at the foot of the Teton Range. The lake is named after Jenny Leigh, the Shoshone wife of mountain man Beaver Dick Leigh, who died of smallpox along with her six children in 1876. The surrounding area was part of Shoshone and Bannock ancestral homelands.

Shoshone National Forest And The Blackwater Natural Bridge

To leave the crowds behind, head to the Blackwater Natural Bridge in the Shoshone National Forest. The bridge is unmeasured officially but is estimated at roughly 240 feet in span and 280 feet high. If those estimates are accurate, it ranks among the largest natural arches in the world. The bridge is carved from volcanic rock, distinct from the sandstone arches common across Wyoming and Utah. It sits in a remote area, so reaching it requires a hike from the Blackwater Natural Bridge trailhead. The trail passes the site of the 1937 Blackwater Fire, which killed 15 firefighters; a memorial along the trail honors them. Coxcomb Mountain and part of the Absaroka Range are visible from the trail. Plan a visit in summer or early fall when the trail is dry. Wildflower blooms peak in July and August.

Intermittent Spring

For something different, stop at Intermittent Spring (also called the Periodic Spring) in Star Valley. The "spring that breathes" releases ice-cold, clear water for up to 20 minutes, then stops for a similar interval and appears to dry up, repeating the cycle throughout the day. The exact mechanism is unconfirmed, but scientists attribute it to a siphon effect within the cave system feeding the spring: water accumulates until pressure triggers a siphon that drains it, and the cycle restarts when the cavern refills. Late summer is when the spring is most active. While in Star Valley, floating the Salt River and the Valley View Trail at Star Valley Ranch both work for add-ons.

Hit The Road To Wyoming

Yellowstone may be the headline draw, but Wyoming has plenty beyond it. Ancient rock towers, red desert reservoirs, a spring that breathes on a regular cycle, and glacier-carved lakes all sit within a few hours' drive of each other. The six wonders above are the best starting points for a trip through the state.