Best Scenic Locations in Wyoming That aren’t in a National Park
Written By: Sarah Reish
For us locals, we know how absolutely stunning Wyoming is. It is one of the most scenic states in the country and features ecosystems that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Choosing our favorites from 2021 was not easy, so if it’s on this list you definitely need to take the time to visit these places. In an effort to help us narrow down the choices we decided to exclude the national parks and instead focus on some of the other hidden gems that can be found across our state.
Ayres Natural Bridge
A stunning garden like area with a natural bridge can be found in the eastern part of the state. The natural bridge and oasis like park can be found in a ravine area that at one point was found by pioneers traveling west by wagon. During that time they would have to climb down the cliffs to enjoy the scenery and water. Today you can get there by way of a convenient road
Location:
Take exit 151 off of I-25 and follow the signs! It is about 10 minutes west of Douglas.
Season:
April 15 - October 15
Why it’s on the list for the Best of Wyoming: This is one of the most well maintained parks we have ever seen. The natural rock formations and the water activities make this a top pick for the Best of Wyoming. Not to mention the facilities available to visitors are excellent.
Crazy Woman Canyon
One of the most beautiful drives through the Bighorn National Forest is the 13 mile drive through Crazy Woman Canyon, which is a single lane dirt road with low clearance. Due to it being narrow, travelers cannot pull any trailers.
Location:
Bighorn National Forest Rd. 33
Season:
Not all roads are maintained year round, meaning snow and heavy rains could make this dirt road unsafe to travel. This is definitely a summer season drive.
Why it’s on the list for the Best of Wyoming: This is a stunning drive which follows Crazy Woman River and features majestic towering rock walls that protect the dirt trail. Not just the beauty but also the the legend of Crazy Woman and her heart breaking loss are what put this on our list for the Best Scenic Locations in Wyoming.
Guernsey State Park
We love this Wyoming State Park. Guernsey State Park is a 6,000 acre recreation site that features camping, beaches, historic buildings, yurts, water access and off roading! Anyone looking to camp or recreate for the day should visit this park.
Location:
2187 Lakeside Shore Dr Guernsey, WY 82214
Season:
Open year round
Why it’s on the list for the Best of Wyoming: Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) were brought to Guernsey State Park in the 1930’s to build the iconic structures and museum. The mountain and rocky region paired with beaches and the multitude of camp sites place this state park on our Best Scenic Locations in Wyoming.
Kirwin Ghost Town
If you like camping, off road driving, hiking, and exploring ghost towns, this location needs to go on your must see list. Put your SUV in 4 wheel drive, or better yet, grab your ATV’s and hit the dirt trails and enjoy crossing multiple river crossings to get to the historic site of the Kirwin Ghost Town that is off the grid.
Location:
Take State Highway 290 west of Meeteetse for 7 miles and turn onto County Road 4DT. Follow this road for 12 and a half miles into the National Forest. From there it is rough dirt roads to Kirwin, 4-wheel drive is recommended.
Season:
May 14 - October 18
Special Notice:
This is off roading with multiple water crossings. We highly recommend not traversing this trail during rainy weather or with high water. Use caution and common sense.
Why it’s on the list for the Best of Wyoming: This is an absolutely amazing area! The camping, history, off roading, fishing and beauty hit all the marks for us. We highly recommend exploring this area. It makes the perfect day trip. There are a limited number of campsites and they are first come first serve.
Hit the road!
Get out there and explore. Plan a weekend or day trip to check out what makes Wyoming one of the most stunning places to live. Let us know your favorite scenic areas in the comments or on social media tag us in your posts, @LiveWYldMag and use #LiveWYld