Amazing Things to Do in the Wild West
Has a vacation in the Wild West always been your dream? Bring the family to see
the stunning Rocky Mountains and spend time together hiking, biking, rock climbing,
kayaking and fishing! Watch breathtaking, colorful western sunsets unfold over the
mountains and prairies as you journey through the history and inimitable rugged
beauty of America's West. For the more adventurous, there's world class challenging
rock climbs, thousands of mountain biking trails, trout fishing, tubing, camping,
hiking and more. And the weather is unbeatable, with warm sunny summer days and
cool nights spent under the stars.
Had enough outdoor fun? Then inhale the history of the West. Visit area museums
and national monuments, or check out the world's best cowboy museum or numerous
other nearby natural and historical attractions. Bring the whole family for an unforgettable
experience in the real West! Cheyenne, Wyoming is strategically located right near
mountains, rivers, lakes -- and too many trails for hiking and biking to count.
Read below to check out several fun-filled activities, destinations, history and
thrills — including the world's biggest outdoor rodeo — all within easy
reach of Cheyenne!
Only half an hour's drive west from Cheyenne is Vedauwoo (pronounced veda-vu),
the "land of the
earthborn spirit," renowned for its incredible, unusual granite rock formations,
numerous rock climbing routes (over 500), wealth of mountain bike trails and abundant
wildlife. It's the perfect place for a family hike, bike ride or picnic. If you're
more of an adrenaline junkie, climb boulders, slabs, cracks and chimneys ranging
in difficulty from 5.2 to 5.13, or go whitewater rafting on the Cache La Poudre
River. Located at an altitude of 8000 feet in the beautiful Medicine Bow National
Forest, Vedauwoo offers an unparalleled outdoor experience for beginners and advanced
mountain bikers, hikers and climbers in an inimitable setting.
For more information, please visit: US Forest Service's website about Vedauwoo and
Vedawoo.org.
Where did some of the West's most ruthless and roughest cattle rustlers, outlaws
and bank robbers go once authorities caught them? Wyoming's Territorial prison,
built in 1872, once housed the infamous bank robber Butch Cassidy. Located just
a 45-minute drive from Cheyenne, visit the prison, which is now a park and museum
open to the public, to learn about the West's vibrant history. Highlights of the
tour include visiting a cell and the inmates' dining area, guard's quarters, a real
a furnished Homestead cabin, schoolhouse and exhibits on frontier and ranching life.
A dinner theatre and a museum devoted to the history of the Federal Marshals Service
caps off the attractions.
For more information, please visit: Wyoming Territorial Prison
Nearby Laramie, a mountain
biking mecca, is teeming with things to do for families, from outdoor activities
to history. Just 45 minutes west of Cheyenne, the charming city of Laramie is nestled
between the Snowy Range and the Laramie Range. Due to its elevation of 7,165 feet
(2,184 m) above sea level, Laramie's climate remains relatively cool even in summer.
The city is a hub of for outdoor activities. Go mountain biking on the 21 miles
(34 km) of the Medicine Bow Rail—Trail, which was built on top of an abandoned
railroad. Along the way you're likely to see any number of wildlife such as antelope
deer, elk or moose. Fish for trout nearby in the Laramie River, or try your luck
in one of the numerous lakes and streams in the mountain ranges just minutes away.
Had enough outdoor fun, then head over to the Geological Museum at the University
of Wyoming, open to the public, which includes a dinosaur exhibit. Visit the Laramie
Plains Museum for a touch of history then stroll through the scenic Downtown Laramie
Historic District.
Four hours north of Cheyenne lies of one of America's truly remarkable attractions,
the breathtaking Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Located in the beautiful Black
Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore is a massive granite sculpture featuring the
faces of former United States presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore
Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Every year over two million people visit this famous
national treasure!
For more information, please visit:
Mt. Rushmore
Devil's Tower, known as "Bears Lodge" to Native Americans, who consider
it a sacred site, bolts an awe-inspiring 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River.
The Towersits among 1,347 acres of pine forests, woodlands, and grasslands populated
by deer, prairie dogs, antelope, coyotes and other wildlife. Climbers enjoy taking
on the Tower's challenging vertical rock walls, while hikers and picnickers bask
in the area's effervescent beauty and tranquility. Deemed the first national monument
by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, Devil's Tower is a five-hour drive from
Cheyenne.
For more information, please visit:
Devil's Tower