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All I’ve heard about Wyoming while living in Colorado were jokes. Under the impression that “there is not much to see” and “the culture is not very diverse” I had never considered visiting. Until one morning I realized, why not? Why does a person need a good reason to travel someplace besides a new experience? My friend, Meadow, our loyal companion, Bruno the boxer, and I agreed – you don’t, and started packing for a road trip.
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
The plan was to take a scenic route through the mountains to Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest near Centennial and hike the Lookout Lakes Trail. Then drive to the Capital, Cheyenne, and spend the night there. As often happens, things didn’t go according to the plan. My GPS automatically switched the direction, so instead of nature views, we were looking at windmills and mining equipment for a while.
When rural sites popped up, my prejudices began to shift. Wyoming landscapes are simply stunning. I couldn’t wait to get on the trail. Sadly, it was closed. In the middle of April when trees were blooming in Denver, the snow in the Wyoming mountains hardly melted. After three tries we finally found a different path, which is no doubt, a pleasure in the summer, but rather a challenge in the spring.
The snow on the ground was falling through with almost every step, making it difficult to move forward. Nevertheless, we kept going. The destination did not matter anymore. We were enjoying the journey, the forest and the serenity around us. As a reward, on the way back, we saw hundreds of wild mustangs running at the Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse EcoSanctuary – a unique moment, especially for someone who has never encountered them before.
Cheyenne
We arrived in the city tired and hungry. All we could do is order pasta from Napoli’s Italian Restaurant to go (yum!), and pass out in the hotel room. A big mistake. The next morning the weather suddenly worsened. Famously cold winds and more snow forced us to drive, not walk, from landmark to landmark. Thankfully, there were barely any other cars – the benefit of exploring remote areas.
Cheyenne is the tiniest capital both of us have ever been to. The State Capitol Building, depot plaza with big cowboy boots sculptures, the Atlas Theatre were reminiscent of the Old West during the Gold Rush era. An interesting fact we learned among everything else: Wyoming was the first state in the nation to grant voting rights to women. Not something you would expect from a place known for being conservative.
Prior to this trip, neither Meadow nor I knew what Wyoming had to offer. Turns out, plenty. Its history, natural beauty and outdoor recreation are definitely overlooked. While there are not many polished resort towns, you will still find great opportunities for hiking, climbing, mountain biking, as well as skiing. Dress in layers, expect temperature drops and have fun, even if nothing seems to go right.
Find more trip ideas & everything travel in this section of my blog. Happy exploring!