Things to Do & Must-See Attractions in Wyoming

Part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Elk Refuge is more than just a winter habitat for Jackson Elk Herd—it’s a habitat for many different species of endangered animals and big game. The Refuge has been part of the Jackson scenery for more than 100 years, created after conflict between the elk and humans significantly depleted the elk population. Today the refuge consists of approximately 25,000 acres dedicated to elk winter range. The elk stay on the refuge for approximately six months each winter and guests have the opportunity to learn more about the herd through interactive displays and educational programs. Get up close views of the herd during a winter sleigh ride or utilize one of the several wildlife viewing areas on the refuge.

Nearly all visitors to Grand Teton National Park will stop at the Colter Bay Visitor Center, whether to pick up supplies, get trail information, or permits for camping and boating. With a nearby campground and set just minutes from the shores of stunning Lake Jackson, the Colter Bay Visitor Center is one of the park’s most popular—and busiest—areas. While here, instead of just swinging through for some maps or quickly arranging your permits, stop to read up on the park information and peruse the cultural exhibits. Most notable is the Indian Arts Museum, which houses a small collection of 35 rare, Native American artifacts. While the original collection was much larger, the lack of proper facilities at the visitor center forced its relocation, with a handful of artifacts remaining here on the land where they were originally crafted. There are free, ranger-guided talks of the display each morning and afternoon, and once a week they construct a traditional Native American teepee.

Western Wyoming, with its windswept plains, jagged mountains, and refreshing, airy solitude, exudes a classical romance that’s lost on the developed, urban US. It should only make sense then that this rustic church built in 1925, with a glass window behind the pulpit that frames the snowcapped Tetons, is one of the most scenic and popular places to get married in all of Wyoming. Here at the Chapel of the Transfiguration in Grand Teton National Park, loved ones gather to exchange blessings and vows amidst the golden plains, and ring the bell, cast in 1842, that still hangs from the ranch style bowery. Though weddings here are most popular in summer, from May through the end of September, the church is open every day of the year—provided the door isn’t blocked by snow from a recent winter snowstorm. While the church was built as a place for worship for early Wyoming pioneers, today it’ a classic photographer’s favorite inside of the National Park.

Like many other places in Yellowstone, the Firehole River is a scenic spot that lives up to its dramatic name. As it meanders north for 21 miles to join with the Madison River, the Firehole acts as a drainage basin for many of the park’s geothermal features. In collecting all of the mineral rich water, which has been naturally heated by the earth, the Firehole River can run 15 degrees warmer than surrounding rivers and lakes—with the steam that’s often emitted from the surface being one of the reasons for its name. Despite its boiling appearance, however, water temperatures are still fairly moderate at around 75°F (23.8°C), which makes it a comfortable temperature for splashing at the Firehole River swimming hole.

Nestled into the cliffs as if it simply grew there, the National Museum of Wildlife Art is 51,000 square feet of space dedicated to wildlife art. With works dating from 2500 BC to the present, the collection chronicles the history of wildlife through art. As photography is a relatively new invention, this art collection allows us to get a glimpse of wildlife—and life—in a bygone era. Though there is a definite focus on American and European art, the collection includes pieces from around the world, including New Zealand and Africa.

The National Museum of Wildlife Art by the numbers:

14 galleries; 5,000 items of art in various mediums including oil, bronze, stone, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pastel, pencil, lithography, photography and charcoal; works by more than 550 artists ranging from early American Tribes to contemporary masters; a new .75 mile (1.2 km) sculpture trail by artist Walter Hood and has more than 80,000 visitors per year