Wyoming Bucket List: 23 Best Things to Do in Wyoming

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Want to add to your Wyoming bucket list? You’re in the right place.

Wyoming is a state with endless beauty and outdoor activities to explore. From the awe-inspiring Yellowstone National Park to the beautiful Grand Teton National Park, this wonderful state has so much to discover.

Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline-filled outdoor adventure or some peaceful quality time with nature, Wyoming has it all. In this blog post, we’ll explore the best things to do in Wyoming – from seeing the incredible wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to exploring the seemingly endless miles of trails and rivers throughout the state.

Luckily, we’ve been to Wyoming, and have spent multiple days in Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park. It’s an easy weekend trip for us from Colorado.

So grab your hiking boots, and let’s hit the road with this Wyoming bucket list!

🚗 Don’t forget to book your Wyoming rental car! Click here to check rates. 🚗

Wyoming Bucket List

Walk the Rainbow Terraces trail at Hot Springs State Park

Hot Springs State Park is a beautiful place to visit in Wyoming in Thermopolis. It’s more well-known by locals, so it’s a great place to go to get away from all of the tourists!

Rainbow Terraces is one of the best trails here. It’s an easy 0.6-mile loop trail that’s only about 22 feet in elevation gain. It takes less than 15 minutes to complete, but it’s beautiful.

Visit Jenny Lake

Visiting Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park is one of the best things to do in Wyoming because of its stunning beauty and many activities that will delight any outdoor enthusiast.

This lake is one of the most photographed parts of the park, and for a good reason. Having been formed more than 12,000 years ago from glaciers, the lake also holds a lot of history. Be sure to do the 7.1-mile Jenny Lake Loop to get some breathtaking views. It does have 1000 feet of elevation gain.

Learn about Buffalo Bill in Cody

Buffalo Bill was an American soldier who had a lot of history in Wyoming. You can actually visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody to learn more about him. There are five museums there in total!

The town of Cody was partially founded by him and is named after him.

Photograph Devil’s Tower National Monument

Devil’s Tower National Monument is one of the most photographed spots in all of Wyoming for a reason! It’s absolutely breathtaking and is surrounded by what’s called the Black Hills. Indigenous people of the area consider it to be sacred.

This natural phenomenon is filled with cracks, which is why many people love coming to this landmark to give it a climb. Visit at sunrise or sunset to get a beautiful glow on the rock in your photograph!

Hike in Grand Teton National Park

Hiking in Grand Teton National Park is one of the best things to do in Wyoming for many reasons. With many miles of trails, there are enough hikes to keep visitors busy throughout their stay.

The dramatic peaks, wildlife viewing, and abundant alpine lakes make for an awe-inspiring experience that everyone can enjoy. In addition, Grand Teton National Park is conveniently located near Jackson Hole, allowing visitors to explore both the park and the nearby attractions for a comprehensive vacation.

For a real treat, consider hiking in winter! We did, and we had the park almost completely to ourselves. However, some pieces of the park were closed for winter, unfortunately.

Try huckleberry-flavored anything

Trying huckleberry-flavored food is one of the best things to add to your Wyoming bucket list. The berries are found only in mountainous areas like the Rockies, and they have an intense sweetness with a tart finish that is unlike any other type of fruit.

Plus, these berries are extremely versatile – they can be used to make pies, jams, jellies, syrups and even drinks like huckleberry lemonade!

Eating dishes with huckleberry flavoring in Wyoming will give you a taste of something truly unique and special that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. There are many places right in Jackson Hole where you can try huckleberry licorice and ice cream.

Learn at Wyoming Dinosaur Center

Yes, Wyoming has its own museum dedicated to dinosaurs that both adults and children will absolutely love! Stop by Thermopolis’s Wyoming Dinosaur Center, which actually has a nearby excavation site. (It’s one of the few museums around the world that has a nearby excavation site.)

One of the most fun things to do here is to join in on “Dig for a Day.” During this, you can dig at one of the active sites and even get a guided tour of the museum.

See Mormon Row

Mormon Row is one of the most iconic and beautiful sights in Wyoming. Located in Grand Teton National Park, this historic site is full of stunning views and opportunities for adventure.

The ranch buildings, some of which date back to the 19th century, make a great photography backdrop and give visitors an up-close look at what life was like for early settlers here. No trip to Wyoming is complete without a visit to Mormon Row!

Kayak in Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in southwest Wyoming is one of the most underrated places to add to your Wyoming bucket list. This is a great spot to go kayaking because there are more than 300 miles of shoreline!

In addition to kayaking here, this is also a popular spot for camping. There are around 43 different campgrounds throughout this area where you can enjoy beautiful views while out in nature. What’s better than stargazing from the comfort of your own tent?

Explore the beautiful town of Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole is a stunning hidden gem located in the wilds of Wyoming. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Teton Range, it offers an incredible range of activities for visitors to explore.

Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, Jackson Hole has something to offer. Nature lovers can experience some of the best hiking, fishing and wildlife-watching experiences in Wyoming, while outdoor adventurers can choose from skiing, snowboarding, and more.

Plus, the town itself has so much charm and lovely restaurants, shops, and more that you can easily spend a whole day just exploring.

With its rugged landscapes and awe-inspiring scenery, Jackson Hole is one of the most beautiful places in Wyoming and definitely worth exploring!

Look for wildlife in Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is home to some of the most picturesque views in the entire state. With its rolling hills, stunning mountains, and pristine lakes, it’s no surprise that hiking and camping are two of the most popular activities here.

But Grand Teton National Park also offers an abundance of wildlife, including bears, bison, bald eagles, elk, and moose – making it a unique spot for wildlife watching.

Whether you’re trying to take great photos or just observe some of Wyoming’s most majestic creatures in their natural habitats, you won’t be disappointed when you go searching for wildlife in Grand Teton National Park.

Camp in Bighorn National Forest

Camping in Bighorn National Forest is one of the best Wyoming activities due to its abundance of natural beauty and recreational activities.

Not only is Bighorn National Forest home to some spectacular sights, but it also boasts an array of campgrounds that are sure to fit any camper’s needs. Whether you’re looking for cabin rentals, classic campground camping, or even dispersed camping, there’s something for you here.

Bighorn National Forest provides the perfect spot for both novice campers and experienced outdoorsmen alike.

Ride a horse with the Tetons as your backdrop

Riding a horse with the Teton Mountain Range as your backdrop is a must-do. The beauty and splendor of the mountain range, combined with a horseback ride through rugged terrain, make for an unforgettable experience.

You can take in stunning views while traveling along trails that are both challenging and enjoyable. Whether you’re an experienced equestrian or a novice who just wants to slow down and take it all in, horseback riding through the Teton Mountains provides an exhilarating adventure.

Plus, taking in these majestic sights from atop a horse is a truly unique way to explore Wyoming’s wild landscapes. Many tours from Jackson will allow you to do this.

🐎 Book a Tetons Horseback Riding Tour here! 🐎

See art in the National Museum of Wildlife Art

Stop by the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson to learn more about wildlife art. There are lots of great pieces in here, and you can learn so much just by looking at the works throughout.

This museum was founded back in 1987 and is open daily throughout the year, but winter hours are a bit shorter. There’s also a restaurant right on-site, so you can enjoy a meal between exploring.

Explore Bridger-Teton National Forest

The Bridger-Teton National Forest covers more than 3 million acres in Wyoming! Whether you visit a national park to explore or not, you have to at least do a scenic drive through the forest.

In the forest, you can find beautiful wilderness, drives, wildlife, and more. You can easily spend your entire time in Wyoming just exploring all that the forest has to offer!

Snap a photo at the Grand Prismatic Spring

Obviously, Yellowstone National Park has to be added to your Wyoming bucket list. Not only are there so many incredible hikes in Yellowstone, but there are also many popular photo spots.

One of the most popular parts of the park is the Grand Prismatic Spring, which is the neon blue, orange, and yellow hot spring. It’s one of the biggest lakes in the world, with Boiling Lake and Frying Pan Lake being larger.

There’s a 1.5-mile out-and-back trail to see the area, which is around 40 minutes or so to fully complete. This is a super popular landmark, though, so try to visit in the off-season.

Watch an eruption at Old Faithful

There are more than 500 geysers throughout Yellowstone, but one of the most popular is Old Faithful. So, when visiting Wyoming, be sure to stop by and see it erupt!

This geyser erupts about 17 times a day, about every hour and a half to two hours. There’s no shade here so if you visit in the summer, keep in mind that you’ll be standing with a big group of people out in the heat. But it’s worth it!

Attend the rodeo

This area of the United States is known for its rodeos, especially in Wyoming! There are many spots throughout the state where you can enjoy the rodeo, including Cody, Cheyenne, and even Jackson.

The biggest rodeo is right in Cheyenne. You can stop by and even see people compete to win over $1 million in prizes, which is so fun! The entire family will love stopping by a rodeo, even if you just go once.

Visit the Black Hills

While we slightly mentioned the Black Hills earlier, it also needs its own section because of how beautiful it is. This mountain range in Wyoming also reaches over to South Dakota and includes the Black Hills National Forest.

Many people love stopping by because it’s home to two monuments, including the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore.

Visit the National Elk Refuge

Jackson is home to its own National Elk Refuge and it’s not that far from downtown. It’s completely free to stop by and hop into the visitor center, where you can learn and even buy souvenirs.

Remember how we mentioned that you should try huckleberry? The best huckleberry licorice we’ve found in Wyoming is here!

Go skiing in Jackson Hole

Stop by Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to enjoy skiing or snowboarding right in town! This is one of the harder ski areas to ski in because more than half of the trails are best for experts.

The best time to go skiing in Jackson Hole is between November and March. We visited in December and absolutely loved it!

Stop by Ayres Natural Bridge

Ayres Natural Bridge in Douglas, Wyoming, is another of the lesser-known Wyoming attractions. It’s situated inside Ayres Natural Bridge Park, which features beautiful red canyons. Campsites can also be found here!

Try elk meat

Last but certainly not least, when visiting Wyoming, be sure to try an elk burger or at least some type of elk meat. Many restaurants throughout the state, including right in Jackson, have elk burgers on their menu.

For a tasty one, stop by Mangy Moose in Jackson Hole. They have an elk chop that’s flame-grilled with pistachio herb bread crumbs!

🚗 Don’t forget to book your Wyoming rental car! Click here to check rates. 🚗

Final Thoughts: Best Things to Do in Wyoming

From the famed Yellowstone National Park to the fantastic Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming has no shortage of natural wonders to explore and enjoy. Whether you’re looking for an exciting weekend getaway or a weeklong escape from city life, Wyoming has plenty of experiences waiting for you.

We hope you enjoyed growing your Wyoming bucket list!