Central Region

Visiting central Wyoming is like stepping right into a history textbook. This is a land that American Indians found prosperous. Their history, in the form of petroglyphs, can still be seen carved in rock.

Western settlers, pioneers, and early mountain men traveled through this region, using the North Platte River to water their stock animals. History enthusiasts will find some excellent museums and forts here, but you don't have to step foot indoors to learn about the western migration. You can still see the Oregon Trail and wagon wheel ruts that are worn into sandstone. You can visit old ghost towns and mines, or hike to the top of some of the pioneer's most well-known landmarks: Laramie Peak and Independence Rock. Looking for an adventure? Visit the Hole-in-the-Wall area to find where outlaws like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid. For more modern history, the quality work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) is also on display in this region.

Today, the North Platte River fills a handful of large reservoirs such as Seminoe, Pathfinder, Alcova, Glendo, and Guernsey. Each of these offers recreational opportunities such as camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, boating, rock climbing, and wildlife viewing.

If the lowland proves to hot for you, take refuge in central Wyoming's mountain ranges: the eastern Wind River Mountains, Casper Mountain, Muddy Mountain, Green Mountain, the Laramie Range, and the Shirley Mountains. These mountains are often overshadowed by Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park, but they offer more than many state and national parks found elsewhere. You'll find waterfalls and deep canyons... elk and bald eagles... and plenty of campsites to stage before setting out on a hike, a backcountry drive, or a hunting trip for central Wyoming's antelope.