WYOMING
TRAVEL INFORMATION
You will see
Wyoming is packed with many opportunities for family fun and excitement.
In Wyoming you will find a special warmth and friendliness - a fierce
pride and genuine western spirit in the people.
In
this “Cowboy State” you can experience the National Parks,
Historic trails, scenic byways, back country adventures, and the
western hospitality.
GEOGRAPHY
The Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming. The state
is a great plateau broken by a number of important mountain ranges.
In the northwest are the Absaroka, the Owl Creek, Wyoming, Gros
Ventre, Wind River and the Teton ranges. In the north central are
the Big Horns; in the northeast, the Black Hills; and in the southern
area of Wyoming, the Laramie, Medicine Bow and Sierra Madre ranges.
Wyoming
is bounded on the north by Montana; on the south by Colorado and
Utah; on the south by Colorado and Utah; on the east by South Dakota
and Nebraska and on the west by Utah, Idaho and Montana. It is the
ninth largest state in the United States containing 97,914 square
miles. From the north border to the south border it is 275 miles;
from east to west it is 365 miles. The highest point of elevation
is Gannett Peak at 13,785 feet in Fremont and Sublette counties,
and the lowest level, 3,100 feet, is on the Belle Fourche River
in Crook County.
THE
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE REGION
The Continental Divide
The
Continental Divide cuts through Wyoming from the northwest to the
south central border. Rivers east of the Divide drain into the Missouri
River Basin and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. They are the Platte,
Wind, Big Horn and the Yellowstone rivers. The Snake River in northwest
Wyoming eventually drains into the Columbia River and the Pacific
Ocean, as does the Green River through the Colorado River Basin.
Yellowstone
Region is Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in
the world and Wyoming’s biggest tourist attraction. Over 96
percent of Yellowstone Park is within Wyoming.
Grand
Teton Region is, of course, Grand Teton National park and the magnificent
Tetons. While this area is best known for its beauty in summer and
fall, these mountains host some of America’s best winter recreation
like cross-country skiing and downhill skiing at nearby Jackson
Hole, Snow King and Grand Targhee ski areas.
Jackson
Hole - Jim Bridger Region
Wyoming’s western region follows highways US 191, US 189 and
US 89 through Wyoming’s outstanding mountain country and finally
into the Red Desert region of southwest Wyoming. It’s a land
of eminent contrasts awaiting discovery.
Devils
Tower - Buffalo Bill Region follows Interstate 90 through northern
Wyoming until it swings way northward. Leaving the Interstate on
either US 14 or US 16 these highways take the scenic route over
the Bog Horn Mountains and on to Yellowstone.
Oregon
Trail - Rendezvous Region follows highway US 26 through central
Wyoming. It’s the route thousands of emigrants followed in
the 1840s as they came to settle the American West via the Oregon
Trail.
Medicine
Bow - Flaming Gorge Region parallels the old Overland Trail and
the route of the first transcontinental railroad. Though Interstate
80 runs border-to-border, discover this country best through the
byways of the Snowy Range Mountains and along Flaming Gorge National
Recreation Area.
THE
ARTS OF WYOMING
The
works of Wyoming’s living artists are on display in galleries
throughout the state. For contemporary art visit the Art Museum
at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, the Nicolaysen Art Museum
in Casper and the Wyoming Arts Council Gallery in Cheyenne. The
world’s premier wildlife art collection is found in the National
Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, while Native American art is
featured at the Mid West gallery on the Wind River Indian Reservation
at Fort Washakie.
WEATHER
The mountainous, high altitude of Wyoming’s Yellowstone Country
greatly affects its weather. This northwestern part of the state
remains refreshingly cool in July with afternoon temperatures usually
in the high 70s° F, with a maximum of 90°F seldom occurring.
Sunrise temperatures in July typically dip below 40°F, so bring
a jacket. Expect more precipitation to fall in the mountains than
on the plains as moisture from the Pacific ocean fuels occasional
afternoon thunderstorms in the western mountains.
WYOMING
WILDLIFE
More than 600 species of wildlife inhabit Wyoming. This tremendous
abundance and diversity of wild creatures can be attributed to the
states extremely diverse habitat.
Wyoming
is known as one of the few places in the United States where you
can see Wildlife from all major highways. Bring your binoculars,
cameras and more film than you think you ever need. Over half of
the states 97, 914 sq miles is public land, wild and fee for you
to enjoy.
For
more information on the state of Wyoming contact:
Wyoming
Division of Tourism
I-25 at College Drive
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Ph:
(800)225-5996
fax: (307) 777-6904
or
visit Wyoming’s Vacation Web site
http://state.wy.us/state/welcome.html
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