Lander and RivertonWyoming

Southeast of Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton Mountains, the small Wyoming towns of Lander and Riverton are a top choice for outdoor adventures with a stunningly scenic backdrop, including hiking, rock climbing, fishing and camping. Beyond their amazing natural landscapes, these Wind River Country towns boast well-preserved ties to history – from opportunities to learn about pioneer-era gold mining to Native American cultural experiences. Make a local guest ranch your homebase for an unforgettable vacation.

Take a Step Back in Time

Lander and Riverton have long and storied histories starting with the Native American people who have long called these lands home. At the Castle Gardens Petroglyph Site, about an hour east of Riverton, discover a nearly 10-kilometer-long area of vertical cliff faces covered with ancient tribal petroglyphs depicting everything from sturdy shields to lazing turtles. The area is named Castle Gardens because the wind has eroded the sandstone outcroppings into fanciful shapes resembling a castle’s turrets.

From there, take a deep dive into Westward migration – Wind River Country’s next historical era – at the Fremont County Pioneer Museum in Lander and the Riverton Museum in Riverton. Wander through exhibits filled with period wagons, vintage clothing and timeworn gold mining equipment and learn about the history and cultures of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho peoples.

Head south of Lander to South Pass City State Historic Site, located in the gold mining town of South Pass City, to get a firsthand look at how pioneers and miners once lived. There you can watch a blacksmith at work, shop for old-timey wares at the historic Smith-Sherlock General Store, pan for gold in Willow Creek and even sip on an ice-cold sarsaparilla, a soft drink similar to root beer that was popular in the 1860s. The nearby Volksmarch Trail is a great place to spot mule deer, moose, beaver and other local wildlife.

Explore the Great Outdoors

If there’s one thing that Wind River Country in general – and Lander and Riverton specifically – is known for, it’s beautiful natural landscapes. In and around theWind River Range (a section of the famousRocky Mountains), visitors will find loads of opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, fishing and enjoying scenic drives. Sinks Canyon State Park in Lander is a great spot for doing all of the above. Don’t miss out on the park’s geological mystery, where the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River mysteriously disappears underground at “The Sinks,” and then resurfaces a half-kilometer down the canyon at what is known as “The Rise.”

Learn About Native American Cultures

No visit to Lander and Riverton would be complete without learning about the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho people. Their cultures have long been woven into the fabric of Wind River Country.

Start your exploration of these Indigenous American cultures at the Northern Arapaho Experience Culture Room in Riverton. Dedicated to the Arapaho Tribe, this small museum is filled with photographs, paintings, artifacts and videos highlighting the tribe’s culture and history. If you’re lucky, you may even get to speak to an Arapaho elder during your visit.

In Boulder Flats, near Lander, discover the Wind River Wild Horse Sanctuary. See some of the hundreds of wild mustangs that call the sanctuary home and learn about the importance of wild horses to Indigenous American people, either at the free Visitor Center (open during the summer or by appointment) or during a captivating Wild Horse Tour in an ATV or horse-drawn buggy.