Splendors Of The Wind River WY Region

By Deanne Shepard


There are many, many reasons to visit the Cowboy State (or the Equality State, since Wyoming was the first state to give women the vote). One of them (in a manner of speaking) is Wind River WY. This name covers a river, a mountain range, a huge basin, an Indian reservation, a massive lake - basically a whole bunch of central Wyoming.

If you're going alone, you'll meet friendly people and see incredible scenery. If the family is along, there are activities for kids that adults will enjoy as well. Just driving from one spot to another is memorable. Nineteen of the tallest twenty peaks in the state are in the WR mountains. The lower river has been dammed to create the Boysen Reservoir, and the gorge below it rivals the Grand Canyon in visual impact. The Continental Divide is right at the top of the WR Mountains.

What to do when you get there? Well, people of all ages like to pan for gold, and there are many creeks with the right mix of gravels to have 'color' in their shallows. Rodeos give a glimpse of the cowboy life and the Wild West. There are many national and state parks to visit, with visitor centers, museums, and wildlife. Ghost towns still stand in the shadow of the mountains, and petroglyphs can be seen on canyon walls.

Fishermen will find more than 1,300 lakes in the WR country. Wyoming is one of the few places where you can eat the fish you've caught without fear of toxins. People hunt, ski, ride mountain bikes or horses, play golf, and enjoy water sports. There are camp grounds, rustic lodges with many comforts, more luxurious hotels, and cabins to rent for the duration of your stay. Climb a rock wall, stay at a dude ranch, spend time on the reservation, or just go from overlook to scenic overlook.

A more modern part of Indian life can be found at the WR Casino, Wyoming's largest. This complex has the casino with slots and table games and a 90-room hotel with two restaurants and an espresso bar. Two gift shops offer authentic, high-end Indian jewelry, rugs, pottery, and other handiwork.

At the Casino, patrons can choose to play the slot machines or the table games. There are periodic poker tournaments with big jackpots. Those who don't want to play or need a break can take a bus tour to local attractions and sights. Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons are within driving distance, as is the Jackson Hole Ski Resort.

Wind River itself is 185 miles long. Starting in the pristine WR Lake, it winds down to the Owl Mountains where it becomes the Bighorn River. Its course runs southeast through magnificent, barren stretches of mountains and valleys, with evergreen-ringed lakes and patches of forest. This is country that makes you realize just how big these United States are. Photographs taken here will help you be sure you weren't dreaming while you were in WR country.

If you love the outdoors, want to experience the West or walk through unchanged wilderness, enjoy stepping back in time, and want memories to last a lifetime, check on the Wind River region of Wyoming. This rugged, often barren but always beautiful land is full of things to see and do, but it's also a wonderful place to get away from the modern merry-go-round and relax.




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