5 Prettiest Places in Wyoming (2024)

Wyoming is home to the Wild West. Being one of the largest states in the country, Wyoming might have the smallest population, but the state is home to a diverse and breathtaking landscape. From the huge metropolitan areas to the natural wonders of the state, there are some stunning sights to see in Wyoming. The many geysers and fumaroles at the Yellowstone National Park to the colorful canyons at the Flaming Gorge Recreation Area, there is no dearth of unique and beautiful places in Wyoming.

5 Prettiest Places in Wyoming

Here are some of the prettiest places in Wyoming that you must check out when you visit this magnificent state.

1. The Black Hills

When you are planning your trip to Wyoming, you might not come across the Black Hills as the number one spot to visit. However, for those who want to visit some of the most jaw-dropping places in Wyoming, the Black Hills are the first place to head to. The Black Hills are a forested area located in the northern Great Plains, which is home to a Precambrian mountain range. Mount Harney Peak is the highest point of the Black Hills. Historically, the Black Hills Forest has been home to the Lakota and Cheyenne Native tribes, and the forest is also shared with the state of South Dakota.

Since gold was discovered in the Black Hills in 1874, this area has been massively mined, and since then, all the native tribes of the region have moved away from here.

Today, the Black Hills Forest is home to Presidents Rock and the Crazy Horse Memorial, both famous tourist attractions.

The best reason to visit this area is the stunning natural beauty of this place.

If you are visiting this area in your own car, it is a great idea to check out the Black Hills Scenic Byway, which stretches for 78 miles and takes you through a heavenly mix of evergreen and deciduous trees as you meander your way through the Black Hills National Forest. In the fall season, this otherwise dark green landscape gets painted in a riot of colors that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Black Hills Scenic Byway stops at the western gateway to the Black Hills. The rolling native grass prairies provide plenty of opportunities to come across the roaming wildlife as you continue on this colorful drive.

This jaw-dropping beautiful area will remain etched in your memory forever.

2. Grand Prismatic Spring

One of the prettiest sights you will ever see in your life is the Grand Prismatic Spring located inside the famous Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It is usually the first thing that most visitors to the park want to check out once they enter the park. The multicolor Grand Prismatic Spring is the star attraction of the Midway Geyser Basin. It is the largest hot spring in the entire United States and also the third-largest in the world. It is also one of the most unique natural wonders on earth. You will easily recognize the grand Prismatic Spring as it is one of the most photographed landmarks of the Yellowstone National Park.

However, even though it is the most photographed and best-recognized landmark of Yellowstone, no amount of seeing pictures of this spring will prepare you for the incredible and jaw-dropping sight when you actually see it. The Grand Prismatic Spring is deeper than a ten-story building and bigger than a football field. The Grand Prismatic Spring is truly awe-inspiring and even more incredible and colorful than the many pictures you must have seen of the place. The rainbow of colors is sure to take your breath away when you see this hot spring for the first time.

The riot of colors you see at the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring is from the different species of heat-loving bacteria that live around the place. From the deep center, you will find a beautiful hue of blue, followed by green and yellow tings, and then a lot of orange to make up the outskirts.

The best time to visit the hot spring is on a sunny warm day when the rainbow colors of the spring are at their brightest. Also, keep in mind that on cooler days and early in the mornings in late evenings, there can be steam that covers the spring, making it difficult to see the beautiful colors properly. Keep one to two hours aside for your visit to make the most of your visit.

3. Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

Located in the southwest corner of Wyoming and stretching into Utah as well, the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a vast artificial reservoir that has over 360 miles of shoreline. It is located in the heart of the Ashley National Forest.

The lake was created during the construction of the Flaming Gorge Dam in Red Canyon. There are many boat ramps, marinas with boat slips, and fishing docks around the lake. There is also a widespread network of crisscrossing hiking trails, picnic sites, and several camping sites around the lake that have made this a popular tourist destination. The reservoir is especially popular with fishermen who come here for its lake trout. Apart from brown and rainbow trout, the lake is also well-stocked with kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass. The incredible clarity of the lake has made it a popular destination with underwater enthusiasts who come here for spear fishing and scuba diving.

4. Devils Tower National Monument

Hundreds of years of erosion have created this strange attraction in Wyoming – the Devils Tower. This is a massive, once-hidden monolith that appears huge, towering 1267 feet over the Belle Fourche River near Sundance. The 5000 plus foot laccolithic butte makes for a jaw-dropping sight when you first lay eyes on it. It is also one of the most prominent features of the American West and is considered to be a sacred place by the indigenous people of this area.

There is a park that surrounds this national monument, which is home to many deer, prairie dogs, and many other wildlife. The monument is surrounded by exotic woodlands, fragrant pine forests, and grasslands.

Many people also know this monument as Bear Lodge. The monolith is considered to be a sacred place for many Indian American tribes in the region, including the Cheyenne, Crow, Arapaho, Kiowa, Shoshone, and Lakota. Devils Tower was also designated as the country’s first national monument in 1906 by then-President Theodore Roosevelt.

5. Cody

Another town in Wyoming that is considered to be amongst the prettiest places in Wyoming is Cody. The small and beautiful town of Cody is all about history, wildlife, and the rodeo. The city is named after William Cody, who was better known as Buffalo Bill, the founder of the town. The town of Cody takes great pride in being the founding town of Buffalo Bill, with a number of statues, museums, and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center all built with the motive of reminding tourists of the town’s glorious past.

Cody is also known as being the rodeo capital of the world, and it plays host to many prestigious rodeos throughout the year. So you can plan your trip to coincide with one of these rodeo events.

The town is popular for the many outdoor activities you can enjoy here, including hiking, rafting, fishing, rock climbing, and camping. Ice climbing is a popular activity in the winter months.

Some of the stunning natural attractions in and around Cody include the Buffalo Bill Dam and Reservoir, Absaroka Mountain Range, Heart Mountain in the Bighorn Basin, Beartooth Mountain Range, and the Yellowstone National Park.

As you explore Cody, you will be greeted with breathtaking scenery at every turn as the town is the gateway to the magnificent Yellowstone National Park. It is also the starting point of many scenic drives that take you along the Beartooth Highway. Cody is the town to visit to see Wyoming’s Wild West come alive.