Sweetwater County: Nature, History and Wide-Open Roads
Accommodation in Sweetwater County
Sweetwater County combines impressive landscapes with traces of Indigenous history, railroad and mining history, and unusual destinations. Here you can watch wildlife or plan the Flaming Gorge Scenic Byway along Flaming Gorge Lake, explore petroglyphs, take a self-guided tour of the area’s mining history, or plan a longer scenic route. When choosing your vacation rental or vacation home, it is therefore worth deciding first what you want to focus on during your trip: nature, culture, active pursuits or a drive through the landscape.
Nature Experiences at the Refuge and Sand Dunes
Fishing is permitted throughout Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. Key target species include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and brook trout. The Environmental Education Center, also known as the Visitor's Center, welcomes the public with interactive exhibits about the refuge and its wildlife. The refuge also offers a driving loop as well as the Flicker Trail for hiking and wildlife viewing. This allows you to shape your visit in very different ways: you can explore the landscape by car, choose a trail on foot or make fishing the focus of your trip.
The Killpecker Sand Dunes offer a distinctly different landscape. Motorized vehicles and non-motorized recreational activities, including hiking, hunting and horseback riding, are permitted in the Killpecker Sand Dunes Open Play Area. Sandboarding and sledding are also possible on dunes up to 100 feet high. The dunes are part of the Greater Sand Dunes Area of Critical Environmental Concern, which protects wildlife, cultural, scenic and wilderness resources.
Wide Views and Routes for Active Days
Pilot Butte reaches an elevation of 7,949 feet; climbing to the summit offers expansive panoramic views. The Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Tour is a 24-mile self-guided route and takes approximately 1.5 hours. Take this approximate duration into account when planning your day, without having to tie the outing to a fixed schedule.
The Skyline Trail also offers a range of possibilities. It is open to hikers, cyclists and other non-motorized users. Designed to be accessible, the multi-use trail is free of motorized traffic and connects the Green River Greenbelt at the Western Wyoming Community College campus with the scenic ridge above the city. From there, you can enjoy expansive views of Green River. For a travel group with different interests, this trail can be a separate item on the day’s itinerary, while other travelers may plan to use it for cycling or walking.
If you enjoy longer drives, the Flaming Gorge Scenic Byway forms a 150-mile loop around Flaming Gorge Lake. The route can be started in Green River or Rock Springs. Another self-guided option is the tour at Reliance Tipple, where you can get an impression of mining around the turn of the century.
Discover Petroglyphs and History
The White Mountain Petroglyphs can be reached from the parking area via a steep two-thirds-of-a-mile trail; admission is free. The Cedar Canyon Petroglyphs also give the trip a cultural and historical focus. They include rock carvings more than 200 years old, including panels depicting plants and complex markings that are believed to represent ancient calendars.
The Sweetwater County Historical Museum uses exhibits, artifacts, photographs and archival holdings to present Indigenous prehistory, railroad history, mining and the settlement of the frontier. At the WWCC Natural History Museum, you can see a remarkable rock collection as well as wall-mounted fossils of fish, palm leaves and reptiles discovered in the surrounding area. At the False Parting of the Ways, visitors can explore original wagon and stagecoach ruts on Bureau of Land Management land north of the highway. Expedition Island was the starting point for John Wesley Powell’s expeditions in 1869 and 1871.
Places for Planning the Rest of Your Trip
Events also shape individual travel occasions: International Day takes place every July in Green River and Rock Springs and celebrates the diversity of Sweetwater County with food, exhibits, costumes and live entertainment representing different cultures. For further orientation, you can view the places Rock Springs, Green River and Little America individually.
When searching for accommodation, you can then decide which focus should define your stay. Above all, consider which of the experiences mentioned you want to include in your personal plans and whether you prefer individual outings or a longer drive such as the Flaming Gorge Scenic Byway.
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