Washakie: Badlands, Fossils and Hiking Trails
Accommodation in Washakie
Washakie reveals its special character where landscape, geological history and traces of human presence come together. Colorful badlands, an extensive wetland along the Bighorn River and trails with varying levels of difficulty give your trip different focal points. There are also museums, historic sites and evidence from a time when mammoths and dinosaurs shaped the history of this landscape.
From Mammoth Hunters to the Pioneer Era
Through its exhibits, the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center presents the local history of humankind from the early mammoth hunters to the first settlers. In the Ancient Basin Gallery, you can see casts of plant and dinosaur fossils. The Last West Gallery adds to this picture with a walk-in pioneer sod house and an original sheep wagon. This makes it possible to tailor a museum visit to different interests: to the region’s very early history as well as to the lives of later settlers.
Further traces of history lead to the Colby Mammoth Site. The remains of several mammoths were found there and have been dated to approximately 11,000 years before the present; the site also contained three Clovis projectile points. In the surrounding region lies the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite, the largest site with dinosaur tracks in Wyoming and one of the few in the world dating from the Middle Jurassic, 160 to 180 million years ago.
Badlands, Wetland and Trails Through the Landscape
The Gooseberry Badlands Scenic Overlook offers panoramic views of a colorful desert landscape, the broad blue sky and intricately eroded rock formations. The associated Gooseberry Badlands Scenic Overlook Trail is a non-motorized hiking trail approximately 1.5 miles long. Those who prefer to observe the landscape while covering a manageable distance will find a clear excursion focus here.
The Duck Swamp Interpretive Area forms a clear contrast to the dry badlands. The 81-acre oxbow and wetland formed from a cut-off meander of the Bighorn River. A one-mile interpretive and educational loop trail leads through the wetland and allows visitors to observe and learn about its wildlife. Drinking water, restrooms, parking for cars and buses, grills and covered picnic tables are available for day use. This makes the area a place where nature observation can be combined with a longer break.
The Salt Lick Trail is aimed at visitors who prefer a more challenging route. It is 1.5 miles long and offers views of the landscape as well as impressive flora and fauna. The trailhead is about 6 miles east of Ten Sleep, immediately north of U.S. Highway 16. There is a restroom and an information kiosk there. For your day’s planning, you can therefore choose between the shorter Gooseberry trail, the loop trail at Duck Swamp and the challenging Salt Lick Trail as routes with different levels of difficulty.
Historic Routes and Regional Discoveries
Around Ten Sleep, Washakie County Road 580A follows the 1936 alignment of the Black and Yellow Trail. Southwest of the timber bridge, this historic route can be driven for several miles before the terrain makes it impassable. West Side School in Worland, Washakie County, is a site listed in the National Register of Historic Places since November 17, 2021. Worland Municipal Airport (WRL) is located about 3 miles south of Worland.
Which Accommodation Suits Your Plans?
When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Washakie, it is worth first organizing the experiences you want. For museum visits and historical discoveries, a trip planned around cultural experiences is a good choice. Those who want to experience the landscape can choose between badlands, wetland and a more challenging hiking trail. The time of year can also play a role: The annual Wyoming State BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival normally takes place on the third Friday and Saturday in August at the Washakie County Fairgrounds northwest of Worland.
Washakie is therefore suitable for a trip that seeks more than just a single excursion destination. You can combine geological history, settlement history, wildlife and landscape, then choose your accommodation based on which of these facets should be the focus of your stay.
For the higher-level travel overview: Wyoming.
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