Sinks Canyon State Park is located in west central Wyoming just south of Lander, and 72 miles southeast of the Museum. The park is situated in the Wind River Mountains on the middle fork of the Popo Agie River. The site is named after distinct geologic phenomena in which the Popo Agie river disappears into a limestone cavern and reappears a quarter mile down the canyon in a placid pool filled with 8 – 12 lb. rainbow trout. The site has a variety of natural habitats which creates a diversity of flora and fauna. The canyon provides a variety of recreational opportunities including nature studies, photography, camping, fishing, hiking, world-class rock climbing, and access to miles of mountain bike trails.

South Pass City is located 100 miles southeast of the Museum and has a variety of interesting and educational activities for visitors throughout the summer. When the presence of volunteer staff permits, not only can you walk through each of the 17 restored and exhibited original structures, but you can enjoy an ice-cold sarsaparilla and a game of billiards on a restored 1860s period table, as well as hear the ring of a hammer on steel when the blacksmith shapes hot iron. Each day, one can shop in the historic Smith-Sherlock General Store or pan for gold in the clear waters of Willow Creek. In the Interpretive Center, you can also learn about other gold-producing methods that have been used around South Pass City throughout its history. For folks with as much interest in nature as history, South Pass City is home to a three-mile Volksmarch Trail where you can enjoy viewing some of the area’s wide array of wildlife. mule deer, antelope, moose, and beaver are just a few of the animals that can be seen. For birders, many species call this area home at different times of the year.

Boysen State Park is located 100 miles east of the Museum and is a public recreation area surrounding the Boysen Reservoir, an impoundment of the north-flowing Wind River, in Fremont County, Wyoming. The state park covers more than 35,000 acres (14,000 ha) at the south end of the Owl Creek Mountains at the mouth of the Wind River Canyon. The park was established in 1956 following the completion of the Boysen Dam in 1951. It is named for Asmus Boysen, who built the site’s first dam in 1908. Part of the original dam can still be seen. The park offers multiple campgrounds, boat launches, and a privately operated marina. Game fish found in the reservoir include walleye, sauger, perch, crappie, ling, rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout.

Dubois, WY is the home of the National Museum of Military Vehicles and is situated in the “banana belt” of Wyoming with Chinook winds that help keep you cool in the summer and melt snow in the winter. The town has a diverse economy with working ranches, outfitters, artists, craftsmen, and loggers. Dubois offers convenient services and accommodations to both residents and visitors. A 9-hole golf course is located on the west side of town. The Wind River Historical Center/Dubois Museum is filled with the history of Dubois, housing many artifacts of days gone by. Also open to the public are a covered swimming pool, town park with playground and tennis courts, and the library.

Located 66 miles southeast of the Museum, Lander, WY was incorporated in 1890 and was named for Frederick W. Lander, the engineer responsible for the Lander Trail: a wagon road traveled by thousands of headed West. The Chicago & North Western Transportation Company chose Lander as the western terminus of its “Cowboy Line” railway in 1906 and the city was known as “where the rails end and the trails begin”. Today you can learn the history of Lander at the Fremont County Pioneer Museum and the Museum of the American West. Stroll historic Main Street and enjoy numerous art galleries, unique shops, and a variety of restaurants offering local beef, microbrews, and more. Lander is pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. Rent a mountain or road bike, and cross-country ski equipment and snowshoes for winter recreation. Stop in at one of the local stores and pick up equipment for fishing, rock climbing, or hiking.

Riverton, WY Fremont County’s largest community, is located 69 miles southeast of the Museum. Riverton lies at the confluence of the Big and Little Wind Rivers and was established in 1906 on land ceded from the Wind River Indian Reservation. The town was placed in a natural basin that had long been a gathering point for humans from Native Americans since pre-history to the 1830 and 1838 mountain man rendezvous. From these wild and wooly beginnings, Riverton has developed into the agricultural and commercial hub of Fremont County. With a farm/ranch agriculture base, the Riverton area is a major producer of top-quality cattle and horses, alfalfa hay, and sugar beets