Big Wyoming. The Cowboy State. The Equality State. How many states have 3 nicknames? Whether you stay in Cody, Cheyenne, Jackson Hole, or visit Wyoming’s parks or forests, you will be a fan of this highly underrated destination.
Let’s start off on the right foot. My best friend in high school moved to the Midwest from Wyoming. She described Big Wyoming as flat, barren, and full of horses. I had no reason to disbelieve her. My first experience in the cowboy state seemed to confirm that assumption.
Boy, was I wrong! We keep returning to Wyoming over and over. Each area of the state has something pretty cool to check out.
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Let’s jump forward 40 years for a real visit to Wyoming
I had traveled through Cheyenne. Stayed for almost a week in Dubois – which I loved. Traveled the agonizing road between the 2. It was only after I visited the northern half of this incredible state for a week in Cody, that I realized how incredible the Equality State is.
I can’t do justice to a great state like Wyoming without a little help. There are several resources listed at the bottom of this story that assisted with descriptions and statistics.
Now, it’s time to have some fun with this. First – what state has 3 nicknames?
Yep, Wyoming really does hold 3 nicknames. Each one has been justly earned and has a significant place in describing how special Wyoming is.
The Cowboy State
Did you know there are an estimated 6,000 wild mustangs roaming free in Wyoming? We actually saw a herd of these magnificent creatures on our most recent visit.
With that number, it shouldn’t be a surprise there are over 70 active dude ranches in the state. As a matter of fact, the term “dude ranch” was actually first used in Wyoming. Eaton’s Ranch in Wolf was the nation’s first dude ranch and still welcomes guests today.
Of course, you can’t overlook the state symbol. That’s right, the state symbol is a cowboy on a bucking horse. Do you want to go a step further? The state sport is rodeo. Not football, soccer, or baseball. Rodeo.
We enjoyed some faux-cowboy time on our last visit to Wyoming, but I’m afraid I am nowhere near “rodeo” status yet. Regardless, a dude ranch experience is going to be part of a future Cowboy State visit.
The Equality State
Wyoming was the first state in the US to grant women the right to vote. On September 6, 1870, a Wyoming woman became the first woman in the world to cast a ballot and vote. A mere 30 years before the rest of the US.
I think that is pretty cool, but to add to the coolness factor, the right to vote was granted while Wyoming was still a territory.
Big Wyoming
This one is my favorite. The nickname Big Wyoming is given to honor the rugged beauty of Wyoming. Here, the plains meet mountains. Rivers surge to meet tranquil lakes. And have you seen the sky?
Where else in the world can you get this variety of scenery in less than 100,000 square miles?
Of course, being the 10th largest state in the US may have something to do with the Big Wyoming nickname, but I prefer to say it’s because of the state’s beauty.
Here is more evidence of that incredible beauty.
Not only are the state nicknames great, but there are also several cities with iconic nicknames too.
Rock Springs’ nickname is Home of 56 nationalities. If you want a taste of culture, Rock Springs sounds like the place to go.
Cody’s nickname is the Rodeo Capital of the World. They are proud of it too, and rightly so.
Laramie’s nickname is the Gem City of the Plains. I will have to take their word on it.
Last but not least, Douglas’ nickname is Jackalope Capital of the World. I’m not convinced the jackalope is real, but it sure is a catchy nickname!
Things to do in Wyoming.
What do you like to do when you are on vacation? Hang out on the boat and fish? Watch wildlife? Enjoy unbelievable scenery? Get lost in a park or national forest? Go hiking over the plains or through heavily forested mountains? Go horseback riding through nature. Enjoy scenic drives. Maybe you want to hang out for a week at a dude ranch or spend a few days learning about Buffalo Bill Cody. Maybe you want to excavate dinosaur fossils.
In under 100,000 square miles, you can do all that, and so much more. Wyoming has almost everything to offer that a visitor could ever want.
Out of all the great activities Wyoming offers, we have thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and wildlife, camping in the national forest, scenic drives, and learning about Buffalo Bill Cody. As great of all those activities are, nothing beats Wyoming’s parks.
Wyoming’s scenery is breathtaking.
Seriously. The scenery is amazing. If mountains and forests feel claustrophobic, head to the plains. If you prefer fewer crowds, take a scenic drive. The geologic activity that formed this tiny speck of land on this earth was nothing short of miraculous.
Enjoy Wyoming’s incredible scenery by exploring the parks and forests, and indulging in scenic drives. Snowy Pass is an incredible way to enjoy forests, mountains, and wildlife.
How many Wyoming parks have you visited?
Of the 21 scenic byways listed by TravelWyoming, we have explored 8. Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and Beartooth Scenic Highway were our first. Those were quickly followed by Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway, Flaming Gorge-Green River Basin Scenic Byway, and Bighorn Scenic Byway.
Whew.
Cloud Peak Skyway Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway, and Snowy Pass round out the list.
We need to go back and finish the other 13 scenic byways.
Looking at a few of these photos, don’t you agree?
You wouldn’t believe our wildlife adventures in Wyoming.
On our first Wyoming experience, we saw pronghorn everywhere. I thought we had an overpopulation of deer in the Midwest, but that was nothing compared to Wyoming’s pronghorn population. As we traveled through Wyoming’s parks and forests though, I realized there is a reason buffalo is the state mammal.
Here are a few of our favorite wildlife photos, including herds of buffalo in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley.
There is a reason I included wildlife viewing as an activity in the Equality State. You can see how close we were able to approach several wild critters, generally from the relative safety of our car as you can see in the buffalo photo below.
I have never seen a beaver before. This guy was hanging out watching tourists check out Yellowstone’s falls. Big Wyoming certainly provides a lot of opportunities for wildlife viewing.
Seriously. I could have provided hundreds of wildlife photos from our 4 visits to Big Wyoming. From the elusive great gray owl and swans in Yellowstone, to sandhill crane and elk in Grand Tetons, and moose in Medicine Bow National Forest, wildlife opportunities are seemingly endless in Wyoming.
Maybe that’s another reason for the Equality State nickname.
Camping in National Forests has been the Highlights.
All I can say, is wow.
We have had the pleasure to camp in several areas around Wyoming, including Devils Tower, Cody, Shoshone National Forest, Medicine Bow National Forest, and Rock Springs. In selecting our campsites, we explored a lot of the state. We often select a campground because of its beauty and proximetry to nature.
Camping at Eagle Creek Campground in the Shoshone National Forest was not only our favorite, but both Papa Joe and my hearts also yearn to return. It was that amazing of an experience.
Now, I usually don’t provide 2 photos that are so similar, but there is a reason for both. First, in the smaller photo, you can see this is a large level campsite with a fire pit and picnic table provided. In the panoramic photo, you can see the North Fork Shoshone River at the back edge of our campsite, how close it is to the campsite while allowing plenty of room for camping activities.
You can read the full review of Eagle Creek Campground here.
While searching for Eagle Creek Campground, we drove the Chief Joseph Scenic Route, as well as the route to Bobcat-Houlihan Campground. I think Chief Joseph Scenic Route has become one of my favorite scenic byways. It could be yours too.
The scenery on each of these byways was vastly different.
Chief Joseph is mountainous and heavily forested. The route to Bobcat-Houlihan was flat and largely covered by sagebrush. Each offers an incredibly beautiful experience, depending on your preference.
As much as I enjoyed camping in the forest, Wyoming’s sights lent themselves to several other enjoyable camping spots in the state too. I think you will agree.
Devils Tower is a unique destination and location. The KOA in Cody was a convenient location to explore Cody and Yellowstone. Headwaters Campground at Flagg Ranch is located between Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks was the most magical experience I have had outside of Disney World.
Reviews of each of these campgrounds can be found here.
As you can see, there is a different type of grace and beauty to each area of the Cowboy State.
Exploring Cody and learning about Buffalo Bill.
I’m a geek. Or a nerd. Guess that depends on whose definition you go by. But as a young girl, I read several biographies that just fascinated me. One of those featured Buffalo Bill Cody.
Fast forward… a lot of years. Book an overnight stay at Pahaska Teepee Resort, just outside Yellowstone’s East entrance near Cody Wyoming. And my fascination with Buffalo Bill Cody was tweaked. To read more about Denise’s Pahaska experience, click here.
On our most recent excursion to the Cowboy State, we had the opportunity to camp in Cody for almost a week. We rode horseback through the Shoshone Forest, again visiting the Pahaska Lodge we stayed at years before, as well as stopping at the site where Buffalo Bill entertained the Prince of Monaco.
Not bad for the Cowboy State.
We also had the opportunity to dine at the Irma Hotel, where Buffalo Bill Cody held tryouts for his famous Wild West Show. Due to COVID closures, we were unable to visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, but this landmark destination is highly recommended as a must-see if you are in the area.
On the edge of Cody lies Old Trail Town. The sign says it all. Add the amazing scenery just miles away, scenic drives, and proximity to Yellowstone. Seriously – Cody is a destination on its own
What else is interesting about Wyoming – The Equality State?
You may not believe it but stick with me here. Wyoming actually has a state dinosaur, the triceratops. Dinosaurs are a big deal here.
Our Wyoming parks of today were their home eons ago. Not only can you find remains of the triceratops, but you can also find stegosaurus and ankylosaurs remains here, plus lots of other types of dinosaurs I haven’t even heard of, much less be able to pronounce.
Dinosaurs are big tourism in the Equality State. At the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis, visitors can actually help dig up dinosaur bones. Or view over 30 dino skeletons. Pretty cool, huh.
At the Wyoming Geological Museum in Laramie, you can see the Apatosaurus found near Sheep Creek, Wyoming in 1901. Other “must-do” activities for budding paleontologists are visits to the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne to see one of the first dinosaurs found in Wyoming and visit Lee Rex at Tate Geological Museum at Casper College in Casper.
Last but not least, a visit to Glenrock Paleontological Museum should be on the list if you want to participate in a day or week-long dino-dig.
Honestly, Wyoming is considered to be one of the most important sources of dinosaur fossils in the world. How often can you return home from a vacation and include that detail?
There are lots of other Wyoming fun facts.
Here are just a few.
- State population density is 6 people per square mile, making it the second least populated state [statistics courtesy of statista.com]
- Who has a state reptile? Wyoming does. The state reptile is the horned toad.
- The state coin is the Sacagawea Golden Dollar Coin
- State fossil – yep, there is one of those too. The Knightia.
- The Shoshone National Forest was established in Wyoming in 1891 and was the first national forest
- Yellowstone, largely located in Wyoming, was the first national park in the US
- Following that theme, Devils Tower was the first national monument in the US and was established in 1906
- Have you heard of the retail chain JC Penney? The birth of this chain was in Kemmerer, Wyoming
- Last but absolutely not least, Wyoming is 1 of only 2 states with an official shrub, the Wyoming big sagebrush
Now you know. Wyoming’s forests and parks are just part of this amazing state’s charm.
Have I changed your mind about Wyoming?
I know mine has forever been changed. I don’t think of Wyoming as barren anymore. Now, I think of the Equality State as home to national forests and amazing scenery. Wyoming parks are difficult to beat. How many states are home to 2 national parks, national forests, and a widely recognized national monument? I think you know the answer.
There is a reason Wyoming tourism is a big deal. The list of things to do in the Cowboy State seems endless. There are few other destinations in the world where visitors flock to behold natural wonders. Yellowstone itself receives over 4 million visitors a year… And that’s just one of Wyoming’s parks.
Whatever your reason to travel. Wherever in the US, you want to visit. Wyoming – whether you call it the Equality State, Cowboy State, or Big Wyoming, has something for you!
Resources used in writing this post include the following:
About Denise: This post and the adventure was done by a woman named Denise. Denise owned a travel blog I purchased and merged some of the content here to help my readers learn about places I haven’t yet explored. Denise had a love of travel and with her husband they did many amazing adventures. Adventures which I am now proud to be able to share with you here, on She’s Trippy.
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