Discover Wyoming’s Lesser-Known State Parks and Historic Sites This Summer

While many Wyomingites are familiar with favorites like Glendo State Park and Thermopolis hot springs, the state is home to a wide array of lesser-known destinations that offer solitude, natural beauty, and rich history, WyoFile reports.

With 12 state parks and over 20 historic sites, Wyoming provides ample opportunity to explore places off the beaten path—especially as national parks face reduced capacity due to federal staffing constraints.

To help highlight some of these overlooked treasures, Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites Director Dave Glenn shared five of his top recommendations for summer travelers looking to experience something new within the state.

Located about 35 miles north of Sinclair and nestled near the Seminoe Mountains, this park offers solitude, wildlife viewing, and recreational fishing. With a reservoir stocked with trout and walleye and access to the Miracle Mile section of the North Platte River, it’s ideal for anglers.

“There just aren’t a lot of people there,” Glenn says.

Visitors can explore sand dunes, spot bighorn sheep, or simply enjoy the quiet beauty of the surrounding wilderness—no reservation typically required.

Set against the Bighorn Mountains, this site offers a unique blend of human history and natural landscape. It features a 750-foot sandstone cliff adorned with thousands of years’ worth of petroglyphs and pictographs.

A new interpretive center enhances the experience with interactive exhibits and interviews with tribal members. Campers can fish along the creek or explore the red rock surroundings on horseback.

Just off Interstate 80 in southwestern Wyoming lie the Piedmont Charcoal Kilns, towering 30-foot limestone structures built in 1869. Once used to convert timber into charcoal for Utah’s mining industry, these well-preserved beehive-shaped kilns offer a rare glimpse into Wyoming’s industrial past.

“For years, I’d driven by and never stopped to see them,” Glenn admits.

Now, he considers them a worthwhile and educational detour—open to the public at no cost.

Situated on the western edge of Laramie, the Wyoming Territorial Prison dates back to 1872 and once housed the infamous outlaw Butch Cassidy. The facility now serves as a museum featuring authentic cells, inmate stories, and exhibits on the region’s frontier justice system.

Visitors can explore surrounding historic structures and a small Butch Cassidy museum, all adding depth to the state’s Wild West narrative.

Located near Guernsey State Park, the Oregon Trail Ruts are deep wagon tracks carved into soft sandstone—some as deep as five feet—by pioneers heading west in the 1800s.

“You look at that sandstone, and go ‘holy cow, how many horses and wagons had to go over this to create grooves that deep?'” Glenn says.

The site includes picnic areas and facilities, making it an accessible historical stop, with camping available nearby.