Explore Wyoming State Parks

Passes & Fees

Daily vehicle entry is $7 for residents and $12 for non-residents. An Annual Pass costs $48 resident / $96 non-resident, with Early Bird discounts ($42/$89) available December–February. Historic site admission is $4–$8/adult. Camping ranges from $17–$30/night.

Parks by Region

Wind River & Central

Sinks Canyon State Park offers one of Wyoming’s most fascinating geological features — the Popo Agie River disappears into a limestone cavern (“The Sinks”) and resurges in a calm pool (“The Rise”) a quarter mile away, with more water — and larger trout — than entered. Boysen State Park spreads across 19,000+ acres on a Wind River canyon reservoir.

Bighorn Mountains

Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site preserves 10,000 years of human history in a sandstone canyon — including some of the finest petroglyphs and pictographs in the Northern Plains. Rock art panels stretch 750 feet along the canyon walls.

Black Hills & Northeast

Keyhole State Park wraps around a 14,700-acre reservoir with excellent walleye fishing at the base of the Black Hills. Connor Battlefield State Historic Site marks the controversial 1865 military engagement along the Tongue River.

South-Central & Platte River

Glendo State Park is Wyoming’s premier water recreation destination — a 12,500-acre reservoir with sandy beaches, wakeboarding, and 23,000 acres of surrounding ranchland. Guernsey State Park features stunning CCC-built stone structures from the 1930s and the famous Oregon Trail ruts — wagon wheel grooves carved inches deep into solid sandstone.

Southwest

Bear River State Park near Evanston offers a captive bison and elk herd viewing trail, plus a paved path along the Bear River.

Best Parks by Activity

Best for Hiking

• Sinks Canyon State Park — Canyon trails above the disappearing river
• Curt Gowdy State Park — 35 miles of trails near Cheyenne/Laramie
• Glendo State Park — Lakeshore and prairie trails
• Medicine Lodge — Canyon walks past ancient rock art

Best for Fishing

• Keyhole State Park — Walleye capital of Wyoming
• Boysen State Park — Wind River reservoir trout and walleye
• Glendo State Park — Bass, walleye, catfish on the Platte
• Seminoe State Park — Remote high-desert reservoir fishing

Best for History

• Guernsey State Park — Oregon Trail ruts in solid rock
• Medicine Lodge — 10,000 years of petroglyphs and pictographs
• Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site — Red Cloud’s War battles
• Independence Rock — Pioneer “register of the desert”

Best for Families

• Bear River State Park — Bison and elk viewing from paved trails
• Curt Gowdy State Park — Mountain biking and reservoirs near town
• Glendo State Park — Sandy beach swimming and camping
• Guernsey State Park — CCC museum and Oregon Trail history

Best Time to Visit

FAQs

What is the most scenic Wyoming state park?

Sinks Canyon State Park, where a river disappears underground and resurfaces with mystery trout, is the most unique. Guernsey State Park’s CCC architecture is the most photogenic.

Can I see the Oregon Trail in a Wyoming state park?

Yes! Guernsey State Park has perfectly preserved wagon ruts carved inches deep into sandstone — one of the most tangible remnants of the pioneer era.

Is there bison viewing at Wyoming state parks?

Bear River State Park near Evanston has a captive bison and elk herd visible from an easy paved trail.

How does the annual pass early bird discount work?

Purchase between December 1 and February 15 for $42 (resident) or $89 (non-resident) — saving $6–$7 off regular prices.

Start Your Wyoming Adventure

Wyoming’s 12 state parks may be overshadowed by famous national parks, but they deliver the same spectacular Big Sky experience — disappearing rivers, ancient rock art, Oregon Trail ruts, and reservoir beaches — with far fewer crowds and friendlier prices.