Deaver WyomingATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Deaver, Wyoming.
1. Mustang Mountain Vineyard
LOCAL WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE
Mustang Mountain Vineyard offers visitors a unique wine tasting experience in the Big Horn Basin region. Guests can sample locally produced wines while enjoying scenic views of the surrounding landscape. The vineyard provides educational tours about winemaking in Wyoming's challenging climate.
2. Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark
ANCIENT SACRED SITE
Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark is an ancient Native American sacred site located atop the Bighorn Mountains near Lovell. The stone structure consists of a central cairn connected to an outer circle by 28 stone spokes, creating a wheel-like pattern approximately 80 feet in diameter. Visitors must hike a 1.5-mile trail to reach this spiritual place that has been used by Indigenous peoples for centuries.
3. My Studio
CREATIVE ARTS CLASSES
My Studio provides art lessons and creative workshops for residents and visitors in Deaver. The studio offers a variety of classes suitable for different skill levels and age groups. Participants can explore various artistic techniques while learning from experienced local instructors.
4. Connor Battlefield State Historic Site
HISTORIC MILITARY GROUNDS
Connor Battlefield State Historic Site preserves the location of an 1865 battle between U.S. Army forces led by General Patrick Connor and Arapaho warriors. The peaceful riverside site now serves as a day-use area with picnic facilities, fishing access, and interpretive displays about the historic conflict. Visitors can explore the grounds while learning about this significant chapter in Wyoming's frontier history.
5. Devils Tower National Monument
ICONIC ROCK FORMATION
Devils Tower National Monument features a massive 1,267-foot monolith that rises dramatically above the surrounding landscape. The site holds deep spiritual significance for many Native American tribes, including the Arapaho, Crow, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Lakota, and Shoshone. Designated as America's first national monument in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt, the area offers hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and rock climbing opportunities.
6. Sinks Canyon State Park
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARING RIVER
Sinks Canyon State Park features the remarkable phenomenon of the Popo Agie River disappearing underground at 'the Sinks' before reemerging a quarter mile away at 'the Rise.' Scientific tests have confirmed the connection between these points while also revealing the unexplained mystery that more water emerges at the Rise than enters at the Sinks. The park offers hiking trails, rock climbing, wildlife viewing, and interpretive displays explaining this natural wonder.
7. Heart Mountain
DISTINCTIVE NATURAL LANDMARK
Heart Mountain is a distinctive natural landmark that rises prominently from the otherwise flat Bighorn Basin near Powell. The mountain's unique shape and geological formation make it a recognizable symbol in northwestern Wyoming. During World War II, the area at its base was the location of an internment camp where thousands of Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated.
8. Killpecker Sand Dunes
VAST DESERT PLAYGROUND
Killpecker Sand Dunes encompass one of the largest active sand dune fields in North America, stretching across 109,000 acres. Visitors can enjoy recreational activities including sandboarding, dune buggy riding, and photography in designated areas. The unique ecosystem supports diverse wildlife and features sand dunes that can reach heights of 100 feet.
9. Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site
FRONTIER MILITARY HISTORY
Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site preserves the remains of a frontier military outpost established in 1866 during Red Cloud's War. The interpretive center features exhibits on military life, Native American perspectives, and the conflicts that occurred along the Bozeman Trail. Visitors can explore reconstructed portions of the fort and nearby battle sites that played crucial roles in Western expansion history.
10. Independence Rock State Historic Site
OREGON TRAIL LANDMARK
Independence Rock State Historic Site features a massive granite dome that served as an important landmark for pioneers traveling the Oregon, Mormon, and California trails. Thousands of emigrants carved their names into the rock, creating what became known as the 'Great Register of the Desert.' Travelers aimed to reach this landmark by July 4th (Independence Day), knowing they needed to cross the mountains before winter snows.
11. Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site
ANCIENT ROCK ART
Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site contains one of the most impressive collections of Native American rock art in Wyoming, with over 300 petroglyphs spanning thousands of years. The sacred site features images carved and pecked into the cliff face by various indigenous peoples throughout history. Visitors can view these ancient artistic expressions depicting human, animal, and spiritual figures that provide insight into early cultures of the region.
12. Hot Springs State Park
THERAPEUTIC THERMAL WATERS
Hot Springs State Park features the world's largest mineral hot spring, with waters maintaining a constant temperature of 128 degrees Fahrenheit. Visitors can enjoy free access to the State Bath House where the water is cooled to a comfortable 104 degrees for therapeutic soaking. The park also offers hiking paths, a suspension footbridge over the Bighorn River, and a herd of bison that roam the grounds.
13. Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site
OLD WEST PRISON
Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site preserves a frontier-era correctional facility that operated from 1872 to 1903 and once held infamous outlaw Butch Cassidy. The restored prison buildings house exhibits detailing the harsh realities of territorial justice and daily life for inmates and staff. Visitors can tour the cell blocks, grounds, and learn about Wyoming's transition from territory to statehood through interactive displays.
14. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
DRAMATIC CANYON LANDSCAPES
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area encompasses a stunning 71-mile long reservoir surrounded by dramatic canyon walls rising over 1,000 feet. Visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing in this vast outdoor playground straddling the Wyoming-Montana border. The recreation area offers opportunities to explore both developed facilities and remote wilderness areas within its 120,000 acres.
15. Historic Governors' Mansion State Historic Site
EXECUTIVE RESIDENCE TOUR
Historic Governors' Mansion State Historic Site preserves the elegant 1904 Colonial Revival home that served as the residence for Wyoming governors from 1905 to 1976. The mansion has been restored to reflect different time periods, showcasing the changing lifestyles of the families who lived there throughout its 71 years of service. Visitors can tour the home's ornate rooms, view historical artifacts, and learn about Wyoming's political history.