Frannie WyomingATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Frannie, Wyoming.
1. Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark
ANCIENT SACRED SITE
Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark is a sacred Native American site located in the Bighorn National Forest near Lovell. The stone structure consists of a central cairn connected to an outer circle by 28 spokes, creating a wheel-like pattern approximately 80 feet in diameter. This ancient astronomical calendar and spiritual site holds significant cultural importance for many Native American tribes and offers visitors breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
2. Devils Tower National Monument
SACRED ROCK FORMATION
Devils Tower National Monument is a massive monolith that towers 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River near Sundance. Also known as Bear Lodge, the tower is a sacred place for many Native American tribes including the Arapaho, Crow, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Lakota and Shoshone. The surrounding park features pine forests, woodlands and grasslands that are home to deer, prairie dogs and diverse wildlife.
3. Heart Mountain
HISTORIC MOUNTAIN LANDMARK
Heart Mountain is a distinctive geological formation and historical site located near Powell, Wyoming. The mountain's unique heart-like shape makes it a recognizable landmark in the Bighorn Basin area. During World War II, this site was home to the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, one of ten Japanese American internment camps, now preserved as an interpretive center documenting this important period in American history.
4. Killpecker Sand Dunes
MASSIVE MOVING DUNES
Killpecker Sand Dunes is one of the largest active sand dune fields in North America, located north of Rock Springs. The dunes stretch for over 100 miles and offer opportunities for hiking, photography, and designated areas for off-road vehicle recreation. These constantly shifting sands create a unique desert landscape in the midst of Wyoming's high plains.
5. Sinks Canyon State Park
DISAPPEARING RIVER WONDER
Sinks Canyon State Park features the mysterious disappearing Popo Agie River that vanishes into an underground cavern known as 'the Sinks' before reappearing a quarter mile away at 'the Rise.' Scientific tests using colored dye have confirmed the connection between the two points, though mysteriously more water emerges at the Rise than goes into the Sinks. The canyon offers excellent hiking, rock climbing, fishing, and wildlife viewing opportunities in a dramatic landscape.
6. Mustang Mountain Vineyard
LOCAL WINE TASTING
Mustang Mountain Vineyard offers visitors a unique wine tasting experience in the northern Wyoming landscape. The vineyard produces distinctive wines adapted to Wyoming's challenging growing conditions and altitude. Visitors can enjoy tastings while taking in the picturesque views of the surrounding mountain scenery.
7. Boar's Tusk
ANCIENT VOLCANIC REMNANT
Boar's Tusk is a dramatic volcanic plug rising approximately 400 feet from the surrounding desert floor near Rock Springs. This remnant of an ancient volcano stands as a solitary landmark visible for miles across the Red Desert landscape. The distinctive formation is culturally significant to Native American tribes and serves as a popular destination for photographers and geology enthusiasts.
8. Connor Battlefield State Historic Site
HISTORIC MILITARY SITE
Connor Battlefield State Historic Site preserves the location where General Patrick Connor's troops engaged in battle with Arapaho warriors in 1865. The peaceful riverside park now offers camping, picnicking, and fishing opportunities along the Tongue River. Interpretive displays tell the story of this significant conflict during the Indian Wars period of American history.
9. Fort Bridger State Historic Site
PIONEER TRADING POST
Fort Bridger State Historic Site preserves a 19th-century trading post established by mountain man Jim Bridger in 1843. The fort later served as a vital supply stop along the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails, and eventually became a military outpost. Today, visitors can explore reconstructed historic buildings, a museum, and archaeological remains that tell the story of westward expansion.
10. Ames Monument State Historic Site
TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD MEMORIAL
Ames Monument State Historic Site features a 60-foot tall granite pyramid designed by renowned architect Henry Hobson Richardson to honor the Ames brothers who were instrumental in financing the transcontinental railroad. The monument once marked the highest point on the Union Pacific Railroad and now stands as a solitary sentinel on the Wyoming high plains. Visitors can walk around this impressive structure and learn about its significance to American transportation history.
11. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
DRAMATIC CANYON VISTAS
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers spectacular canyon views with walls rising over 1,000 feet above the Bighorn Lake. The 71-mile long lake created by Yellowtail Dam provides opportunities for boating, fishing, and water recreation in a dramatic setting. The surrounding area features diverse wildlife, hiking trails, and historical ranch sites that tell the story of early settlement in the region.
12. Wyoming Dinosaur Center
INTERACTIVE FOSSIL MUSEUM
The Wyoming Dinosaur Center houses one of the largest and most unique fossil collections in the world with over 30 mounted dinosaur skeletons. Visitors can tour active dig sites during summer months and even participate in excavations through the Dig for a Day program. The museum's exhibits showcase Wyoming's rich paleontological history and the incredible diversity of prehistoric life that once roamed the region.
13. Hot Springs State Park
THERAPEUTIC MINERAL WATERS
Hot Springs State Park features the world's largest mineral hot spring, with waters maintaining a constant temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Visitors can enjoy free soaking in the State Bath House where the water is cooled to a comfortable 104 degrees for therapeutic relaxation. The park also includes hiking trails, a suspension footbridge over the Bighorn River, and a herd of bison that roams the scenic landscape.
14. Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite
ANCIENT DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS
Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite preserves hundreds of 167-million-year-old dinosaur footprints imprinted in what was once an ancient shoreline. The tracksite is one of the few Middle Jurassic dinosaur tracksites in North America and provides important insight into dinosaur behavior. Visitors can walk alongside these prehistoric impressions on a boardwalk that protects the fragile evidence while providing interpretive information about the ancient environment.
15. Lisa's Western Cuisine
AUTHENTIC REGIONAL DINING
Lisa's Western Cuisine offers hearty Wyoming-inspired dishes featuring locally-sourced ingredients in a welcoming, rustic atmosphere. The restaurant specializes in prime cuts of beef, wild game specialties, and homestyle comfort foods that reflect the culinary traditions of the region. Visitors and locals alike appreciate the generous portions, friendly service, and authentic taste of the American West.