Lingle WyomingATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Lingle, Wyoming.
1. Oregon Trail Historic Route
HISTORIC PIONEER PATH
The Oregon Trail Historic Route passes through Lingle, offering visitors a glimpse into America's westward expansion history. Travelers can follow the same path used by pioneers in the 1800s and experience the landscape much as it appeared to early settlers. Interpretive markers along the route provide educational information about the hardships and triumphs of those who made the journey west.
2. Fort Laramie National Historic Site
FRONTIER MILITARY OUTPOST
Fort Laramie National Historic Site preserves a significant 19th-century trading post and military fort along the Oregon Trail. The restored buildings and exhibits tell the story of the Plains Indian tribes, fur trappers, and the U.S. military who interacted at this crossroads of the American West. Visitors can explore numerous historic structures and learn about this important chapter in American frontier history.
3. Devils Tower National Monument
SACRED STONE FORMATION
Devils Tower National Monument features a massive monolith that towers 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. This sacred site for many Native American tribes, including the Arapaho, Crow, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Lakota, and Shoshone, was designated as the nation's first national monument in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. The surrounding park is home to diverse wildlife and offers hiking trails through pine forests, woodlands, and grasslands.
4. Sinks Canyon State Park
VANISHING RIVER WONDER
Sinks Canyon State Park showcases the fascinating phenomenon of a disappearing river that suddenly curves into a large cave and descends underground. The middle fork of the Popo Agie River dramatically vanishes at 'the Sinks' and then mysteriously reappears a quarter-mile away at 'the Rise,' with scientific tests revealing that more water emerges than initially disappears. This natural wonder offers hiking opportunities and the chance to witness one of Wyoming's most unusual geological features.
5. Heart Mountain
DISTINCTIVE NATURAL LANDMARK
Heart Mountain stands as one of Wyoming's strange and wild natural landmarks with its distinctive profile. The mountain's unique shape and geological significance make it a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts. Its historical importance is also tied to the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, a Japanese American internment camp that operated nearby during World War II.
6. Killpecker Sand Dunes
MASSIVE SHIFTING SANDS
Killpecker Sand Dunes form one of the largest active sand dune fields in the United States, stretching across 109,000 acres. These living dunes shift and move with the wind, creating an ever-changing landscape that provides unique recreational opportunities including sandboarding and ATV riding. The northern section of the dunes is protected as a wilderness study area where visitors can observe wildlife and pristine dune ecosystems.
7. Boar's Tusk
ANCIENT VOLCANIC REMNANT
Boar's Tusk rises dramatically from the surrounding plains as the eroded remnant of an ancient volcano. Standing about 400 feet tall, this distinctive landmark was created when surrounding softer materials eroded away, leaving the hardened volcanic plug exposed. The formation holds cultural significance to Native American tribes and offers photographers a striking subject against Wyoming's vast landscape.
8. Historic Governors' Mansion
PRESERVED EXECUTIVE RESIDENCE
The Historic Governors' Mansion served as the official residence for Wyoming governors and their families from 1905 to 1976. This Colonial Revival house has been carefully preserved and restored to reflect different time periods of its occupation. Visitors can tour the mansion to learn about Wyoming's political history and see how the state's first families lived throughout the 20th century.
9. Fort Fred Steele State Historic Site
FRONTIER MILITARY HISTORY
Fort Fred Steele State Historic Site preserves the remains of a military post established in 1868 to protect the Union Pacific Railroad. The site features restored and stabilized buildings that offer a glimpse into frontier military life during the late 19th century. Visitors can explore the grounds and learn about the fort's role in western expansion and conflicts with Native American tribes.
10. Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site
BOZEMAN TRAIL OUTPOST
Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site preserves the remains of a key military outpost established in 1866 along the Bozeman Trail. The fort played a central role in Red Cloud's War and was the site of the Fetterman Fight, one of the U.S. Army's worst defeats during the Indian Wars. Today, the visitor center features exhibits, artifacts, and a self-guided tour of the fort grounds that helps tell the complex story of conflict between Native Americans and westward expansion.
11. Granger Stage Station State Historic Site
PONY EXPRESS LANDMARK
Granger Stage Station State Historic Site preserves a crucial stop along the historic Overland Trail and Pony Express routes. The stone building, constructed in 1856, served as a way station for stagecoaches, freight wagons, and mail carriers crossing the American frontier. Visitors can explore this well-preserved structure that represents an important chapter in the development of communication and transportation networks in the American West.
12. Register Cliff State Historic Site
PIONEER INSCRIPTION POINT
Register Cliff State Historic Site features a soft sandstone cliff where pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail carved their names, creating a historical registry of westward migration. These inscriptions, dating back to the mid-1800s, provide a tangible connection to the individuals who undertook the arduous journey west. The site stands as one of three significant Oregon Trail landmarks in the area, along with nearby wagon ruts and Fort Laramie.
13. Guernsey State Park
RESERVOIR RECREATION AREA
Guernsey State Park encompasses a reservoir created by the damming of the North Platte River, offering boating, fishing, and camping opportunities. The park features distinctive structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, including stone shelters, bridges, and hiking trails. Visitors can enjoy water recreation while also exploring the park's historical features and scenic overlooks with views of the surrounding landscape.
14. Wyoming Pioneer Museum
FRONTIER LIFE EXHIBITS
The Wyoming Pioneer Museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts documenting the state's pioneer and ranching history. Exhibits showcase everything from Native American artifacts to homesteading tools, vintage clothing, and historic photographs that tell the story of Wyoming's settlement. The museum, located at the Wyoming State Fairgrounds, provides visitors with an immersive look at everyday life during the territorial and early statehood periods.
15. Ayres Natural Bridge Park
GEOLOGICAL WATER FORMATION
Ayres Natural Bridge Park features one of only a few natural bridges in the United States that spans water, created as LaPrele Creek eroded through solid rock. This rare geological formation stands 50 feet above the creek and stretches 100 feet across, forming a perfect arch that pioneers on the Oregon Trail considered one of the natural wonders of the region. The surrounding park offers picnic areas, fishing spots, and short hiking trails in a picturesque canyon setting.