Ranked as one of the best outdoor towns in America, Lander will wow you like few other places. Two hours from Grand Teton National Park and less than 3 hours from Cody, Lander is an easy add-on when visiting Yellowstone or the other stellar Wyoming sites. Surrounded by the rugged Wind River Range and next door to one of the best state parks in the country, Lander gives you scads of opportunities to find the perfect outdoor adventure.
Below are 18 of the best things to do in and around Lander.
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Get Your Adventure on in the Wind River Range
- Go climb a rock! Climbers from around the globe flock to Lander for some of the world’s best bouldering, and sport, trad, and ice climbing. You can climb limestone, sandstone and granite here, and climbing is possible year round. In fact, the south-facing side of Sinks Canyon is one of the best winter climbing locations in the country.
- Shred a trail. Lander, on the mostly off-road Trans America Trail, is a mecca for lovers of mixed slickrock, single track and old two track mountain biking. Miles of exquisite trails wind their way from valley floors to alpine heights. There are plenty of steep up-hills and hold-on-to-your-hat downhills with few crowds. Everyone can ride here, from newbies to experts. There are even local shuttles to take you to the trailheads. Guides can also help you find that perfect trail.
- Lace up your boots and hit the trail. There are trails galore throughout Sinks Canyon State Park and the neighboring Shoshone National Forest, everything from family-friendly interpretive trails to strenuous trails that wind their way up the magnificent sandstone canyon walls.
- Run The Bus. Named after an abandoned school bus rusting in a dry drainage ditch, The Bus is a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. Trail runners, hikers and equestrians love its looping trails, slick rock and high desert feel. If you’re looking for relatively moderate terrain, smooth trails, easy accessibility and amazing views of the Wind River Basin, The Bus is for you.
Soak in the Natural Beauty while Driving or Camping
- Test your nerves on The Loop Road. A 70 mile scenic drive, the Loop takes you through Sinks Canyon and up steep switchbacks into the mountains. You’ll pass high mountain lakes, the South Pass, and Red Canyon along the way. Hairpin turns, steep drop-offs and awe-inspiring views make this drive an adventure.
- Sleep under the Stars. There’s nothing better than bedding down in your own bed after a long day exploring the mountains. Close to the inlets of five other lakes, Upper Silas Lake is an ideal base for exploring the area. If breakfast at a local bakery is more your camping style, camp in the Lander City Park. Camping is free (donations to the city are encouraged), and there is space for RVs, vans and tents. The park is a walkable few blocks from the town center. There’s even a playground for the kiddos.
Celebrate Summer at a Local Festival
- Eastern Shoshone Indian Days Powow (late June). Wyoming’s largest powwow and Indian rodeo, held for the past 60 years.
- International Climbers Festival (mid July). If you love climbing, the ICF is where you want to be. There are climbing clinics, a dyno-climbing competition, Limestone rodeo events, live music, and, of course, world-class rock climbing.
- Lander Riverfest (late July).Riverfest is an arts and music festival held in the Lander City Park. It includes artists’ exhibits, live music, food, locally-brewed beer, and even a children’s activity tent.
- Ethete’s Annual Powwow. Also in late July is the Ethete Powwow, a 54 year tradition.
- Jimmy Bales Bluegrass Festival (early August). Enjoy a weekend of good ol’ American music.
- Lander Brewfest (mid-August). Featuring 28+ craft breweries serving up 80+ beers from around the Rocky Mountain West. There’s great live music, excellent food and fun for the whole family.
- Jurassic Classic Mountain Bike Festival (late August). Featuring group rides, demos, clinics, live music, drinks, yoga and shuttles the trailheads.
Explore with the Whole Family
- Slide down the creek. Popo Aggie Falls Trail takes you to a beautiful waterfall and natural water slide you can slide down. It’s good clean fun for the whole family.
- Explore a National Register of Historic Places ghost town. Founded in 1868 when gold was discovered, South Pass City quickly became the largest town in Wyoming Territory with over 2,000 people and 300 buildings. When the boom went bust the town was nearly abandoned. Fortunately 29 buildings, most fully restored inside and out, still remain and are open to the public, making South Pass City one of the most authentic and complete historic sites in the country.
- Watch the river disappear, then feed the fish where it reappears. The “Sinks” of Sinks Canyon State Park is a large cavern where the rushing river flows into cracks and crevices in the cavern floor, causing the river to disappear before your very eyes. About a ¼ mile away the water bubbles up again through the limestone into a pool filled with 8 – 12 lb. rainbow trout. You can even feed the fish if you want.
- Visit the Wind River Wild Horse Sanctuary, a must visit for horse lovers. You’ll see wild mustangs up-close, learn about Native American culture, and experience life on a working ranch.
- Test your skills in an escape room. If the weather’s bad, which it rarely is, try your hand at an escape room. Do you have what it takes to walk free?
If you love outdoor adventures, you don’t want to miss going to Lander. It’s surrounded by rugged mountains and amazing scenery, and has summer festivals and wild west history galore. Add a few extra days to your next Wyoming adventure, and you’ll agree, life doesn’t get much better than this!
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