Your jaw will literally drop when you first see the Teton Range with its majestic, angular peaks. One of the most spectacular views on earth, Grand Teton National Park is named for the roughly 14,000-foot-tall Grand Teton. With more than 240 miles of winding paths, it's one of Wyoming's best parks and a hiker and mountain biker's dream.

With the potential to see elk, moose, wolves, black and grizzly bears, as well as spectacular birds like bald eagles and even pelicans, wildlife enthusiasts will be in their own personal heaven. While taking beautiful drives is nice, you need actually get outside and go exploring for a more in-depth view. You may always enjoy a leisurely float on the Snake River or paddle a canoe on tranquil Jenny Lake if trekking or biking aren't your thing.

For any hike in the park, be well-prepared and equipped. Check the weather and current conditions, keeping in mind that mountain conditions can change fast. Be ready for animal interactions and take proper bear safety precautions.

• Location: Wyoming

One of the world's most active hydrothermal zones, Yellowstone is known for its wildlife, which includes bison, which are present in large numbers throughout the park, elk, wolves, bears, moose, and more. The park is home to numerous geysers, including the most well-known on Earth, Old Faithful, as well as boiling hot springs in a variety of vivid colors, mudpots, and travertine terraces.

Additionally, it's a fantastic location for fly-fishing on world-class trout rivers that meander through verdant open spaces backed by majestic mountains, as well as for viewing magnificent waterfalls like the thundering Yellowstone Falls, which is located in the vivid "Grand Canyon of Yellowstone," taking picnics by glistening lakes, and even going to interesting museums. Just be patient because there are often backups due to the park's animals, who frequently approach or are directly on the roads.

Spend some time in wildlife hotspots like Lamar and Hayden valleys. Though you can frequently see some animals in Yellowstone throughout the day, such as bison herds, dawn and twilight are considered the best times for wildlife viewing.

• Location: Wyoming

The main community in Teton County is Jackson Hole, which also acts as a key entry point to the Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone, the National Elk Refuge, and an intriguing mountain feature known as the "Sleeping Indian."

For more than a century, cowboys and all kinds of other characters have strolled Jackson's wooden sidewalks, and the streets used to be a place where disputes would be settled by gunfight. Today, it's a well-liked destination for enjoying the area's stunning scenery, plethora of wildlife, and outdoor activities, as well as a variety of stores, entertainment, and a vibrant nightlife.

Whitewater rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, paragliding, and hiking in the national park and Snake River Valley are just a few of the options available to you. Take the aerial tram from Teton Village to the top of Rendezvous to experience the breathtaking views and the biggest vertical drop in the country from the tram's apex.

• Location: Wyoming

Buffalo Bill, also known as William Cody, played a significant role in the planning of the frontier town of Cody, which takes great pride in its namesake with his image plastered throughout, in statue form, a number of museums, and the famous Buffalo Bill Historical Center, dubbed the "Smithsonian of the West," which includes five themed museums that collectively present the most information about the western frontier.

Here, rodeo, history, and wildlife are all very important. The Old Trail Town, a living museum with 26 historic frontier buildings from the late 1800s that were salvaged and moved here from towns across Wyoming and Montana, offers visitors a rare glimpse of what a Western town actually looked and felt like. Cody is known as the Rodeo Capital of the World and hosts a number of prestigious rodeos throughout the year.

There is breathtaking scenery almost everywhere you turn. The Plains Indian Powwow, which typically takes place in June, is also held in Cody. The Buffalo Bill Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, and Cody Firearms Museum are a few of the other museums at the area.

• Location: Wyoming

Dubois, which has a population of fewer than 1000, is a little town, but it's one of the best in the state for booking a week-long stay at a guest ranch or "dude" ranch close by. Try out ranch life, saddle up for an adventure, cast a line, or sign up for a multi-day horseback riding tour into the wilderness.

Visit the Dubois, the National Bighorn Sheep Center, and the Dubois Museum while you're in town. In the summer, don't forget to attend the Dubois Friday Night Rodeo. Before venturing out to experience the ranching lifestyle, grab a deli sandwich, a slice of pizza, or maybe a steak in town.

Due to its frequently warm temperatures and dry air, Dubois was once called "Never Sweat." Today, this quaint, genuine cowboy community, which is located close to the Absaroka and Wind River Mountains along the Wind River, offers breathtaking natural beauty, nature trails, and ranch activities so that tourists may fully immerse themselves in it.

The opportunity to retrace Butch Cassidy's steps through the streets, into the local store, and into the ancient red stone bank will appeal to history buffs as well. Petroglyphs, teepee circles, and other artifacts left by Native Americans are only a few examples. Dubois is especially exceptional because it is home to one of the largest herds of wild Bighorn sheep in the nation. Elk, deer, and antelope are also frequently spotted nearby.

• Location: Wyoming

Thermopolis is a well-liked weekend getaway destination in Wyoming and the location of the largest mineral hot spring in the entire world. Additionally, because of a pact with Native American tribes, guests can unwind at Hot Springs State Park's relaxing springs, where the water is always 104 degrees. Star Plunge and Hellie's TePee Pools, two nearby water parks with admission fees, both provide indoor and outdoor pools with water slides, hot tubs, steam rooms, and gift shops.

Away from the springs, the town is surrounded by the Bighorn Canyon and Wind River. On the interpretive walk in the park, where bison are occasionally observed, you may take a leisurely stroll before or after a soak. Away from the springs, the town is bordered by the Bighorn Canyon and Wind River Canyon, which provide a variety of outdoor adventures.

Thermopolis is a must-see soaking paradise ideal for families, groups, single travelers, and couples. Alternatively, get ready for some hot springs water park action at Star Plunge, which offers water slides, pools, and even a "vapor cave," a natural steam room, if you want to take a peaceful bath in Hot Springs State Park's bathhouse.

However, Thermopolis has more attractions than just hot springs. Visit the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, take a tour on horseback, hire a guide for a fishing trip, or hike the state park's six miles of trails. You can choose to unwind or seek out the action.

• Location: Wyoming

In northeastern Utah and Wyoming, there is a national recreation area called Flaming Gorge. The area's vibrant canyons and 91-mile reservoir are well-liked by all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts. The main draw is the reservoir, which was created by a dam that was constructed on the Green River in the 1950s. Boating, fishing, swimming, and kayaking are just a few of the favorite water activities.

On land, there are more than 100 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails as well as roads and trails for off-road adventures and snowmobiling. When the gorge is at its most picturesque and genuinely shining with beautiful hues, check it out during sunset or sunrise.

The deep gorges that are today a geographic wonder to all tourists were created by the Green River's hundreds of years of erosion through the area's vibrant rock formations. One of the most popular tourist destinations in the continental United States was created with the construction of the Flaming Gorge Dam in the early 1960s. The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, with its 91-mile-long lake, the Green River, and its deep canyons, mesmerizes both tourists and locals.

• Location: Wyoming

Established in 1884, Lander is a small town in Wyoming with a population of little over 7,000. This village offers a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, horseback riding, and fishing. The Lander Children's Museum, a terrific place for youngsters 12 and under, with a variety of displays in math, science, art, music, and reading. The Lander Art Center, which hosts eight changing shows each year, is another cultural destination. Additionally, tourists can check out the Lander Historic District, which features interesting shops, the Grand Theater, and monuments like the statue of the Bucking Horse and Rider.

Northwest Wyoming's Lander offers breathtaking scenery and a wide range of outdoor pursuits. In order to scale the nearby sandstone and limestone cliffs, rock climbers frequently travel to this spotless hamlet. Off-road adventurers also come here to climb a two-track through a red dirt muck bog, and would-be cowboys and cowgirls can gather up livestock while riding a horse. Any of Lander's many hiking paths' summits will have more breathtaking views waiting for you. Mountain biking, world-class fishing, and other options are available. Visit Sinks Canyon State Park to see an underground river that flows through a limestone cavern about six miles from the city.

• Location: Wyoming

You won't want to miss going on an adventure to find the infamous Hole-in-the-Wall, the remote, real-life outlaw hideout of Jesse James, Butch Cassidy, and the Sundance Kid, if you're a fan of the classic Robert Redford and Paul Newman film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" or if you're fascinated by the history of the American West.

These outlaws, who lived in Northern Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains, served as the infamous stopping point on the outlaw trail from around the 1860s until 1910, during the period of glorified lawlessness, and they served as the inspiration for several books and films.

Located on Willow Creek Ranch is the "hole." You can travel to the working cattle, horse, and guest ranch by staying there. Be sure to climb the loose rocks to the top of the road to get a 360-degree picture of the beautiful countryside below and to have an understanding of why the outlaws picked this remote location.

• Location: Wyoming

Devils Tower is a famous American landmark that was long considered sacred by Native Americans. It is situated in northeastern Wyoming, just west of the Black Hills, and it rose to fame after appearing in the hit science fiction film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" as the location where the UFOs landed.

The flat-topped volcanic formation, which is Wyoming's most notable feature, rises more than 1,200 feet above the surrounding plains, making it impossible to overlook. The 1.3-mile oval trail can be used to walk around it, but if you want to climb it, you'll need some strong technical skills. Visit the visitor center while you're there to see exhibitions on the history and culture of the region as well as interactive exhibits focusing on how the "tower" was created.

A geological marvel, Devils Tower National Monument protrudes from a rolling prairie close to the Black Hills. The Lakota tribe and twenty other related tribes revere it as a sacred monument. One of the best conventional crack climbing spots on the continent is what makes it most well-known.

The Tower has a number of undeveloped, remote hiking routes in addition to the Tower Trail, a paved circle that circles the monument's base for 1.3 miles. Visit the Circle of Sacred Smoke monument, scale the boulder field, and stop by the Visitor Center to check out the interpretive displays and culture and history activities to round off your trip to Devils Tower.

• Location: Wyoming