WLM | explore
HIKING
or the geologists who have their own opinion . Be sure to tag us when you post your Instagramworthy shots from the top (@ wyolifestylemag ). Be advised there are closures in June out of respect to American Indian traditional cultural activities – call ahead before you venture out .
• Turtle Rock Trail , Southeast Wyoming : My family ’ s favorite ! We make this trail a rite of summer . We bring a bug net for catch-andrelease fun , a flower guidebook , and my husband ’ s camera . We find water striders in the pool at the base of the little waterfall . It ’ s busy – and friendly canines abound , as well as the occasional rider , so keep your eyes open . Find it in the Vedauwoo area , a short drive between Laramie and Cheyenne .
• Casper Mountain , Central Wyoming : Great for hiking , full day or half day . Go for the weekend , burn off some calories and grab some pics , then head to nearby Casper ( as in super nearby ) for a delicious dinner , shopping and entertainment . Bada boom – family memories made . You ’ re welcome .
WLM | explore
truly is one of his favorites . “ In this beautiful drive of roughly 30 miles , see million years of geologic time on display -- ranging from pre- Cambrian metamorphic rocks to Triassic red bed formations ,” Levi says . Formations are conveniently marked by road signs . Fortunately for your neck and safety , there are places you can park and look up .
• Shell Falls & Canyon , Northern Wyoming : When Levi oversaw a water well project in nearby Greybull in 2002 , Shell Falls & Shell Canyon were his little getaway . “ Over 200 million years of geology is on display on this amazing drive ,” Levi says . “ One particular area of interest is near the rest stop ; the Cambrian age , flathead sandstone ( about 550 million years old ), is resting on 2.9-billion-year-old pre-Cambrian rocks . These are some of the oldest rocks on earth .” Make sure you stop at the Red Gulch Dinosaur Track Site too !
SCENIC & GEOLOGIC DRIVES
• Crazy Woman Canyon , Northeast Wyoming : Our friends at 307 Adventures ( 307adventures . com ) know a thing ( or two thousand ) about exploring Wyoming . Scenic drives are just one of their jams , so their recommendation is worth sharing – plus this one includes some history . “ Begin by checking out the Historic Occidental Hotel [ in Buffalo ],” they advise . “ From there the beautiful drive up Crazy Woman Canyon will take explorers through some of the ranches and area where the famed Johnson County Cattle War took place . Once travelers get back onto the pavement at Wyoming Highway 16 , they can travel up and over Powder River Pass to Ten Sleep for an ice cream cone at Dirty Sally ’ s .” Keep on going to beautiful Worland ( stop to check out the Washakie Museum !) and eventually Thermopolis for hot springs and much unique scenery .
• Wind River Canyon , Northern Wyoming : My husband Levi is a geologist and as vice chair of the Professional Board of Geologists for Wyoming , he ’ d better give me some good advice here or his reputation is trashed ! If you ’ re a rock-and-formation junkie like him , you ’ ll love a good drive . Noting Wind River Canyon near Thermopolis is again like noting Cirque as a climbing mecca – but it www . wyolifestyle . com
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