Wyoming State Parks

People who vandalize petroglyphs, pictographs and historical inscriptions would be fined under a bill recently passed by the state Senate. The measure also sets aside funding to survey, document and model all known pictographs and petroglyphs on state land in Wyoming.

Wyoming State Parks is waiving entrance fees the day after Thanksgiving as an alternative to Black Friday shopping.

This summer, Wyoming Wildflower Women started offering daylong introductory programs and outings for activities like rock climbing and caving. The adventures are part of Wyoming State Parks’ efforts to empower women to get outside and explore, and are also part of a collaboration with Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game to increase opportunities for Indigenous women.

Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site is hosting two Native student rangers this summer at the site in the northeast corner of the state. They’re helping highlight how different Indigenous tribes were connected to the area and remain connected today.

Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site recently opened a new immersive cultural center focused on historic and ongoing Indigenous connections to the area. The state park is in the Bighorn Basin, just north of Hyattville, and is home to a large 750-foot sandstone cliff with hundreds of Native American petroglyphs and pictographs. Archaeological digs have revealed that there’s more than 10,000 years of human history at the site.

Wyoming State Parks and the Bureau of Reclamation are seeking public comment on potential improvements to a popular camping, boating and fishing area near Yellowstone’s East Entrance.

Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites hosted a record number of participants during their annual first day hikes. 1,132 people hiked more than 2,000 miles on January 1st. That was a 206 percent increase of participation from last year.

Wyoming State Parks has a new way to make sure bumpy trails or steep inclines don’t keep people from spending time enjoying the outdoors – the TrackMaster Series 2 mobility chair. Instead of traditional wheels, the motorized device has big, durable rubber tracks, which helps it go places where normal wheelchairs can’t.

A dazzling night sky filled with bright stars has long been a source of wonder and inspiration – and Sinks Canyon State Park wants to do its part to keep Wyoming’s dark skies dark. After a three-year application process, the park outside of Lander became the state’s first International Dark Sky Park through DarkSky International, an organization that raises awareness about light pollution. The designation recognizes the work the park has done to protect this often overlooked resource.

The program was launched in 2021 when two of ranger positions were created, a first for the state. Visitation at Wyoming state parks and historic sites has been on the rise in recent years. This can partly be attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and the desire to go outdoors. Offerings for LGBTQ and Latino youth, in addition to female-oriented camping trips are also part of their offerings. Other ranger programs aimed specifically at young people are also set to debut this year.