Johnson County: Western History and Nature

The TA Ranch was the site of the 1892 Johnson County War. Johnson County also offers museums, historic tours, and nature experiences that show different sides of the American West.

History and Craftsmanship

The Hoofprints of the Past Museum preserves the history of Kaycee and the American West in historic buildings in downtown Kaycee and through guided tours. Its Johnson County War Tour follows the route taken by the invaders in 1892 and stops at the Tisdale and Jones assassination sites. Another museum tour visits the historic sites of Hole in the Wall, where outlaws such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid from the law.

The TA Ranch National Historic District offers another historical perspective: a self-guided tour focuses on the lives of Western settlers in the 19th century. At the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum, exhibits tell the story of Jim Gatchell through gifts on display. Items include firearms, medical bags, bows and arrows, and clothing. Founded in 1880, the Historic Occidental Hotel & Saloon offers tours of its Old West-style hotel and saloon.

Fort Phil Kearny offers a glimpse into a historic site: visitors can enter through reconstructed palisade walls and explore the extensive grounds. In Kaycee, the “Good Ride Cowboy” monument in Chris LeDoux Park honors world champion bareback rider and country musician Chris LeDoux.

At Mountain Meadow Wool, you can take a self-guided tour and follow the processing of raw wool: from washing and drying to combing, spinning, and hand-dyeing.

Powder River and Canyon Landscapes

The Middle Fork of the Powder River runs for a 12-mile stretch through the Outlaw Cave Campground area, which is considered a high-quality trout fishery. A red canyon wall is also visible in the Middle Fork area, which offers good hunting and fishing opportunities. The Outlaw Cave Campground area is characterized by red rock walls and deep canyons and includes two caves and a corral that outlaws used to store their spoils.

For trips in the Middle Fork Powder River region, the Bureau of Land Management recommends vehicles with high ground clearance and four-wheel drive. From Kaycee, travel southwest on Wyoming Highway 190, following the river upstream along the Middle Fork toward the Hole-in-the-Wall area.

Trails and Outdoor Activities

The Clear Creek Trail System includes more than 20 miles of mostly interconnected trails. The Wetland Trail is just over a mile west of downtown and runs along Clear Creek, offering opportunities to observe birds and wildlife. The Hole-in-the-Wall Trail is three miles long, begins on state land, and ends on Bureau of Land Management land. Keep private property boundaries in mind when planning access.

The distances refer to two different scales: the Clear Creek Trail System is a larger network of trails, while the Hole-in-the-Wall Trail is a single, three-mile route. There are fishing spots along Joe’s Trail, and climbing is possible in Crazy Woman Canyon.

The Bud Love Wildlife Habitat Management Area covers 7,900 acres and serves as important winter habitat for big game. Along with the opportunities to observe birds and wildlife on the Wetland Trail, it offers a different nature experience from the river, canyon, and activities such as fishing or climbing. When planning, you can weigh historic tours, trails, and the landscape and wildlife experiences described here.

Discover more destinations: Buffalo, Uinta County, Park, Fremont County, Sublette, Washakie, Crook County, Sheridan.

For the main travel overview: Wyoming.