Sweetwater County: Petroglyphs, History and Landscapes

Rock carvings, evidence of mining, and routes through open landscapes shape the travel experiences in Sweetwater County. Wildlife watching, museums, and self-guided routes offer a range of other highlights. To plan your trip, you might first consider whether you want to spend more time on history and culture, outdoor activities, or a drive along a scenic route.

Discover History and Culture

The Sweetwater County Historical Museum explores Indigenous early history, railroad history, mining, and settlement of the frontier. It uses exhibits, artifacts, photographs, and archival collections to tell these stories. The range of topics offers a chance to learn about regional history from several perspectives, rather than focusing your visit on a single period.

The petroglyphs also tell of an earlier human presence. The Cedar Canyon Petroglyphs include rock carvings that are more than 200 years old. Among other things, you can see panels depicting plants and complex markings that are thought to represent ancient calendars.

At the False Parting of the Ways, visitors can explore original wagon and stagecoach ruts on Bureau of Land Management land north of the highway. Another historic site is Expedition Island, the starting point for John Wesley Powell’s expeditions in 1869 and 1871. At the Reliance Tipple, a self-guided tour introduces visitors to mining at the turn of the century and offers a sense of what the work was like.

The WWCC Natural History Museum showcases a remarkable rock collection and fossils mounted on the wall. The fossils, discovered in the surrounding area, come from fish, palm leaves, and reptiles. The natural history and rocks on display complement the historical themes explored in the other museums.

Trails, Wildlife and Landscapes

You can explore the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge via a driving loop, while the Flicker Trail is for hiking and wildlife watching. The Environmental Education Center, also known as the Visitor’s Center, welcomes the public with interactive exhibits about the refuge and its wildlife. Fishing is permitted throughout the refuge. Popular target species include rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout. Check current regulations before your trip.

At the Killpecker Sand Dunes, recreation and protected landscapes meet. The dunes are part of the Greater Sand Dunes Area of Critical Environmental Concern, which protects wildlife, cultural, scenic, and wilderness resources. The dunes, which reach up to 100 feet high, are open to sandboarding and sledding. Motorized vehicles and non-motorized activities such as hiking, hunting, and horseback riding are permitted in the Killpecker Sand Dunes Open Play Area. Check current vehicle regulations before your trip.

For a self-guided drive, the Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Tour is a well-defined option: The route is 24 miles long and takes approximately 1.5 hours. The Flaming Gorge Scenic Byway offers a different scale: This 150-mile loop runs around Lake Flaming Gorge and can be started in Green River or Rock Springs.

Pilot Butte is also a destination for a climb: The mountain reaches an elevation of 7,949 feet, and the summit offers sweeping panoramic views. If you’d rather follow a trail, the Skyline Trail is an accessible, multi-use route with no motorized traffic. It connects the Green River Greenbelt at the Western Wyoming Community College campus with the scenic ridge above the city, offering wide-ranging views of Green River. The trail is open to hikers, cyclists, and other non-motorized users.

The White Mountain Petroglyphs also combine cultural history with a specific stretch of trail: From the parking area, a steep two-thirds-of-a-mile footpath leads to the rock carvings; admission is free. The distance and steep climb are useful details for planning your visit. Castle Rock can be reached on foot from the northern end of 3rd West Street in Green River.

Plan Around Your Interests

International Day takes place every July in Green River and Rock Springs. The festival celebrates the diversity of Sweetwater County with food, exhibits, costumes, and live entertainment representing different cultures. If you’d like to plan your trip around it, check the dates for your intended stay. When planning your hotel stay, it helps to prioritize your preferred experiences in advance: museum visits, a festival, wildlife watching, or a self-guided route each puts different things in focus. That way, you can tailor your accommodation search to your specific travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Little America, Rock Springs, Green River, Park, Teton, Johnson County, Sublette, Campbell.

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