Uinta County: History and Landscape

Uinta County tells its story at historic sites and along significant routes. The Mirror Lake Scenic Byway and trails in the Evanston area offer other experiences. You can shape your trip around cultural history, outdoor activities, or scenery.

Historic Trails and Fort Bridger

Uinta County was a hub for pioneer trails, stagecoach routes, Pony Express routes, the transcontinental railroad, and the Lincoln Highway. These historic trails and routes passed through what is now the county. Fort Bridger State Historic Site was an important supply point for wagon trains on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails.

Fort Bridger State Park covers 37 acres and includes 27 historic buildings and four historic reconstructions. Experiences offered there include self-guided tours, living history demonstrations, ongoing archaeological excavations, museum exhibits, and a civilian cemetery. The combination of buildings, reconstructions, and excavations offers several ways to explore the site’s history.

Museums and Collections

The Uinta County Museum collects, preserves, and shares the history of Uinta County and the surrounding region. It is housed in a historic Carnegie building completed in 1906. The region’s history is thus connected with a building whose own historic character is part of the museum visit.

The Chinese Joss House Museum is a reconstruction of a Chinese temple built in 1874 and destroyed by fire in 1922. It shares the history of Chinese immigrants who lived and worked in Uinta County from the 1870s through the 1930s. The collection also includes a scale model of Evanston’s Chinatown. Seeing the building and model adds to the story of the people the museum commemorates.

Places and Routes in the Landscape

The Piedmont Charcoal Kilns stand beside the remains of a train station, about 10 miles southwest of present-day Evanston. The kilns were added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 1971.

The Mirror Lake Scenic Byway runs from Evanston, Wyoming, to Kamas, Utah. The Wyoming section offers panoramic views of the Uinta Mountains. Another scenic stop is The Needles: the rock formation can be seen from the roadside along a signed section of Yellow Creek Road. It is on private property and should be viewed from the road; there is no place to stop there.

Getting Around Evanston and the Surrounding Area

The BEAR River Greenway includes six miles of paved trails and takes in the BEAR Ponds. Its cycling trails are suitable for both experienced and novice riders. The greenway connects downtown Evanston with natural landscapes and is linked to Bear River State Park. The park’s visitor center has exhibits featuring taxidermy displays of Wyoming wildlife.

The amenities at Uinta County Youth Camp also offer a range of options: the fishing preserve includes picnic tables and hiking trails, and the Blacks Fork River is close to the campgrounds. Campers can reserve canoes for use on the Youth Camp pond or at Meeks Cabin Dam. By contrast, Uinta County Blacksfork Campsite is accessible only on foot and has neither trash nor water services. These specific conditions are important to consider when planning an outdoor stay.

Winter Activities and Events

Cross-country skiing is one of the winter activities in Evanston. Events there include the annual Roundhouse Festival at the historic Union Pacific Roundhouse. Evanston Cowboy Days has been an Evanston tradition for more than 70 years. If you want to plan your trip around a festival or event, check the date in advance.

Wyoming Downs Race Track is located at 10180 Highway 89 North in Evanston and offers live racing. Along with the historic sites, museums, trails, and seasonal activities, it provides a range of options for planning your trip. If you’re looking for a hotel in Uinta County, you can start by considering which of these themes you’d like to shape your stay.

More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Evanston, Laramie, Sweetwater County, Weston County, Sheridan, Sublette, Fremont County, Big Horn

For the main travel overview: Wyoming.