Hot
springs gave this central Wyoming town its name, and
provide a good reason to visit. Located in the Big Horn
Basin, Thermopolis is situated in an active geothermal
area, close to badlands under which lies a large oil
field. A huge spring gushes hot water, creating startling
travertine terraces. Dinosaurs have been unearthed in the
area since the 1800s., and the Wyoming Dinosaur Center
offers visitors a chance to have a Jurrasic advernture,
including digging for dinosaurs at a real dig
site.
Hot
Springs State Park is where you'll find the most abundant
hot spring in the world -- pouring out an amazing amount
of hot water and creating beautiful travertine terraces.
The area is rich in Native and pioneer history, and
offers a full range of recreational activities including
white water rafting, hiking, camping, fishing, boating,
and golfing. The Wind River Canyon, located four miles
south of town, offers one of the most scenic drives in
the West.
What
to See & Do
Hot
Springs State Park
Hot
spring pools, travertine terraces, flower gardens, and a
bison herd. All these are part of this state park in
Thermopolis. The highlight of the park is the great
spring, which feeds bath houses (including two commercial
water parks), and flows across the park creating
travertine terraces before emptying into the Big
Horn River. This is the largest hot spring in the world,
and to get a proper overview of its scope, you should
walk on the "Swinging Bridge" which crosses the river to
give a full view of the terraces.
Inside
the park is the State Bath House -- the legacy of
an 1896 treaty between the state and the Shoshone and
Arapahoe, which gave public use of the springs to the
world. There is no fee to soak in the bath house, and you
can rent towels and bathing suits. Two commercial
operations are nearby (Star Plunge, and Hot Springs Water
Park), offering pools, hot tubs, water slides and food.
You'll also find a full-service Holiday Inn hotel inside
the park, as well as completely rebuilt Plaza Hotel
.
This
unusual park is also home to the state's central herd
of bison, which wanders over a pasture in the park.
During May and June, the herd is confined to the corral
area to protect pl;ant life on the pasture. The herd has
more than 20 buffalo,and roams freely over the rolling
hills. A driving tour leads around the herd's home. In
late fall and winter months, the bison receive extra food
which makes for close-up viewing.
The
park offers several picnic areas, and walks through the
extensive gardens. A boat ramp is located on the Big Horn
River, at the terrace. For more information, call the
park office at (307) 864-2176
Wyoming
Dinosaur Center
This
privately owned center offers visitors an opportunity to
learn about dinosaur life, and also to take part in a dig
at the Warm Springs Ranch, about 12 miles from town. In
1995, the Wyoming Dinosaur Center was opened. It includes
a world-class museum with dinosaur fossils from around
the world. Visitors can tour the dig sites (about 15
minutes by private van into the mountains above
Thermopolis), and get a tour with the professionals
digging on the site. Or you can reserve a place and dig
on the hill with the professionals -- as an individual, a
family or a group. In addition the center holds special
kids' digs (ages 8-13) three or four times during the
summer. Kids actually get to dig with the professionals
on the hill during the two-day events. The kids' digs
have been named one of the top three events in the state
for 1998.
The
center is located in Thermopolis, not far from the hot
springs, and includes a dinosaur museum, open 360 days a
year, including displays of dinosaur remains unearthed at
the dig sites. You'll see 12 full dinosaur skeletons on
display, and in the museum shop are fossils, gems, books,
and educational materials. Kids dig days in 1999 (ages 8
to12) are to be held on June 15 & 16, July 6 & 7,
and August 10 & 11 Teen Dig Days (ages 13 to 15) are
scheduled for July 8 & 9, and August 3 &
4..
The
museum is open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas
Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day. Dig site tours in
winter are subject to weather conditions. Summer hours
are in effect from May 15 to October 15, when the museum
is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dig site hours are 9 am-4
pm (7 days a week, weather permitting). Dig for a Day is
operating (weather permitting. In winter the museum is
open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Dig for a Day program
is closed.
For
information and dig reservations, call (307) 864-2997 or
800-455-3466
Boysen
State Park
Located
south of Thermololis, closer to the town of Shoshoni,
this large park offers water recreation plus year-round
camping, fishing, and wildlife viewing. The 19,000 acre
reservoir holds the state record for walleye (17 pounds,
6 3/4 ounces, and anglers also catch good-ssized trout. A
marina is located at the north end of the reservoir,
providing bait, fuel, groceries, and docking.
Access
points are on both sides of Highway 20, on the east side
of the reservoir, and also on Highway 26, on the south
side. Overnight camping costs $4.00 per day. Lying at an
elevation of 4,800 feet, the landscape is basically
sagebrush hill country. Most of the campgrounds and other
facilities are ojn the lake, but two campgrounds are
found below the dam along the Wind River. Picnic tables
and viewpoints are located in the Wind River
Canyon.
Legend
Rock State
Petroglyph Site
This
amazing collection of native rock art is found 30 miles
snorthwestof Thermopolis, via an access road which leads
from Highway 120. Complete directions should be obtained
from the state park office in Hot Springs State Park.
Visitors must arrange entry to the site through the park
office or the State Bath House.
At
the site, Cottonwood Creek runs beside a cliff. On the
cliff are a series of petroglyphs -- representing at
least three styles of early Native art, including a style
related to early Hopi. This is a quiet and reflectful
place, bearing the mark of civilizations which were here
at least 2,000 years ago, and probably in much more
ancient times.
