Enjoy anniversaries, events in the Great American West in 2022

 

After almost two years of quarantines and lockdowns, our calendars are slowly starting to fill again.

In the Great American West region – the states of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming – there are a number of special events and anniversaries coming up. From the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park to the 100th year of the Days of ’76 Western celebration in Deadwood, South Dakota, these events showcase the very best of the Great American West.

Read on to see what else we have in store in 2022:

Idaho: Yellowstone, dark sky dinners are 2022 highlights in Idaho

Montana: Enjoy starry skies, a snowy dinner and history in Montana

North Dakota: Enjoy nature, history, wildlife and more in North Dakota

South Dakota: Many unique events and celebrations in South Dakota

Wyoming: Wyoming attractions celebrating milestones in 2022

Denver: Experience history and culture in Denver through rodeo, art

For more information on the Great American West, visit GreatAmericanWest.co.

Many ways to enjoy Yellowstone’s big anniversary in 2022

  1. 150th Anniversary: Stacey Gregory writes: “Few places stir the soul and ignite the imagination like Yellowstone National Park. For almost 150 years, this magical natural wonder has attracted people of all walks of life to its more than 2 million acres. Follow along as we uncover just how this place came to be America’s first national park – and one of the most beloved places in America.”
  2. Winter Adventures: Winter in Yellowstone delivers a more intimate experience, fascinating snowy landscapes and frosty animals.
  3. Land Adventures: Explore the incredible natural wonders of Yellowstone National Park, guided by one of the park’s knowledgeable professionals.
  4. Water Adventures: Yellowstone Lake, with 140 miles of shoreline, is home to native cutthroat trout and the non-native lake trout. It’s also a lake with lots of beautiful scenery and interesting history, and is adjacent to some of the most remote wilderness in the lower 48 states.
  5. Wild West Adventures: Experience Yellowstone the way the first pioneers did: Travel by stagecoach or horseback and enjoy a traditional cookout dinner.

Yellowstone National Park celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2022; it was named the country’s first national park in 1872. Photo courtesy of Wyoming Office of Tourism

For more information on Yellowstone National Park Lodges, visit YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com.

Wyoming attractions celebrating milestones in 2022

  1. Yellowstone National Park will celebrate 150 years as the United States’ first national park in 2022. In 1872, this natural wonder attracted people from miles away. Today, it draws visitors from around the world. The geologic and hydrothermal gems combined with the amazing wildlife make this park one of a kind.
  2. Cheyenne Frontier Days: The world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration is a 10-day festival featuring daily rodeos, Western art shows, concerts, parades and much more.
  3. National Historical Trails Interpretive Center in Casper is celebrating 20 years. Explore the West through Native American history, early explorers, and those who traveled the Oregon, Mormon, California and Pony Express Trails.
  4. Fossil Butte National Monument is a fossil hunter’s paradise. Celebrating its 50th year as a national monument, Fossil Butte has over 300 fossils on display at the visitor center and more than 8,000 acres to explore. Discover the remnants of an ancient lake ecosystem including fish, alligators, bats, turtles, small horses, plants and more.
  5. The National Museum of Military Vehicles is located just 80 miles away from Yellowstone National Park. This new museum is the largest private collection of military vehicles and features vehicles from WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam War.

The United States’ first national park will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2022; Yellowstone National Park has been awing visitors since 1872. Photo courtesy of Wyoming Office of Tourism

For more information on Wyoming, visit TravelWyoming.com.

Many unique events and celebrations in South Dakota

  1. Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival: Feel the thunder of the massive buffalo herd as cowboys and cowgirls round up and drive them into the corrals. It’s an extraordinary experience seen only in Custer State Park.
  2. Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant: Channel your inner pioneer during the theatre performance of Laura’s “Little House on the Prairie” books on the outdoor stage, and join in song as the Ingalls family is celebrated.
  3. 100th Anniversary of Days of ’76: Celebrate the 100thyear of parades, Native American performances and truly one of the best outdoor rodeos in the country with some of the best cowboys and cowgirls right here in Deadwood, South Dakota.
  4. Arc of Dreams: A tribute to the dreamers, the Arc of Dreams spans the length of a football field across the Big Sioux River in downtown Sioux Falls and is truly a marvelous sight lit up in the night sky.
  5. Black Hills Powwow: He Sapa Wacipi Na Oskate: Colorful finery, elaborate featherwork and intricate beadwork help make up the beautiful visual atmosphere of a powwow, or wacipi. Witness the power of the largest wacipi in the nation and admire the artistic traditions of the Native American culture.

Feel the thunder of the massive buffalo herd as the cowboys and cowgirls round up and drive the herd into corrals during the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival. Photo courtesy of Travel South Dakota

For more information on South Dakota, visit TravelSouthDakota.com.

Put Sheridan, Wyoming, on your calendar in 2022

Sheridan, Wyoming, is a testament to the icons and outlaws of the American West, an epic outdoor destination and a siren song to the history and heritage of the Old West. There’s always something exciting going on nearby, but here are five special attractions to put on your calendar for 2022:

  1. February 19: The Sheridan Wyo Winter Rodeo is a fast-paced, adrenaline-filled winter event. Enjoy the festivities on Broadway Avenue as horse, rider and skier race past.
  2. June-Labor Day: See polo matches on one of the largest fields in the United States. All summer long, spectators are encouraged to tailgate and bring a lawn chair to get an up-close look at the action.
  3. July 12-17: The 92nd Sheridan Wyo Rodeo is a tribute to the American cowboy, with its Old West ways of roping, wild bucking horses and bulls, and the iconic World Championship Indian relay races.
  4. July 17-23: Experience the literary expertise Hemingway brought to Sheridan at the International Hemingway Conference. The event includes trips to spots visited by Hemingway and academic sessions at Sheridan College.
  5. September 30-October 2: Immerse yourself in the WYO Film Festival as the greatest storytellers capture your attention through innovative and inspirational films.

Travel back in time at the Sheridan Wyo Rodeo, a testament to Old West roping, bucking horses and the iconic World Championship Indian relay races. Photo courtesy of Sheridan Travel Tourism

For more information on Sheridan, visit SheridanWyoming.org.

Celebrate Native American culture in Rapid City

The Black Hills Powwow is one of the largest celebrations of the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota cultures in the United States. This colorful event takes place each October in Rapid City, South Dakota. In 2022, it will debut in the newly built arena at the Monument, Rapid City’s entertainment mecca. Attend to hear drums and honor songs, explore Native American art, shop different vendors, and witness an explosion of color as thousands of dancers come together in their regalia and flood the arena floor.

This special event is often described as a homecoming for these cultures. The Black Hills, or Paha Sapa in Lakota, are a sacred place and the birthplace of the Great Sioux Nation. To learn more about tribal history in the Black Hills region, explore The Journey Museum & Learning Center located in downtown Rapid City, or see art, crafts, beadwork and more at Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries. More places that hold significance to Native American culture near Rapid City include Crazy Horse Memorial®, Bear Butte State Park, Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park.

The Black Hills Powwow is often described as a homecoming for the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota cultures. Attend to hear the drums and songs, explore Native American art, and witness an explosion of color as regalia-clad dancers flood the arena floor. Photo courtesy of Chad Coppess – South Dakota Tourism

For more information on Rapid City, visit VisitRapidCity.com.

Enjoy nature, history, wildlife and more in North Dakota

North Dakota’s top five destinations offer adventures, scenic trails, enchanting views, wildlife, nature, history, art, culture and more.

  1. With its wide-open spaces, vistas that take your breath away, and views of wild horses and bison roaming free, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is truly one of the most beautiful places in North Dakota.
  2. The International Peace Garden is one of the continent’s most symbolic and scenic attractions, touting 2,300 acres of nature’s beauty, 155,000 flowers, pristine lakes, scenic hiking and driving trails, waterfalls and a large variety of birds.
  3. The MHA Interpretive Center is an expansive, stunning multipurpose facility that interprets the history and culture of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara people. The center houses a museum, interactive kiosks, coffee and gift shops, and offers cultural classes.
  4. Travel through time in the oldest state park in North Dakota and explore its rich culture and history. Venture through reconstructed earthlodges and gaze upon breathtaking views of the river bottoms while traversing the scenic trails of Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park.
  5. Fargo is the largest city in North Dakota, boasting a dynamic arts and culture scene, a vibrant downtown, unique lodging, exceptional eating establishments, thrilling entertainment venues, and numerous attractions and activities for everyone.

Reconstructed earthlodges are just part of the rich culture and history at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, North Dakota’s oldest state park. Photo courtesy of North Dakota Tourism

For more information on North Dakota, visit NDTourism.com.

Enjoy starry skies, a snowy dinner and history in Montana

  1. Montana’s wide-open spaces mean visitors can enjoy expansive, star-filled skies year-round. Some of the best stargazing spots include designated Dark Sky Parks Medicine Rocks State Park and Glacier National Park.
  2. In summer 2022, Bozeman’s Museum of the Rockies will be the second museum in the world to host “Apsaalooke Women and Warriors,” an exhibit showcasing the prominence of women, daring feats in battle, unparalleled horsemanship and innovative beadwork.
  3. Bannack Days (July 16-17, 2022): See re-enactments of mining days and demonstrations of pioneer skills, try gold panning, explore Hangman’s Gulch or even see a gunfight, all at Bannack State Park.
  4. Montana Dinner Yurt: Discover an out-of-the-ordinary winter dining experience with amazing mountain views and star-filled skies in Big Sky. A snowcat takes you to a heated yurt in a backcountry setting at 7,500 feet elevation. Enjoy a delicious dinner, live acoustic music and sledding on Lone Mountain.
  5. The elk rut in Gardiner during the fall mating season is a spectacle to be remembered. Bull elk bugle to ward off competing bulls as they gather females into harems. Other prime elk habitat includes the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula, the Seeley Lake area and the Slippery Ann Wildlife Viewing area near Lewistown.

Learn all about the status of Native American women, daring feats in battle, unparalleled horsemanship and innovative beadwork at the “Apsaalooke Women and Warriors” exhibit at Bozeman’s Museum of the Rockies.
Photo courtesy of The Field Museum

For more information on Montana, visit VisitMT.com.

Yellowstone, dark sky dinners are 2022 highlights in Idaho

 

New Moon Dinners in the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve: The Sawtooth Botanical Garden in Ketchum hosts New Moon Dinners in the darkest months of the year – November through February – to showcase the beauty and wonder of Idaho’s night skies in the southern tip of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. Guests enjoy a catered farm-to-greenhouse dinner with wine, outdoor fire pits, and telescopes with local astronomers to map the night sky.

Yellowstone National Park’s 150th Anniversary: Eastern Idaho is the gateway to Yellowstone National Park and is the perfect starting point to take in the area’s natural beauty and wildlife splendors without the crowds. Begin your journey, or extend your visit, with a road trip along the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway or Teton Scenic Byway. The region is home to Harriman State Park, the majestic Grand Tetons, stunning Mesa Falls and world-class fishing on Henry’s Fork of the legendary Snake River.

POSTPONED – Jaialdi to Return in 2025: Idaho is home to the largest concentration of Basques per capita in the U.S.; and when it comes to celebrating their unique heritage and culture, the Basques know how to throw a party. Jaialdi, the six-day festival held every five years in Boise, will return in 2025. Attendees are treated to authentic Basque food, music, games, performances and more.

Visitors can experience the beauty and wonder of Idaho’s night skies with a catered farm-to-greenhouse dinner with wine, outdoor fire pits and telescopes with local astronomers to help map the stars. Photo courtesy of Idaho Tourism

For more information on Idaho, visit VisitIdaho.org.

One-of-a-kind experiences beyond Glacier National Park

 

  1. ROAM Beyond is the best of camping/glamping without having to bring all of the gear. Stay in a boutique and customized, eco-friendly RV-style cabin near Glacier National Park.
  2. Llama trekking allows you to make a new friend who doubles as a hiking buddy that carries all of your gear. Learn from your guide how these cute but hard-working animals have been domesticated along the hike to a lunch spot or on an overnight trek.
  3. With River City Brews Rafting Tours, select a Montana craft beer, get in a raft on a river in Missoula and let someone else do the paddling as you enjoy the majestic views while making new friends.
  4. Quinn’s Hot Springs just completed a renovation of its soaking pools of healing mineral waters. At Quinn’s, visitors can reserve a time to soak in the pools, have a superb dinner at Harwood House Restaurant or stay in the lodge or river-view cabins.
  5. Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is an international center for peace, public park, botanical garden and Buddhist center located on the Flathead Indian Reservation in the Jocko Valley of Montana. Interesting, right?

You’ll make a friend – and let that friend carry all of your hiking gear – on a guided llama trek in Western Montana’s Glacier Country. Photo courtesy of Jade Broadus

For more information on Western Montana’s Glacier Country, visit GlacierMT.com.