Wyoming’s untouched terrain in the Bighorn & Snowy Range Mountains

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When it comes to winter recreation, Wyoming has you covered. Whether your winter self begs for steep slopes, immense powder-filled meadows or unique experiences, Wyoming won’t disappoint. Wyoming’s untouched terrain attracts downhill and cross-country skiers, snowmobilers and fat tire bikers to destinations all over the state, from the Bighorn Mountains to the Snowy Range and everywhere in between.

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Dog Sledding

If a unique experience is what you’re seeking, a dog sledding adventure will not disappoint. Mush your way across the pristine white landscapes with eight of your newest canine companions. The Teton and Shoshone national forests in northwest Wyoming are rich with trails and guide companies.

Sleigh Rides

Gliding through the snow in a horse-drawn sleigh will forever be a fond family memory. You can personalize your experience with plenty of package options, such as a trip on the National Elk Refuge Range.

Cross-country Skiing

Wyoming has 11 resorts dedicated solely to cross-country skiing in addition to our state and national parks. Flat, open valleys are plentiful and great for beginners, while more difficult grades and gentle hills offer challenge for seasoned cross-country ski enthusiasts.

Snowshoeing

While this serene winter sport might seem intimidating to newbies, no training is necessary. Once you’ve stepped into a pair of snowshoes, you need nothing more than a trail map to get started on your adventure. Of course, there are also professional guides that will help you navigate if you prefer.

Yurt Trips

Jaunting from one rustic round cabin to the next amid knee-deep powder is an excursion you can’t find just anywhere. You’ll be busy for days in southwest Wyoming, where a well-developed trail system connects five yurts. Or, stay awhile in Sinks Canyon State Park in central Wyoming, where four yurts are available in the park year round.

Downhill Skiing

When it comes to incredible powder, epic downhill terrain and sunshine-filled days, Wyoming is a destination unlike any other. Our 98,000 square miles include downhill ski areas that offer terrain for all levels, including world-class Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and family-friendly Snowy Range Ski Area.

Fat Biking

Don’t limit your biking adventures to the warm summer months. The large tires on snow bikes make it possible to glide over the snow on two wheels. Trails for snow biking are abundant in the Jackson and Wind River areas, and many outfitters are ready to set you up with your wide tire transportation.

Hot Springs

Outdoor swimming in the winter? Yes, this is a dream that can come true in the numerous hot springs around Wyoming. From Hot Springs State Park, to hidden gems like Granite Hot Springs, it is a great winter experience.

Snowmobiling

Saddle up on a 500-pound machine that will get your adrenaline pumping on more than 2,000 miles of groomed and ungroomed trails. Togwotee Pass, the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail and Medicine Bow National Forest are just a few parts of Wyoming that feature world-class snowmobiling terrain.

For more information, visit: TravelWyoming.com

Photos: Visit Wyoming

The Hottest Cold Spots in Southwest Idaho

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Southwest Idaho is all about exploring. That doesn’t stop when it snows. If you’re looking for fun in the snow, then Southwest Idaho is the place for you.

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McCall, Idaho gets an average of 132 inches of snow a year! The snow starts in November and lasts until May – sometimes even into June! If you are looking for some great snow, look no further. Whether you want to find skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, ice fishing, or just a little sledding, you need to take a trip.

  • Skiing
  • Snowmobiling
  • Ice Fishing
  • Sleigh Rides
  • Snowmobiling to Hot Springs!

Southwest Idaho has some of the best natural warm springs in the world. You haven’t experienced winter until you are in the mountains surrounded by snow… in a swimming suit. Visitors can also take and adventure on a snowmobile to the hot springs for an epic soak.

HOT Snow Events

Do you want to visit a cozy mountain town for one of the best winter festivals in America? Do you want to see a garden glow (not just grow)? Southwest Idaho knows how to have a good time.

Winter Wonderland – Caldwell, Idaho

Mid-November through mid-January

To kick off the holiday season the city of Caldwell will use almost 600,000 lights to decorate the historic downtown! Not to mention the additional 35,000 lights they use to construct a tunnel feature along Indian Creek. Don’t miss out on this spectacular free light show.

McCall Winter Carnival – McCall, Idaho

Late January through early February

Enjoy the famous snow sculptures, torchlight and Mardi Gras Parades. Plus, live music and daily events spanning everything from comedy shows to art auctions to the Monster Dog Pull and much more!

Winter Garden aGlow – Boise, Idaho

Late November through early January

Join us at the Idaho Botanical Garden and see our dazzling display of over 300,000 sparkling lights artfully displayed throughout the holiday season.

For more information and planning visit: VisitSWIdaho.org

Photos: Gary Ertter and Activity Barn McCall, courtesy of Visit Southwest Idaho

Winter Across South Dakota

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Delight in a frosty frolic while skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, skating, or ice fishing. With more than 1,500 miles of trails statewide, South Dakota is one of the nation’s top snowmobiling destinations and the perfect setting for your winter getaway.

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Black Hills & Badlands

  • Ice Rink in Main Street Square (Rapid City) – Come on down, bring some friends, and make lifelong memories while you skate on an outdoor rink larger than Rockefeller Center’s.
  • Snowmobiling – Just south of Spearfish, climb aboard a horse-powered sleigh and go dashing over 350 miles of marked, mapped, and groomed snowmobile trails.
  • Terry Peak – The family-friendly ski resort is located in the northern Black Hills near historic Deadwood. The summit stands at 7,100 feet tall and features the highest lift service between the Rockies and the Alps.
  • Evans Plunge (Hot Springs)- Established in 1890, Evans Plunge is the oldest tourist attraction in the Black Hills. You can swim, splash, and soak in the 87-degree mineral water. A natural thermal spring provides the pool’s crystal-clear, scentless water.
  • Custer State Park – Winter in the southern Black Hills offers a truly unique experience. Wildlife is far easier to spot without the cover of green vegetation, so enjoy the show as bison, bighorn sheep and others become more active in their natural habitats!
  • Mount Rushmore National Memorial- Enjoy the majesty of four snow-covered stone faces along with the beauty of the Black Hills’ winter transformation.The memorial remains open all year round!
  • Badlands National Park – Take the Badlands Loop (Highway 240) for dreamy winter views of this 244,000-acre (97,600 ha) national park.

Travel Tip:  The interactive exhibits and free 20-minute movie at the Custer State Park Visitor Center make it the perfect place to start your adventure.

Missouri River/ Glacial Lakes & Prairies

  • Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center (Chamberlain) – It’s an experience that provides visitors with a living lesson on the Native American way of life both past and present.
  • Ice Fishing with Guides- Catch some walleye, smallmouth bass, or catfish with an experienced guide showing you the best spots and tricks that add up to one unforgettable fishing trip!
  • Terry Redlin Art Center (Aberdeen)- The famous landscape artist captured on canvas images of nature and small-town America. Enjoy free admission to see more than 160 original oil paintings and shop three exclusive gift shops.
  • South Dakota Art Museum (Brookings)- Explore the state’s artistic gem! Galleries feature Native American art, Harvey Dunn paintings & illustraions, Paul Goble illustrations, Marghab Linens, and dynamic exhibits by regional and national artists.
  • Dakota Nature Park (Brookings)- With rental equipment available on-site, it’s easy to try snowshoeing and cross-country skiing through the outdoor beauty of Dakota Nature Park

Travel Tip: The South Dakota Art Museum has been repeatedly named one of the top 25 museums & galleries in the U.S. by American Art Awards.

Southeast

  • Great Bear Recreation Park (Sioux Falls)- Great Bear Recreation Park features more than 200 acres of outdoor fun just minutes from downtown Sioux Falls. The Ski Valley features skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and snowshoeing.
  • Snowmobiling – The eastern side of South Dakota offers its own stunning snowmobiling locations—1,168 miles of trails, to be exact.
  • Palisades State Park – Cuddle up in one of the heated cabin rentals nestled amongst the park’s pink quartzite rock.
  • Newton Hills State Park– The area along Sargent Creek is considered one of the best places in the state to do some cross-country skiing.

Travel Tip: The Sioux quartzite formations at Palisades State Park are estimated to be 1.2 billion years old!

For more information on winter activities in South Dakota, visit TravelSouthDakota.com.

Photos: South Dakota Tourism

Winter in North Dakota is a time to be embraced

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A Night in the North Dakota Heritage Center

Once the chill of winter sets in, North Dakotans and visitors who enjoy outdoors in some fashion regardless of the conditions are still going to ski, hike, fish and snowmobile. Others, however, wait for a warm-up indoors, in museums like the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum. Let Theodore Roosevelt and Josh Duhamel show you around.

Winter in North Dakota is a time to be embraced

Winter provides outdoor and indoor opportunities for recreation, culinary delicacies and special festivals designed specifically for winter fun. For instance, there are three ways to enjoy ice here.

  • No. 1: University of North Dakota hockey. Relax – or don’t – as you cheer on the University of North Dakota hockey team from the comforts of your leather seats at palatial Ralph Engelstad Arena.
  • No. 2: Ice fishing. All of North Dakota is a great fishery but one area is of particular interest to winter anglers from all around the world. Devils Lake is the No. 1 destination for North American ice fishing. More than 15,000 anglers team up with guides each winter. Most visitors book fishing all-inclusive packages via the resorts, motels or guide services, while other go the do-it-yourself route. There’s not right or wrong way. Click here for more on Devils Lake information and click here for more North Dakota ice fishing.
  • No. 3: Beverages on ice. Craft breweries and local wineries are the rage now and North Dakota is no exception. Grab some friends and head to a nearby winery or taphouse.

North of Normal Fargo and sister cities West Fargo and Moorhead, Minn., have decided to embrace winter – all of it. What started out as a weekend event in the middle of winter has become a six-week celebration. Frostival will include games and activities between Jan. 15 and Dec. 22, 2020. After all, “Cold is Cool.” After day of racing cardboard sled races, building snow sculptures and playing kickball, put on a hat and ham it up for photo with the woodchipper from the movie “Fargo.” Then head downtown for great restaurants, breweries, museums, galleries, shops and accommodations.

Few things are cooler than the woodchipper, the sight of old Ebeneezer Scrooge buying a Christmas turkey for Tiny Tim is right up there. Watch it happen on weekends this winter as part Garrison’s Dickens Village Festival. For three weekends – Nov. 29-Dec. 1, Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14 – the town transforms itself into Dickens-era London, complete with a double-decker “Queen Elizabus”

Meanwhile, in the Badlands, deer and horses and bison that usually blend into the surroundings are easier to see with a blanket of snow over the rugged terrain. In fact, winter is one of the best times to view wildlife in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Lodging, fuel and food can be found outside the park in Medora or Watford City.

For those looking for something a little warmer, North Dakota museums run the gamut, from the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck to the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora to the Plains Art Museum in Fargo and the Badlands Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson.

Looking for the perfect place to hang your hat?

Dust off your boots and stay at the ranch like Coreau des Prairies (above), enjoy a restful night at a unique boutique hotel or camp out under the stars.

  • Black Leg Ranch is the best, high end, full service.  Honey moon suites, cabins, etc.  No glamping yet.
  • Yurting in North Dakota State Parks.  Must bring own bedding and food though… three state parks feature yurts as part of their lodging packages.
  • Hotel Donaldson is located downtown Fargo.  Boutique style property where all 17 suites are designed around the work of a different regional artist. Sculptors, painters, photographers, modern artists…
  • Woodland Resort on Devils Lake is a full service resort with a restaurant, cabins, motel, campground, bait shop, and boat rental.
  • Coteau des Prairie – full service lodge in SE North Dakota – Perched on the northernmost ridge of the Coteau des Prairies, where the breathtaking view is second to none, prairie farms and fields unfold from below like a patchwork quilt.
  • Lady on the Lake B&B – Located on the North Shore of Lake Elsie. A truly romantic respite steeped in history and comfort has 5 acres and 463 feet of private shoreline.
  • Enchanted Castle – on the Enchanted Highway – 19 room hotel in the old Regent school lounge, restaurant & steak house.
  • Riverdale High Lodge. Full hotel and restaurant in the old school in Riverdale, near Lake Sakakawea!

Find more accommodations at “Places to Stay.“

For more information, visit: NDTourism.com

Photos: North Dakota Tourism

Explore Montana’s 15 ski areas and countless trails for winter fun

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Montana is packed full of winter activities. With 15 ski areas and countless trails for downhill or cross-country skiing, fat tire biking, dogsledding, snowmobiling, sleigh riding and ski-joring, as well as fabulous apres-ski experiences, Montana is a winter enthusiast’s dream destination.

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Montana is well known for providing dry powder and a lack of lift lines so you can ski or board all day long and not spend time waiting to get back up the mountain. Big Sky Resort provides about two acres per skier on its busiest day! New this year for Big Sky skiers is Headlamp Night Skiing – a private guided tour of Andesite Mountain. Countless stars twinkle overhead as you ski down freshly groomed runs guided by headlamps as bright as a car’s headlight. Also new is a way to ski Big Sky before anyone else – with First Tracks & Everett’s Breakfast. If you are an early riser head to the slopes at 8am and carve fresh tracks followed by a gourmet breakfast. Both experiences include a ride up Ramcharger 8 – the Resort’s new eight-seat chairlift with heated seats and a weather-proof bubble.

Off the slopes enjoy the exhilaration of dogsledding in nearby mountains or a relaxing horse-drawn sleigh ride dinner at Lone Mountain Ranch. Apres-ski options can include any number of restaurants, clubs and bars in Big Sky where you can re-live the day’s adventures. The Carabiner Lounge at the base of the lifts offers live music and a lively atmosphere. The new Wilson Hotel in Big Sky Village is conveniently near shops and restaurants.

  • Insider Tip: In April be entertained at Big Sky’s Pond Skim, a hilariously entertaining event where costumed participants attempt to ski or snowboard across an unfrozen pond by whatever means they can.

Nearby Yellowstone National Park is magical in wintertime. Wildlife is easy to spot on a snowcoach or snowmobile tour starting from West Yellowstone, Montana, located at the West Entrance. Expert guides show you what makes a Yellowstone winter experience truly memorable.

Red Lodge Mountain’s ski run offers views of the Beartooth Mountains, with a friendly small-town attitude. Charming Red Lodge has plenty of restaurants and bars to keep folks busy after a day’s adventures. Downtown’s Pollard Hotel makes a convenient base for exploring.

The first two weeks in March are dedicated to enjoying everything winter in Red Lodge during Winter Carnival. This event includes National Finals Ski-Joring, the Torchlight Parade down the slopes of the mountain followed by fireworks, live music downtown, and the entertaining “Cardboard Classic” race down the mountain of homemade crafts made only of cardboard, duct tape and glue.

At Whitefish Mountain Resort winter is celebrated enthusiastically. Night skiing on the slopes or dining at 7,000 feet at the Summit House are unforgettable. There are 200 on-mountain lodging choices. Enjoy dining at Café Kandahar’s intimate setting or enjoy 15 beers on tap including Montana-made favorites at Ed & Mully’s. Downtown Whitefish offers many unique restaurants and lodging options and is only a short drive to Glacier National Park. Park rangers provide guided snowshoe hikes in the park (they will even rent you snowshoes). Many in-park cross-country trails give you the chance to spot wildlife in wintertime silence.

  • Insider tip: Some of the best apres-ski memories can be made on the rooftop deck at the Firebrand Hotel in downtown Whitefish.

Plan your adventure to one of Montana’s unique wintertime destinations! VISITMT.COM

Four ways to visit Denver this winter

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Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature exhibit at Denver Art Museum

Oct 21-Feb 2, 2020. The exhibition will feature more than 120 paintings spanning Monet’s entire career and will focus on the celebrated French impressionist artist’s enduring relationship with nature and his response to the varied and distinct places in which he worked. Only at Denver Art Museum this winter and the Barberini in Potsdam, Germany in 2020.

Photo: Denver Art Museum

Mile High Holidays

November 29-January 26, 2020. Experience the magic of Mile High Holidays with holiday events including the annual Parade of Lights, performing arts shows, downtown ice skating rink, German Christkindl market and colorful light displays throughout the city center, Denver Zoo and Denver Botanic Gardens.

  • New in 2019: Check out the MILE HIGH TREE! Step inside this brilliantly lit, 110-foot tall immersive sculpture opening November 30 in Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex – free every evening for the whole family! Amazing light & music shows take place every 30 minutes along with food, drink and holiday photo ops.

The holiday season ends with the annual National Western Stock Show & Rodeo (Jan 11-26, 2020). Grab your cowboy boots and head over to the world’s premier stock show and one of the nation’s largest rodeos.

Photos: Denver Union Station Grand Illumination, National Western Stock Show

Weekend Amtrak Ski Train to Winter Park Ski Resort

January 10-March 29, 2020 from Denver Union Station

Photo: Winter Park Express

Denver Professional Sports

Denver is home to seven professional sports teams that offer behind-the-scenes tours of their venues. During the winter months, cheer on the Colorado Avalanche (hockey) or the Denver Nuggets (basketball) at Pepsi Center or Denver Broncos (football) at Broncos Stadium at Mile High, both in the walkable downtown area.

Photos: Colorado Avalanche Fan, Denver Broncos football

For more information, visit: VISITDENVER.com

An Insider’s Guide to Venture Winter in Idaho

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When you’re home to the world’s first chairlift in Sun Valley and known for long runs but short lift lines, it’s easy to focus on skiing when the snow starts to stick. But in Idaho, the winter activities are limitless. Build your ideal winter vacation in Idaho with these snow-packed adventures and events.

More Than Skiing

Idaho’s capital city of Boise is tucked just below Bogus Basin Recreation Area for all the winter attractions you could want. Head up the mountain to sail down the 243-meter slopes astride a mountain or strap into Glade Runner, the only mountain coaster in Idaho. Glade Runner is 1,320 meters of high speed, twisting and turning through the snow-capped trees of the Boise National Forest.

[Image: Glade Runner, Photo credit: Bogus Basin Recreation Area]

On the eastern side of the state, visit Harriman State Park to see waterfalls and wildlife shine in the low temperatures. Harriman State Park near Ashton, just 61 kilometers from Yellowstone National Park, is an ideal stop to spot elk, moose, trumpeter swans and more in this 16,000-acre wildlife refuge. Upper Mesa Falls is just outside the park and is accessible via snowmobile in the winter and is well worth the effort to witness the power of the falls curtained by a snowy backdrop.

[Image: Upper Mesa Falls, Photo credit: Idaho Tourism]

For more opportunities to get out in the snow, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling are accessible in nearly every pocket of the state. Rent snowshoes at state parks, like Harriman State Park, Ponderosa State Park near McCall and Farragut State Park near Hayden. Snowmobiles are also available for rent near Priest Lake, McCall, Ashton and more.

Festival Fun

Searching for a unique and unusual winter vacation? Fire & Ice Winterfest in the resort town of Lava Hot Springs is one funky weekend to shake anyone from a winter-induced slumber. The annual winter festival, happening February 7-9, 2020, is three days of crazy adventures, wine tasting, karaoke, comedy and carnival games. The festival is known for the Polar Bear Float on the Portneuf River. As a reward for braving the cold throughout the festival, attendees are rewarded with a dip in Idaho’s famous Lava Hot Springs mineral pools.

[Image: Fire & Ice Winterfest. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism]

Idaho winters are ideal for taking in the beauty of the season and Sandpoint, Idaho is a highlight. Venture to northern Idaho for a hidden retreat at the Sandpoint Winter Carnival, held February 14-23, 2020. The annual festival has been around since 1973 and is filled with events such as the Parade of Lights, K9 Keg Pull and a fireworks show.

[Image: Sandpoint Winter Carnival Fireworks. Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism]

Soak It In

If a fully immersive and self-care-filled vacation is more of what you have in mind, Idaho’s your ticket with more hot springs than any other state. Book the semi-outdoor hot spring at Mountain Village Resort in Stanley for prime views of the Sawtooth Mountains.

[Image: Mountain Village Resort Hot Spring. Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism]

When traveling through southwestern Idaho, Miracle and Banbury Hot Springs, just two and a half kilometers from each other, have plenty of room to soak your way, from multiple outdoor public pools to more secluded private hot pools.

For more information, visit: VisitIdaho.org

Glacier Country’s world-class skiing, dog sledding & more

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Ski, dog sled, or take a horse-drawn sleigh ride in Glacier Country

In Western Montana, winter comes in wild and free, dropping an average of 300+ inches (7.6 meters) of light and fresh snow on the Rocky Mountains as it creates a place that can only be called one thing: a powder utopia.

For downhill ski and snowboard enthusiasts, there are more than 7,000 acres (2,832 hectares) of terrain across six ski resorts. Visit our world-class ski area, Whitefish Mountain Resort—ranked The Best in the West for Overall Satisfaction by Ski Magazine readers—offering access to six new runs across 200 new acres (80 hectares) of terrain. Additionally, Chair 5 has been relocated to the East Rim giving guests access to early and late season ski conditions found on the upper mountain.

For adrenaline-pumping winter fun off the mountain, Western Montana’s outfitters and guides offer exhilarating winter activities like snowmobiling, backcountry skiing in Glacier National Park, cat skiing and dog sledding. Montana’s Glacier Country is also home to plentiful cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. Round out a winter day with a horse-drawn sleigh ride or a soak at one of our natural hot springs resorts.

Western Montana also has a variety of accommodations—ranging from cozy to luxe—and is easily accessible via international airports in Missoula (MSO) and Kalispell (FCA).

For more information, visit: GlacierMT.com

Photo: Noah Couser, courtesy of Glacier Country Tourism

Add Fargo’s Frostival event to your ‘must-experience’ list

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Fargo’s Red River Valley & Frostival

Fargo, North Dakota may not have mountains for skiing or snowboarding, but it’s a city that embraces the cool of winter like none other. The endless horizons of the Red River Valley are a perfect stage to present the beauty of winter.

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From January 15, 2020 through February 22nd, winter events and activities are held every weekend during a celebration called Frostival. The festival is all about celebrating the “cool” of winter with outdoor events and family-friendly activities across our North of Normal city, Fargo, and its sister cities West Fargo and Moorhead.

Cardboard sled racing, winter kickball and disc golf, snow sculpture and beard competitions, and an undie run are just a few things to expect during the weeks of Frostival.

The festival was created to give locals and visitors alike more ways to get out and experience the winter season. It’s no secret that the cold months start to wear on people after a while. Why not make cold, cool?

It will be the cities’ 5th winter celebration. A few things have changed, however. Typically held over just one weekend, the dates have been extended to allow for much more snow-filled fun throughout the coldest months of the year.

Frostival isn’t the only reason to check out Fargo during the chilly season. Businesses and locals always find creative and beautiful ways to dress up the snow, such as:

  • Pop-up snowman building events in the parks
  • Glowing ice bars on the patios of local pubs
  • Fat-tire biking on the frozen Red River
  • Candlelight snowshoeing through state parks
  • So much more

Grab your friends, bring your spirit of adventure (and maybe some mittens) and join Fargo, ND in making cold, cool.

Learn more at: Fargomoorhead.org

Photos: Visit Fargo-Moorhead

Winter at Cheyenne’s nearby Curt Gowdy State Park & Medicine Bow National Forest

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Curt Gowdy State Park & Medicine Bow National Forest

During Cheyenne’s winter months, outdoor activities don’t stop. What were once hiking trails become a wonderland for tubing, sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and, most recently, fat biking. Curt Gowdy State Park and Medicine Bow National Forest provide accessible, fun family adventure, with annual snowfall amounts in excess of 50 inches and diverse landscapes for all kinds of winter activities.

When snow cloaks the untouched countryside, the best way to experience it is by strapping on a pair of snowshoes and finding a trail. From casual snowshoers who hike trails for scenery to snowshoeing enthusiasts who trek the backcountry in search of a workout, all will find it a user-friendly activity for all ages.

Cross-Country Skiing

To avoid crowds and lift lines, explore the snow-covered Wyoming wilderness on cross-country skis. Many trails offer easy access for beginners and remote areas for wildlife viewing, while the trails with long stretches of open area are well suited for the more athletic skier looking to burn some calories.

  • Trails: Try Crow Creek Loop, Aspen, Blackjack or Dilly Dally trails for a day of fun.

Recently, fat bikes have become fixtures on groomed multi-use trails. Ridden at low tire pressure, fat bikes float on surfaces where normal mountain bike tires would sink, and that makes for great access to backcountry sights and sounds. With many months of snow-cover in Southeast Wyoming, a fat bike can keep you in great shape all winter long.

Experience Cheyenne Indoors

Looking for a way to relax after the trails, or just want to stay indoors to begin with? Wyoming’s Capitol City boasts a growing craft beer scene. Three downtown Cheyenne breweries offer an array of choices. Freedom’s Edge Brewing Co. gets the nod as Cheyenne’s oldest craft brewer. Danielmark’s Brewery Company offers a variety of handcrafted ales. Accomplice Beer Company, housed in the historic Cheyenne Depot, is a unique concept of self-pour taps, giving folks complete control of their house-crafted beer choices. If you require something more warming than beer, try Chronicles Distilling for vodkas and whiskeys made in the heart of historic downtown.

Although Cheyenne’s outdoor winter activities are enjoyable, even more memories can be made in the city’s indoor treasures. Duck inside the tropical Grand Conservatory at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens if the cold gets to be too much. Revel in Cheyenne’s rich pioneer and railroad history at the Depot Museum or explore the vibrant art scene downtown. Cheyenne is home to a variety of museums and a couple historic hotels that will pique your interest. You’ll also find an eclectic selection of shopping and dining options that are sure to lead to a truly unique experience. Cheyenne should be on your radar if you’re looking to experience the American West in any season, but winter sure has its charms.

For more information, visit: https://www.cheyenne.org/outdoors/,  https://www.cheyenne.org/things-to-do/

Photos: Visit Cheyenne