January 21, 2022

National Plan for Vacation Day

By Melanie Hoefle

National Plan for Vacation Day, celebrated on the last Tuesday of January, is a day to encourage travelers to plan their time off. Luckily vacation planning doesn’t have to be done in one day, and www.windriver.org has all the resources to help you make your dream vacation become a reality.

Wind River Country spans over 9,000 square miles and includes Fremont County, the second largest county in the Rocky Mountains. From the vast plains of the Red Desert to Gannett Peak, the highest point in Wyoming, there are endless options for exploring the uniquely diverse communities in Wind River Country.

National Plan for Vacation Day
The Wind River Range. Photo: Wyoming Office of Tourism

Just 90 miles from Yellowstone, the small town of Dubois has an authentic old West feel and is surrounded by national forest. Sitting at the base of the Wind River Range, Lander is a town where Western history meets outdoor adventure. Shoshoni is the gateway to Boysen Reservoir and the Wind River Canyon. Riverton is the cuisine capital of the area and is known as the historic crossroads for Native Americans, explorers, cowboys and travelers. The Wind River Indian Reservation is home to the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes and encompasses more than 2.2 million acres. The town of Hudson was once a booming “company town” and still has quite possibly one of the most famous restaurants in the state. For more information on Wind River Country’s communities, visit our Destinations page.

Trying to figure out where to stay can sometimes be a challenge, and there are so many choices throughout Wind River Country. That’s why www.windriver.org includes an interactive map of all of the hotels, motels, campgrounds, RV parks, dude ranches, vacation rentals and cabins in the area. View the interactive map here.

National Plan for Vacation Day
Horseback riding in the mountains near Dubois, Wyoming. Photo: Wind River Country

If you know where you want to go, but you’re not sure what to do when you get there, www.windriver.org has you covered. Wind River Country has countless activities to choose from year-round. Togwotee Pass is a powdery snowmobiling mecca. Exotic golden trout in the high mountain lakes, combined with excellent streamer fishing along the Popo Agie, Sweetwater and Wind rivers make Wind River Country an angler’s paradise. Wild Iris and Sinks Canyon are two world-renowned climbing areas. There are museums, cultural centers and annual powwows where you can learn about the lives of early settlers and Native Americans. The Wind River Range is home to many of the state’s highest mountains, where you’ll never run out of places to hike or horseback ride. Whether you’re looking for a cultural experience or an outdoor adventure, the communities of Wind River Country each have something unforgettable to offer. Check out our Things To Do page to see all of the activities you can do around the area.

National Plan for Vacation Day
Falls at the Cirque of the Tower. Photo: Scott Copeland

For the more organized planner, there’s even more for you. Wind River Country’s trip planning page provides multiple routes that lead to the area, as well as a business directory, events calendar, maps, notes from the field, air services and a free vacation guide. View the Trip Planning page here.

Have questions? We’d love to hear from you. Email [email protected] and we’ll help you take a step in the right direction.

National Plan for Vacation Day
Posted in Notes From the Field