When to Go

Most people visit northwest Wyoming in summer, although winter draws skiing enthusiasts (the ski season generally lasts Thanksgiving through the first weekend of April). The months between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the busiest, with all attractions operating at peak capacity. If you don’t mind a few limitations on what you can do and where you can stay and eat, the best times to visit the region are in late spring (May) and early fall (September and October). Not only will you find fewer people on the roads and at the sights, but you also will have some of the best weather (although springtime can be wet, and it can and does snow here every month of the year). In general, spring is the best time to see wildlife, particularly young animals. Fall brings a rich blaze of colors, painting the aspen and cottonwood trees with a palette of red, gold, and orange. The days are warm, reaching into the 60s and 70s, and the nights dip toward freezing in fall. There are also fewer thunderstorms than in midsummer, plus fewer mosquitoes and biting flies.