Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway, Wyoming

It was kind of a good thing that the four-wheel drive folks wanted to get out of town. We could have hung out in their shop all day marveling at the AMC Eagles they had outfitted. Since we could not, it meant we were able to keep rolling along our trip to Alaska. We were leaving Casper early enough to drive through the Wind River Canyon in daylight, something I was really looking forward to. 

A stop at Thermopolis Hot Springs State Park had been planned early on in discussions of this long trip. One route to the hot springs was up Wyoming I-20 past the Boysen Reservoir and along the Wind River which has cut a spectacular canyon north between Shoshoni and Thermopolis http://www.wyomingtourism.org/overview/Wind-River-Canyon-Scenic-Byway/31254 . When my sister and I made this trip in 1999, we came upon the canyon at night. Even though it was dark, we could tell we were traveling through some place really spectacular. Only after our stop in Thermopolis did we learn about the Wind River Canyon. She and I had always hoped to see it again in daylight and now here I was. 

Over a billion years of geology can be seen by way of the layers of rock along the walls delineating the highway. The canyon rises up to 2,500 feet on either side in some spots. There are informative signs to tell the driver the age of the rock layer they are passing by, i.e. Precambrian 2.9 billion years. For geology buffs and rock climbers, this is sweet! Our drive today was enhanced once again by bright blue skies and light traffic enabling us to marvel slowly at nature.

At the north end of the canyon, you come upon some red sandstone, Triassic layers, due to ancient fault line movement and erosion of the above layers. It seems as if the canyon just vanishes. And once again we are in the Wyoming plains. Very interesting, this natural environment.

After my first drive through this magnificent formation, I purchased a book “Wind River Trails” by Finis Mitchell, originally published in 1975. This little book is a hiking and fishing guide to the many trails of the Wind River Range. Next time through, I will take a few side trips.

May you always camp where waters run clear

Within serene valleys of flowers and shade,

Where well trod trails of friendship meet

And your kindness and grace never fade.

-opening refrain from ‘Your Land and Mine’ by Finis Mitchell