In Wyoming, the best things are kept wild and free, which is undoubtedly true in Thermopolis.
With a love of the outdoors (and a nod to the quintessential Western outlaws), the city offers a bird’s eye view of some of the most breathtaking attractions nature has to offer and the hospitality of local folks to let you make the most of all of it. Come say howdy, neighbor.
The Best 12 Things to Do in Thermopolis
Looking for the best things to do in Thermopolis, Wyoming? Look no further! Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, history buff, or adventure seeker, Thermopolis offers a wide range of exciting activities and attractions to suit every traveler’s interests.
1. Hot Springs State Park
Home to its incredible native namesakes, Hot Springs State Park is one of Thermopolis’s premier day trip destinations. Featuring a stately bath house ready and waiting for visitors to soak in the hydrothermally-heated mineral water, it’s the perfect place for a toasty swim, but that’s not all they have to offer.
There is fishing, boating, and over 6 miles of hiking trails on-site, and don’t forget the incredible views of Wyoming’s Western landscape. Additionally, Hot Springs State Park is the home of its own large Bison herd, and if you time your visit just right, you can watch them being fed (from a safe distance, of course.)
2. Hellie’s TePee Pools and Spa
Your visit to Thermopolis isn’t complete until you’ve experienced nature’s jacuzzi — a relaxing soak in a hot mineral spring. Conveniently located inside Hot Springs State Park, Hellie’s TePee Pools and Spa offers both indoor and outdoor pools, making for a customizable dip no matter what time of year you come by.
The wonder of the hot springs can only be made better by one thing: waterslides. Hellie’s has one both outside and inside, so grab the family and stop in for a toasty soak.
3. The Star Plunge
If you thought the natural mineral springs in Thermopolis would make it a fantastic spot for a full-on water park, you’re absolutely right. Tucked away inside Hot Springs State Park, the Star Plunge combines the best of both worlds, offering hot springs pools adjusted to different temperatures, ensuring a refreshing swim all year long.
The pools, however, are just the beginning — catch some rays on their sunning decks, take a thrill ride on one of their classic water slides, or hang out inside an actual mountain in their Vapor Room.
4. Legend Rock Petroglyph Site
Immerse yourself in Native American culture and get a closer look at their phenomenal history at the Legend Rock Petroglyph Site in Thermopolis. Renowned for being a spiritual mecca, this rock formation spans over 1,000 feet and features hundreds of carvings, etchings, and designs left behind by generations of local Native tribes.
Believed to be the home of sacred spirits, the importance of the site lives on, inviting guests to take a tour and stop by the visitor’s center to dive deeper into its rich background.
5. Wyoming Dinosaur Center
Calling all dinosaur lovers: this one’s for you! The Wyoming Dinosaur Center is a professional hub for all things paleontology, from organizing the digs where bones and fossils are unearthed to creating a cast of their findings.
Those casts are then displayed for visitors, but the Center offers plenty of opportunities to do more than view them. This hands-on facility lets you learn by doing, even providing access to a popular quarry for quick, hour-long digs! A dinosaur bone dig on a day trip? What could be more fun?
6. Wyoming Adventures Bighorn Fly Fishing
When it comes to fly fishing, the more you know about the fish and how they move through their natural habitat, the better. The folks at Wyoming Adventures Bighorn Fly Fishing know that to be true; as Thermopolis natives, they have studied the Bighorn River and its natural inhabitants for decades, and that innate knowledge can prove very valuable for the fish-loving visitor.
Take a boat trip with them and learn all the trade secrets to bring some trout home with you.
8. Outlaw Trail Ride
What’s a trip to the West without an outlaw-style horseback ride? If you’re visiting Thermopolis in August, the annual Outlaw Trail Ride will plant you firmly in your saddle the way Butch Cassidy once was.
This guided camping trip spans an entire week, bringing you up close and personal with the famed “Hole-in-the-Wall” country from Wild West bandit lore and letting you sleep beneath the wide-open sky that sets Wyoming apart. Given that this attraction requires your own horse, this is an ideal getaway for equestrians looking to live the outlaw experience from days gone by.
9. Wind River Canyon
The natural beauty of Wyoming’s geography is calling, and Thermopolis is a fantastic place to see it firsthand. Wind River Canyon, a geological marvel situated around the river that shares its name, boasts rock formations as impressive in size as they are in history.
Among the oldest formations in the world, these layered stones rise over 2,000 feet high at points and can be geologically traced back over 2.5 billion years! Want a little action to go with your view? Check out Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing Outfitter on the Reservation side of the Canyon, and head out for a wild ride on crashing rapids.
10. Merlin’s Hide Out
Part of staying like a cowboy is looking the part, and Merlin’s Hide Out in Thermopolis is a must-stop for getting an authentic look that is as functional as it is attractive. Family-owned and operated, this retailer specializes in handcrafted clothing, accessories, and home goods made of fur or leather.
In addition to stylings that are kind to rugged folks braving the chill of a Western winter, it’s a great place to stop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs you won’t find anywhere else. A buffalo fur throw pillow or bison wool mittens are sure to make stunning gifts for friends and family.
11. Round Top Mountain
There’s nothing like a good hiking adventure to stimulate the senses, and in Thermopolis, the premier place to do it is Round Top Mountain. With a summit of around 600 feet, the mountain’s climb is rife with steep inclines and jagged rocks, giving an experience close to rock climbing without the need for suspension gear.
Once at the top, you can take in the striking formations of the cliff band and peer into places like Wind River Canyon and the city itself. This hike can be accomplished in around 60 minutes, so make sure to schedule it for your outdoor getaway.
12. Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center
You can learn a lot about a place by observing its history, and in Thermopolis, every fascinating detail is on full display at the Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center. The museum has a little something for everyone, from Native American and prehistoric artifacts to the Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid’s hometown bar to part of a wooly mammoth’s leg bone.
Take a stroll through Old Town, a replica of a Wild West village featuring all the sights you may have seen on Main Street back in those days. History comes to life in Thermopolis.
FAQ: Things to Do in Thermopolis, WY
Plan Your Visit to the Thermopolis Today
Nothing makes a Western vacation like a wild mountain range, the wonder of a hot spring, or a day of trout fishing on a mighty river. Thermopolis has all of that and more. Plan your trip today.
