The demands of everyday life have left many Americans shut in, tethered to electronic devices and fueled by caffeine. Wyoming is the ideal place for a wellness trip, allowing you to unplug and reconnect with your well-being for a relaxing weekend or an extended vacation.
Filled with breathtaking scenery, teeming with wildlife and sparsely populated, Wyoming is a natural refuge from the stress and worry of modern life. Wellness trips are a readily available way to tap into the boundless resources the state has to offer to replenish your body, mind and spirit, whether by exploring the public lands in Wyoming’s state and national parks on your own or tapping into the array of private services for a guided experience.
Here are just some of the countless ways to pursue wellness in Wyoming.
Hot springs
Natural hot springs pools are a popular way to relax and unwind, and generations of people have sought the healing benefits of soaking in the warm mineral water. Several opportunities exist throughout the state to enjoy natural hot springs, including Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Granite Hot Springs Pool near Jackson, Saratoga Hot Springs Resort, and Saratoga Hobo Hot Pool.
Fly-fishing
The tranquil water and abundant wildlife along Wyoming’s more than 27,000 miles of rivers and streams make fly-fishing an inviting way to connect with nature. Numerous outfitters and guide services are available to assist throughout the state. Central Wyoming’s Miracle Mile section of the North Platte River is one of the state’s most popular trout fishing destinations. Guide services, including Wyoming Fly Fishing and Grey Reef Anglers in Casper and The Reef Fly Shop in Alcova, can help navigate this section of blue-ribbon fishing.
Yoga
Many Wyoming resorts and wellness providers offer yoga classes, often with a Western flair. At Brush Creek Ranch, visitors can take part in yurt yoga, yoga hikes and yoga classes at the cliffside Falcon Peak Overlook. Morning yoga hikes at Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson include lessons about the area’s ecology and wildlife. Bear Basin Adventures offers a ladies’ getaway that includes daily yoga and meditation along with its hiking, fishing and horseback riding activities. Medicine Wheel Wellness in Jackson focuses on balancing spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health and offers yoga classes along with therapeutic services, wellness education workshops, retreats and more. Serenity Wellness Retreat in Basin includes equine yoga in its full array of wellness services, allowing participants to practice breathing and stretching along with their horses while striving to connect with the animals’ breathing, movements and minds.
Horseback riding
Horses remain core to Western culture and are common companions in adventures offered at resort ranches throughout the state. With 55 miles of trails and a 28,000-square-foot equestrian arena, Brush Creek Ranch offers private lessons, trail rides, cattle drives and other equestrian activities for all skill levels. Vacation packages at Diamond 4 Ranch in Lander include daily horseback riding, trout fishing and hikes and wildlife viewing. Blue Sky Sage in Big Piney strives for healing, health and serenity of heart and mind through horseback riding clinics and retreats.
“What makes Wyoming so great for wellness trips is obviously the landscape and all the lack of people, which gives way to true peace and quiet and a rejuvenating environment,” said Kimberly Coats of The Boyer YL Ranch in Savery. “There are so many great outdoor activities in the winter and summer. You can do epic hikes, ride hundreds of miles of gravel roads on your bicycle or motorcycle or relax in some of the higher-end, spa-type resorts.”
Spas
Travelers looking to be pampered can find a broad selection of full-service spas at hotels and resorts throughout Wyoming. Amangani offers a comprehensive menu of services, including massage, acupuncture, Ayurveda, Shirodhara, Reiki, Chakra balancing and sound therapy. Four Seasons Spa services at Spring Creek Ranch include soul readings, body wraps, massage and facials. Trailhead Spa and The Spa at Magee Homestead at Brush Creek Ranch offer a full range of spa services, including massages, body wraps, facials, sauna, steam room and hot tub. Escape Day Spa & Boutique in Rock Springs provides massage, reiki, facials, electrolysis and more.
Healthy cuisine
Wellness trips can spark shifts in diet to more healthful eating. Regional ingredients are the mainstay of dining at Amangani, a full-service resort hotel that features farm-to-table produce and local sustainable meats. Serenity Wellness Retreat serves an Ayurvedic cleanse, including oatmeal, rice, fruits and Kitchari, which is a mixture of organic basmati rice and yellow mung dal beans. A certified integrative nutritionist and holistic health life coach at Medicine Wheel Wellness balances services that include physical therapy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage and body work, sleep consulting, spiritual life coaching and shamanic healing.
Mountain sports
Opportunities for alpine and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, boating, rock climbing, nature hikes, guided tours, camping and more are abundant in Wyoming. The state offers millions of acres of outdoor activities throughout its eight national forests, recreations areas, monuments and about a dozen state parks. Yellowstone National Park covers more than 3,470 square miles and includes more than 600 lakes and ponds and about 2,500 miles of rivers and streams. Grand Teton National Park spans 485 square miles and includes the Snake River and six lakes.
Jeremy Belnap, proprietor of Magee Homestead at Brush Creek Ranch near Saratoga, encourages visitors to step out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves to do something they’ve never experienced before, which often leaves people feeling energized with an overall positive outlook on life.
“When we look at overall wellness we believe horseback riding is very connecting,” Belnap said. “Fly fishing and being on the river with no one around can be meditative. Yoga in the mountains is another avenue of wellness. All of these hobbies and activities are just great for your overall wellness physically and mentally. Then there are more traditional methods of fitness and wellness including trail running in the million-acre Medicine Bow National Forest with great opportunity for elevation change.”
