Discover Sweetwater County in Wyoming
From pioneer trails to petroglyphs, historic sites and museums, traces of the past lie beneath a veil of geographical beauty in Sweetwater County. Visitors may follow in the footsteps of pioneers who went before them by blazing their own trail through the breathtaking landmarks of the county. The untamed spirit of the West beckons visitors to Sweetwater County to experience touches of the past.
Historic Sites
- White Mountain Petroglyphs: Art enthusiasts will enjoy the natural exhibit of petroglyphs on White Mountain where the pictorial language of prehistoric people stands the test of time in the sandstone bedrock.
- Expedition Island: At this National Historical Site hikers and strollers can relive Maj. John Wesley Powell’s expeditions to map the river system to the Grand Canyon at his original starting point.
- Historic South Pass: A museum, cemetery and old cabins mark this once-thriving mining town located just outside Sweetwater County. Set to become one of the flagship historic sites in the nation, this now-booming landmark offers prospectors the chance to pan for their own gold in streams, just like the olden days.
- The Reliance Tipple: The town of Reliance came into existence by the efforts of the Union Pacific Coal Company who built a coal tipple, which is still explorable today.
Natural Wonders
- Lake Flaming Gorge: The remnants of the area’s prehistoric lake are found at Flaming Gorge where modern-day trophy trout fishing is top-of-the-line.
- Killpecker Sand Dunes – The product of ancient volcanoes, flat-topped buttes and spires provide wild horse lookouts, as well as four-wheeling fun.
- Pioneer Trails: Sweetwater County boasts more miles of still-visible pioneer trails than anywhere else in the country. Wagon wheel ruts on the legendary Oregon Trail are still visible and accessible by car and on foot.
- Rock Formations: Thousands of years of sandstone and shale erosion reveal six of Mother Nature’s stunning rock formations – Castle Rock, The Palisades, Pilot Butte, Kissing Rocks, Tollgate Rock and Boar’s Tusk – luring photographers and naturists alike.
Museums
- Rock Springs History Museum: Showcases its coal mining and multinational heritage, but the largest artifact is the building itself, constructed in 1894.
- Sweetwater County Historical Museum: Set on one of the few historical sites still preserved in the state, this museum offers snapshots of the county’s history through its large photograph collection.
- Natural History Museum: Located at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs this museum houses life-size dinosaur replicas, fish and plant fossils, pottery and other prehistoric artifacts.
