FEW PLACES PRESENT AS ICONIC an interpretation of the American West as Wyoming.

The High Plains roll in from the east, encompassing ranch land and rodeo country. Isolated mountain ranges spring up, the vanguard of the Eastern Rockies — the Bear Lodge Mountains, the Sierra Madre, the Bighorns, the Laramie Mountains, the Winds. And then, in the northwestern corner of the state, you have some of America’s most cherished places — the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone.

From pristine wilderness to small-town adventure bases to abundant wildlife, Wyoming is a celebration of the American landscape. Below are 30 images that best demonstrate that fact.

1

Mormon Row, Grand Teton National Park

On the western edge of Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone, the Teton Range runs from north to south like the world's most impressive border wall. In the late 1890s, Mormon settlers arrived and put down stakes, and today the remnants of these homesteads, protected within Grand Teton National Park, provide some pretty incredible photo opps. Seen above is the John Moulton barn.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

2

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park

Of all of Yellowstone's attractions, the Grand Prismatic Spring may be my favorite. One of the largest hot springs in the world, it's certainly the most picturesque, its vivid perimeter colors a result of bacterial colonies that feed off minerals in the water. Find the spring in the Midway Geyser Basin, along the Firehole River.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

3

American Bison, Lamar Valley, Yellowstone

Around the turn of the 20th century, when the American bison was all but extinct, there was only one place you could find the animal roaming freely in the US: Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone has been at the forefront of the species' resurgence, and today the Lamar Valley is one of the best places in the world to see them, in addition to the park's other wildlife.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

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4

Jenny Lake

A focal point of Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake sits at the feet of the main peaks and, when the water is still, casts reflections of this remarkable landscape. Visitors can boat on the lake, and many hiking trails originate from its shores.
Photo: Billy Gast

5

Devils Tower

In northeastern Wyoming, Devils Tower rises from the hills like a beacon. Some geologists believe the igneous formation—basically hardened magma—is all that remains of an ancient volcano. The tower features prominently in the lore of Native American peoples of the region and is sacred to several tribes.
Photo: Space][rucker

6

Lower Yellowstone Falls

North of Yellowstone Lake, the Yellowstone River makes a dramatic entrance into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, flowing first over the Upper Falls and then, a quarter mile on, forming the Lower Falls seen above. At 300+ feet tall, it has twice the height of Niagara. Multiple viewing platforms are open to the public, including the one visible at top right.
Photo: trent roche

7

Elk, Yellowstone

Bison, bears, wolves, elk—Yellowstone is one of the best places in the world to see big mammal species in the wild. In summer, the park is home to several elk herds, totaling from 10,000 to 20,000 individuals.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

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8

High Plains

The eastern portions of Wyoming are dominated by the High Plains, where you might get a view like this.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

9

Wildflowers and Tetons

Wildflowers spotted near Jackson, with the Tetons in the background. Fertile soil is what drew the first settlers to this area in the 1800s.
Photo: Louise Palanker

10

Bighorn National Forest

The Bighorns are one of several mountain ranges in the state that together mark the boundary of the Eastern Rockies. Two scenic highways cut through Bighorn National Forest in north-central Wyoming—this is Highway 16.
Photo: Ron Reiring

11

Ranch horses

Wyoming is home to wild horses—good places to see them include the Pryor Mountains near Bighorn Lake, and in the southwest of the state where the Green River becomes the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. These horses were photographed on a ranch.
Photo: Adam Bailey

See the full series
Wyoming: Forever West
12

Morning Glory Pool, Yellowstone

Morning Glory Pool is another popular and well-photographed feature of Yellowstone. Usually placid, it can erupt as a geyser as a result of seismic activity.
Photo: CheWei Chang

13

Wyoming road trip

From the plains to the forests to the mountains, Wyoming is a killer destination for a road trip. Check out our 5 itinerary suggestions.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

14

Lone bison, Lamar Valley

In 1902 there were as few as 20 bison remaining in Yellowstone. Today, the park population numbers in the thousands.
Photo: Neal Herbert, Yellowstone National Park

15

Island Lake, Bridger Wilderness

The Wind River Range extends from the area around Lander northwest towards the Tetons and contains most of Wyoming's tallest mountains (40+ peaks higher than 13,000ft). The picturesque Island Lake, shown above, sits at the foot of Fremont Peak, the state's third tallest, and makes for an excellent backcountry base camp.
Photo: Steve Schroeder

16

Jackson rodeo

Wyoming is a rodeo state, tracing the tradition back to working cowboys who'd gather to show off their skills. Cheyenne Frontier Days, held each year in July, is the premier event, but towns like Cody, Lander, and Sheridan are also great rodeo destinations. The event above took place in Jackson.
Photo: alh1

17

Llama trekking

Llama trekking in the Winds is just one of our 10 outdoor adventures you didn't know were possible in Wyoming.
Photo: m01229

18

Grand Prismatic Spring

Trails run up and around the Grand Prismatic Spring, providing views like this.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

19

Grizzly, Swan Lake Flats

Several hundred grizzly bears reside in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, making it America's best-protected habitat for these large mammals. Not everyone who visits Yellowstone will see a bear, but chances are better here than pretty much anywhere else.
Photo: Jim Peaco, Yellowstone National Park

20

Yellowstone sunset

Steam from the geysers mixes with the light of a setting sun to create an iconic view of Yellowstone.
Photo: Tom Babich

21

Beartooth Highway

US Route 212, an All-American Road known as the Beartooth Highway, straddles the Wyoming-Montana border and has been called "the most beautiful drive in America." The 68-mile scenic stretch is easily combined with a trip to Yellowstone.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

22

Lower Yellowstone Falls

The trail along the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone gives several vantage points from which to see the Lower Falls.
Photo: abhisawa

23

Sunset on the plains

It doesn't take a mountain range to create beautiful scenery in Wyoming.
Photo: Mason Moir

24

Bison in snow, Lamar Valley

Bison have been living in Yellowstone since prehistoric times and are well suited to all seasons in this part of the country.
Photo: Neal Herbert, Yellowstone National Park

25

Fremont Peak, Wind River Range

At 13,745ft, Fremont Peak is the state's third-tallest mountain. It's located deep in national forest land, meaning that to climb it usually requires a three- to five-day expedition.
Photo: Douglas LeMoine

26

Winter in Yellowstone

Peak visitation in Yellowstone is May to September, but around 100,000 people do arrive in the winter months. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and wildlife viewing are popular activities.
Photo: AirHaake

27

Worlds collide

Yellowstone's geothermal springs help feed its rivers, at some places creating a confluence that allows for bathing in water that's not too hot, not too cold.
Photo: llee_wu

28

Jackson Hole powder day

Most of the downhill skiing in Wyoming takes places in and around the Tetons at big-name resorts like Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee, though smaller lift-serviced mountains are scattered around the state.
Photo: najarich

29

On top of the world, Big Horn Mountains

With all its wild country and opportunities to explore, it's easy to find your own top of the world in Wyoming.
Photo: Charlie Coffey