Wyoming National Parks & National Park Service Sites: A Complete Guide

Wyoming is home to two national parks, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, but the state’s public lands story extends beyond those two landscapes.

Across Wyoming, protected sites include a national parkway, national monuments, a national historic site, and a national recreation area. Together, they preserve geothermal basins and mountain ranges in northwest Wyoming, 52-million-year-old fossil beds, a sacred rock tower on the Northern Plains, a canyon with some of the darkest night skies in the region, and the fort that witnessed America’s westward expansion. Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and the parkway that connects them sit within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the largest nearly intact temperate ecosystems on Earth.

At National Park Trust, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to protecting parks early and expanding access, we believe these places matter for long-term stewardship as well as recreation. When people experience parks and historic sites firsthand, whether watching wildlife, climbing a rock tower, or visiting a historic fort, they are more likely to care about their future.

How Many National Park Service Sites Are in Wyoming?

Wyoming has:

• 2  National Parks
• 5 additional National Park Service sites

These include:

• A national parkway: John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, which connects Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
• National monuments like Fossil Butte National Monument in southwest Wyoming and Devils Tower National Monument in northeast Wyoming, the nation’s first national monument
• Historic sites such as Fort Laramie National Historic Site, a former fur trading fort and military post on the Northern Plains
• National recreation areas like Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, known for canyon views and dark night skies

Together, these places tell the ecological and cultural story of Wyoming.

The Two National Parks in Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho): At 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone became the first national park in the United States in 1872. It is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. Visitors can look for bison and elk in Hayden Valley, and if lucky, wolves and grizzly bears. Look for white pelicans on Yellowstone Lake and pronghorn grazing in open valleys.

The park also has outstanding geothermal features, including Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, and Old Faithful, plus the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, with its colorful walls and thundering waterfalls. Stop at a visitor center to get oriented, check wildlife and trail conditions, and join ranger programs.

Traveling the park roads is part of the experience. The scenic loops connect the major geyser basins, canyons, and wildlife-viewing areas, and traffic often slows for roadside animals. In summer, visitors enjoy boating on Yellowstone Lake, fishing (with the required permit), and horseback riding with park concessioners. Those seeking solitude can head into the backcountry camping zones with a permit, while campgrounds throughout the park serve visitors who want an easier overnight stay. In winter, much of the park transforms into a quiet snowscape, and visitors can explore by snowmobile on guided tours or go snowshoeing on ranger-led walks.

Grand Teton National Park (Moose, Wyoming): The spectacular Teton Range and its iconic peaks offer a balance of backcountry and front country experiences. The park sits at the edge of Jackson Hole, the broad valley that stretches beneath the mountains. Visitors can kayak or float the Snake River, go boating on Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake, and sightsee and watch wildlife along the park roads. Backpacking and mountaineering are also popular in the Tetons, and backcountry camping is available by permit.

Some of the park’s best-known stops include:

• Oxbow Bend: a quiet curve of the Snake River, known for mirror-like reflections of Mount Moran and sightings of moose, waterbirds, and other wildlife at dawn and dusk.
• Signal Mountain: a summit road that rewards drivers with sweeping views across Jackson Hole and the Teton Range.
• Jenny Lake: a favorite for shuttle boat rides, hiking, and easy access to the mountains.

Wildlife watchers can also look for pronghorn and grizzly bears in the valley and along the river corridors. Fishing and horseback riding offer additional ways to experience the landscape, and a stop at a visitor center helps with trip planning and ranger programs. For those who don’t want to camp, lodges and cabins are available in the park, while campgrounds serve those who do.

Other National Park Service Sites Across Wyoming

Wyoming’s NPS sites extend beyond the two national parks:

• John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway (Moran, Wyoming): This 24,000-acre parkway connects Yellowstone and Grand Teton. It recognizes Rockefeller’s contributions to the National Park System, including at Grand Teton, Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, and Virgin Islands National Parks.
• Fossil Butte National Monument (Kemmerer, Wyoming): Lets visitors see the birds, mammals, reptiles, fishes, insects, and plants that lived in Wyoming’s subtropical environment during the Eocene, 52 million years ago. It preserves part of the 595,200-acre Fossil Lake and the Wasatch Formation.
• Fort Laramie National Historic Site (Fort Laramie, Wyoming): Began as a private fur trading fort in 1834 and became the largest and best-known military post on the Northern Plains before its abandonment in 1890. It witnessed the sweep of America’s western expansion and Indian resistance to encroachment on their territories.
• Devils Tower National Monument (Devils Tower, Wyoming): The nation’s first national monument, designated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 under the new Antiquities Act. Molten rock cooled underground into the tower’s distinctive columns, and erosion later exposed them. The cracks between the columns make it popular with climbers. It is also regarded as a sacred place by Northern Plains American Indians.
• Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (Lovell, Wyoming, and Fort Smith, Montana): Offers outstanding opportunities to experience natural and cultural resources in a setting largely free of human-caused disturbance. Visitors get unobstructed canyon, mesa, and mountain views, plus excellent dark night skies because there are no large urban areas nearby. Visitors can explore more than 17 miles of trails and four historic ranches, with wilderness solitude and little modern noise.

Each of these places plays a role in protecting cultural heritage, geology, wildlife, and public access.

Conservation & Stewardship

Wyoming’s public lands protect:

• Geothermal features and hot springs
• Mountain ranges and scenic rivers
• Wildlife habitat
• Fossil beds and unique geology
• Sacred and historic landmarks

But long-term protection depends on more than designation. It depends on connection.

When a student watches bison in Hayden Valley, climbs beneath Devils Tower, or explores Fort Laramie, they gain firsthand experience with public lands. That experience often shapes how they view conservation and stewardship for years to come.

How National Park Trust Supports Parks in Wyoming

National Park Trust works nationwide to protect park land early and expand access so more people can experience America’s public lands.

In states like Wyoming, that includes:

• Supporting youth access initiatives
• Helping remove barriers to first-time park visits
• Elevating awareness around the importance of long-term protection
• Partnering with communities to increase engagement

By connecting young people and families to places like Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Devils Tower, we help build the next generation of park stewards.

Frequently Asked Questions About National Parks in Wyoming

How many national parks are in Wyoming? Wyoming has two national parks: Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Five more National Park Service sites bring the state’s total to seven.

What is the largest national park in Wyoming? Yellowstone National Park is the largest, at 2.2 million acres. Most of the park is in Wyoming, with smaller portions in Montana and Idaho.

When is the best time to visit national parks in Wyoming? Summer and early fall, roughly June through September, are the most popular times to visit, when park roads and most services are open. Many roads close to cars in winter, so check each park’s National Park Service page before you go.

What was the first national monument in the United States? Devils Tower, in northeast Wyoming. President Theodore Roosevelt designated it in 1906 under the Antiquities Act.

Stay Connected to National Park Conservation Efforts 

Protecting national parks and historic sites requires ongoing care and community support.

If you care about the future of public lands we invite you to stay connected. Learn more about how you can support conservation efforts across the country.

Together, we can help ensure these landscapes remain protected and accessible for generations to come.

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