【The Wild Poetry of the American West】In Wyoming, I touched the Earth's primal heart
This time, I plunged headfirst into Wyoming, rated by Lonely Planet as "the most adventurous state in the US"! Here you'll find towering snow-capped mountain peaks, bubbling geyser secrets, and cowboy towns where horses gallop freely—the very air smells of freedom~ The guide is ready, follow me to unlock the true way to experience the American wilderness👇
🗓️ 3 days 2 nights wilderness adventure
📍 Location: Western USA, Yellowstone National Park core area + Grand Teton Mountains
🚗 Transportation: Direct flight to Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), rent a 4WD pickup truck (recommended Ford F-150, no problem on gravel roads)
Day 1: The stunning lake and mountain scenery of Grand Teton
- Morning: Drive 40 minutes from the airport into Grand Teton National Park, first stop straight to Jenny Lake! The lake’s water is blue-green from glacier melt. Rent a canoe ($50/hour) to paddle to Hidden Falls, the bow cutting through the mirror-like lake surface, with the 13,000-foot Teton peak soaring behind you. Remember to use a wide-angle lens for the panorama!
- Noon: Eat a "Beef Burger" ($18) at the lakeside Jenny Lake Lodge restaurant. The patty has a smoky flavor, paired with lingonberry sauce to cut the richness. Sitting outdoors eating a burger with snow-capped mountains in view, the American wilderness vibe is full on~
- Afternoon: Hike the first 3 kilometers of Cascade Canyon Trail, along the way encounter marmots and elk. Streams formed by glacier melt hide among wildflowers—splashing in the water is super refreshing!
- Evening: Stay inside the park at Signal Mountain Lodge (cabin with fireplace, $200/night). At dusk, shoot the sunset at Jackson Lake Overlook, where the mountains turn pink-purple and boats return to the harbor—like a movie scene!
Day 2: The song of heat and ice in Yellowstone
- Morning: Drive 1 hour to Yellowstone National Park’s south entrance, head straight to West Thumb Geyser Basin. See the Abyss Pool’s sapphire blue boiling water up close, with sulfur scent in the mist—it feels like being on another planet!
- Noon: Try "Grilled Trout with Wild Rice" ($26) at Lake Yellowstone Hotel restaurant by Yellowstone Lake. The fish is freshly caught from the lake, crispy skin and tender meat~
- Afternoon: Self-drive the Artist Point route, overlook Yellowstone River cutting through the canyon at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone waterfall viewpoint. Rainbows from the waterfall spray hang on the cliffs—shoot with a telephoto lens for an epic shot!
- Evening: Stay outside the park at Canyon Village Lodge (simple American style, $160/night). Late at night, drive to Mammoth Hot Springs area for stargazing. Light pollution level 1, the Milky Way is so clear you can see star trails!
Day 3: Cowboy towns and geological wonders
- Morning: Drive 2 hours to Devils Tower National Monument, hike the 1.3-mile Tower Trail around the base. Red basalt columns rise sharply, climbers on the rock walls look like ants—looking up is breathtaking!
- Noon: Pass through the town of Cody, check in at The Cody Cattle Company, eat the "Pulled Pork BBQ Platter" ($22). The meat juice soaks the bread, paired with an ice-cold root beer soda~
- Afternoon: Return to Jackson Hole town, shoot the cowboy arch at Antler Park, visit the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, order a "Wyoming Whiskey Sour" ($14), and sit at the genuine leather saddle bar watching street performers!
- Evening: Watch the sunset at Snake River Overlook outside town. The Snake River winds like a ribbon across the prairie, snow-capped peaks edged in gold in the distance. Remember to wear cowboy boots for atmospheric photos!
🌟 Hidden ways to enjoy the sights
- Grand Teton star photography: During the new moon, go to Taggart Lake, use a tripod for long exposure. The lake reflects the Milky Way and Teton peaks together. Recommended settings: ISO 3200 / 15-second exposure.
- Yellowstone midnight geyser: Old Faithful erupts under moonlight at 1 a.m. Check eruption times in advance and bring a flashlight to guard against wildlife.
- Devils Tower Native culture: Every Saturday afternoon there is an Indian "Sun Dance" performance. Get free feather souvenirs at the visitor center.
🍴 Local secret menu
✅ Must-eats:
- Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (Jackson Hole): "Cowboy Ribeye Steak" +$42, served with grilled vegetables and whiskey sauce. The restaurant’s chandeliers are all made of antlers!
- Gunbarrel Grill (Jackson Hole): "Beef Ribs" +$38, smoked with cherry wood for 10 hours, meat so tender it falls off the bone.
- Cowboy Coffee (Yellowstone South Entrance): "Lingonberry Muffins" +$12, served with honey butter. Go early or they sell out!
❌ Warning: Few restaurant options inside Yellowstone. It’s recommended to buy "Pepperidge Farm Tuna Cans" + crackers at Jackson supermarket—a lifesaver during traffic jams!
🏨 Accommodation recommendations and warnings
✅ Recommended:
- Jenny Lake Lodge: The only lakeside cabin in Grand Teton, open the window to see snow mountain reflections. Book 6 months in advance!
- The Wort Hotel (Jackson Hole): Vintage hotel opened in 1941, rooms have leather furniture and Western-themed paintings. 2-minute walk to Antler Park.
❌ Be cautious: Avoid motels outside Yellowstone’s west entrance; coyotes often roam at night, safety is a concern!
⚠️ Wilderness survival guide
1. Weather schizophrenia: It can snow heavily in July! Pack down jackets and waterproof pants. Yellowstone is over 2000 meters elevation, temperature difference can exceed 20°C.
2. Ultimate bear safety: Bring binoculars (to spot bears early), a whistle (don’t run if you see a bear, shout loudly), and download the "Yellowstone Bear Aware" app.
3. Booking superstition: Hotels inside Grand Teton/Yellowstone open bookings for the next year on December 1. Set alarms to grab Labor Day and Independence Day slots—don’t be late!
4. Fuel alert: No gas stations within 100 km near Devils Tower. Fill up in Cody before heading out.
💬 Final wilderness confession
Wyoming is like a long poem without punctuation, each page filled with nature’s wildness and tenderness—you’ll crawl out of your sleeping bag at 4 a.m. for a snowy mountain sunrise, stop for half an hour on a wilderness road to watch migrating bison, and stomp to country music until dawn in a cowboy bar. Here, humans are not the center of the world, just spectators in nature’s theater. This humble yet awe-inspiring experience is probably the ultimate meaning of travel~
If you’re tired of the city’s concrete jungle and want to hear the wind howl through the canyons, Wyoming’s wilderness is waiting for you to bring your courage and set off🌿