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No crowds, western charm, great food and beer, 400+ climbing routes, all while being at the gateway to the Wind River Mountains? Lander Wyoming sure is an underrated gem. I’ve had the pleasure of spending a month here the last two Summers while living in my van. It’s an area I’ve actually considered living in because of how many fun things there are to do in Lander Wyoming! So, I’m bringing all my knowledge of this area together to tell you the BEST things to do in Lander Wyoming.

Where is Lander Wyoming?

Lander is located in Central Wyoming, along the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River and is considered the gateway to the Wind River Range (some of the most beautiful mountains I’ve backpacked in!). It definitely has a small town feel with the population being around 7,500, but sure is loaded with fun things to do. Especially if you seek outdoor adventures like myself.

Getting to Lander:

This is not a place where you can rely on public transportation, so you will want a vehicle to get around and do these activities. If you are flying in, there are three airports nearby:

• Casper/Natrona County International Airport (CPR) – 2 hours from Lander
• Jackson Hole Airport – 2.5 hours from Lander
• Salt Lake City International Airport – 4 hours from Lander

Watch the Vlog!

My partner and I have been on the search for a place to call home and this was partly why we spent so much time here in Lander. Check out our vlog from our time here and as we browse the housing options too.

Best Things to do in Lander Wyoming:

1. Backpacking and Hiking near Lander Wyoming:

I know I’ve already mentioned this several times, but Lander has access to some of the most underrated STUNNING backcountry I have ever experienced. I have done multi-night trips, quick overnights and day hikes that I highly recommend if you’re in this area. If you want to see some of what we got up to in the mountains – watch my vlog!

• Cirque of the Towers Trail: 23.5 miles with 3,871 ft elevation gain (I recommend 2 or 3 nights for this one!) Loop through towering mountain views and multiple lakes on this circuit!
• Stough Creek Basin Trail: 14.8 miles and 2,572 ft elevation gain (I recommend 1 to 2 nights here). End at a beautiful lake with peaceful fishing and camping. I saw one other group camping, so it was incredibly quiet and relaxing here.
• Silas Lake Trail: 7.1 miles with 1,069 ft elevation gain. A moderate trail up to a stunning lake
• Popo Agie Falls Trail: 3.6 miles with 764 ft elevation gain. This is a well known, must-see hike in Lander! Especially on hot days.

2. Camp at Worthen Meadows Reservoir (or spend the day here!)

If you’re into paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming, fishing or any other water activity – I highly recommend driving up to Worthen Meadows Reservoir. Worthen Meadows Reservoir is roughly 5,000 feet higher than the city of Lander, making it a MUCH cooler place to camp than in town if visiting in the Summer. It is only about a 35 minute drive out of Lander. Camping is first come first serve and $20 per night.

This campground is actually right next to the trailhead for Stough Creek Basin mentioned above, so it made for an easy lake day after hiking! You won’t want to miss watching sunset from the dock or on the water.

3. Watch a Rodeo

If you’re not in Lander on July 4th for their yearly rodeo, yes you are kind of missing out. But luckily there are rodeos that happen all summer in Pinedale, Wyoming and Riverton Wyoming nearby.

Make sure you check the schedules for the time you are going. Often tickets are only available at the gates. We had such a fun time getting our beers, hot dogs, and settling in to watch all the various rodeo events. It’s not something I’m familiar with, so it was a very fun experience and something I would definitely do again.

4. Climb at Wild Iris

Even if you aren’t into climbing, the cliffs at Wild Iris are beautiful and have camping for $10 per night. But, if you are a climber, this area is loaded with fun routes with so much variety and without the crowds. My partner and I had such a blast camping and being able to walk to the climbing crag from our camp. It might be some of our favorite climbing in the United States so far.

Wild Iris is about 35 minutes out of town, making it a perfect day trip to climb and then come back and grab dinner in town.

Some of my personal favorite routes were in the Okay Corral Section of Wild Iris (where they all have western named routes).

Hike up to the cliffs to watch sunset if you make it out here. It is absolutely stunning.

5. Eat Dinner Outside!

Lander really has some good food and beer options and also a LOT of outdoor seating. Lander is very dog friendly too, which made life a lot easier for us with our red heeler. Here are some of my favorites:

• Eat at Cowfish (a James Beard Award semi-finalist). This is one of the “fancier” establishments in Lander Wyoming. It was such a treat to get their jalapeño margarita and Ancho Chili Glazed Meatloaf. The outdoor seating is next to Gannett Grill that has live music occasionally on weekends. So you may get lucky with dinner and a show.
• Gannett Grill next door is also known as “the Lander Bar”. It is a classic order at the counter pub with substantial outdoor seating and live music. It was our go-to and seems to be the town hang out. I HIGHLY recommend the burgers, wings, pizza and salads.
• Pushroot Brewing is a newer addition to town and a great one. Live music on weekends, food truck rotation and infusions that can be added to beers (DO try the cardamom). The outdoor and indoor seating is dog friendly and the exposed brewery equipment gives this place a fun vibe.

6. Explore a Cave at Sinks Canyon State Park

Not only does Sinks canyon have biking trails, hiking trails, climbing routes and river access, but you can also explore a cave here. Check out the state park website for more information on exploring this area with park staff as your guide!

There are also 24 campsites here that are first come first serve and pretty close to town!

7. Take a Pottery Class at the Lander Art Center

I had no idea that my introduction to pottery would take place in Lander Wyoming… but I’m really glad it happened. The Lander Art Center is very impressive with what they do for the community. Even if you don’t sign up for a class (Wednesdays at 5pm $15 per person), you should stop in to see the current art displays they have of local artists.

Our instructor, Shannon, was incredible and really made us feel welcomed and connected to the community in Lander.

8. Get Fresh Baked Goods

If you’re a cafe person, be sure to check out these breakfast gems:

• Lander Bake Shop. This has been my go-to for delicious sweet treats, bagels, caffeine and a good, pet friendly work space.
• Lincoln Street Bakery is just as good with lots of great tables to hang out at and delicious baked goods and sandwiches.
• Lander Bread Share with Whitebark Cafe: the Lander Bread Share was our go-to for fresh sourdough bread. I wish I had some right now to be perfectly honest. They sell next door at Whitebark cafe – which is a very cozy spot to order a coffee and a croissant.

Where to Stay in Lander Wyoming:

Clearly there are so many fun things to do in Lander Wyoming. And with that, a lot of different places you can stay depending on your preferences!

Camping:

• Worthen Meadows Reservoir: First come first serve camping on a lake
• Sinks Canyon State Park: First come first serve camping near town
• Wild Iris Campground: first come first serve camping among the trees 40 minutes outside of town.
• Lander City Park: Lander actually promotes that you can camp for FREE in their city park (up to 3 nights)
• Dispersed Camping: there are definitely some areas nearby that provide access to free dispersed camping. If you don’t know how to find that or what that means check out my guide HERE.

Hotels:

• Lander Millhouse (renovated millhouse with lots of cozy charm)
• Frontier Lodge (a bit of old school western for you!)
• Holiday Home Retreat (for large groups)
• Lander Motel (Retro vibes, recently remodeled)

Resources to Note:

If you are staying in Lander for a while or are living on the road, here are some key resources we enjoyed being based out of our vans:

• Elemental Gym: bouldering and fitness gym with excellent showers and a $12 day pass.
• On Site Laundry Lounge: a cafe with a laundromat, showers, and connected to a delicious thai restaurant.
• Stay at Lander City Park up to 3 nights for free
• Wild Iris Mountain Sports: supply for any hiking, backpacking, climbing trips!

Best Time to Enjoy the Best Things to do in Lander Wyoming:

Lander is known for having harsh winters and hot dry summers. I personally don’t mind the heat in the summer’s here, as I end up driving higher in elevation to get cooler temperatures! For ideal weather, you’ll want to visit mid June through early September. Lander truly never gets “overly crowded” so you don’t have to plan to come around shoulder season as much like other destinations.

Other Destinations Nearby:

Not only are there plenty of things to do in Lander, but it could easily be a stop on a longer road trip! Check out some of my other guides:

• 20 Best Things to do in Red Lodge Montana
• Sunbeam Hot Springs in Stanley Idaho

Packing Recommendations:

There are a few essentials I was REALLY glad to have while exploring the Best Things to do in Lander Wyoming:

• Sun Hoodie: a UV protectant layer to protect your skin from the sun
• small day pack
• Hiking shoes (my go-to’s!)
• Hiking poles

Conclusion: Best Things to do in Lander Wyoming

I hope this inspired you to plan a trip to this very underrated part of Wyoming. It could easily be added on to a road trip to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park! I’d be curious if there’s anything you think I missed on this “best things to do in Lander Wyoming” list. If you spend any time there, you’ll quickly see just how special this community and outdoor space is.

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