Evanston - Tourist Attractions / Parks

Located in the town of Evanston, Bear River State Park is a nice place to shake off the highway miles. The Bear River here is just a small stream, strikingly small in comparison to its size when it reaches the western side of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, but provides a tranquil reprieve from the Red Desert surrounding Evanston. There are several short trails here that run along the river accessed during the summer by bike or foot and during winter by Nordic skiing. Visitors can also enjoy a bit of wildlife viewing here, as Bear River State Park is also home to a small herd of Elk and another small herd of Buffalo. Visitors should check with the Wyoming State Park Division or the local visitors center for more detailed information on fees and park regulations.

A 40 minute drive from Evanston, Fort Bridger is one of the best preserved forts along the Oregon and Mormon Trails. Fort Bridger was constructed in part by, and named for, infamous mountain man Jim Bridger and was a popular stopping area for weary travelers moving westward along the pioneer trail system. Fort Bridger has served as a military outpost, a pony express stop, and a temporary home for the Shoshone Indians before they were granted a reservation in the Wind River area. Visitors today can stroll around the fort, mostly rebuilt by the State of Wyoming but done so in a archival manner, visit the museum which has a good variety of military and Indian artifacts and wander around the replica trading post. Special events at Fort Bridger include a rodeo on the fourth of July and a popular mountain-man rendezvous taking place annually on Labor Day Weekend. Visitors should check with the visitor center in Evanston for more detailed information on pricing, events and attractions at the fort.