Western Wyoming needs no introduction for adventurers seeking one of Mother Nature’s best playgrounds for all seasons. In addition to some of the spectacular natural scenery, the area also offers gorgeous, small, mountain towns full of inviting charm. One of these towns, Evanston, is the “Gateway to the West” and a major jumping-off point for adventures in the mountains. Whether you are heading to Yellowstone, the first national park in the world, to see baby wild animals or are chasing steep and deep lines at Jackson Hole Mountian Resort, you’ll want to pass through quirky and charming Evanston on your beautiful road trip from Salt Lake City. Despite only having approximately 12,000 people, Evanston is one of the biggest cities in the state and has a bison herd on the outskirts of town at Bear River State Park.
Twice in its history, Evanston has been a boomtown. At its heart, though, Evanston is a railroad town, starting as a tent city of Union Pacific railroad workers and still showcasing its history as a stop on the iron road. As the city has grown, it has stitched together a rich, cosmopolitan history with the local scenery, creating a unique and fascinating mecca of outdoor recreation. Before refrigeration, Evanston was a key hub in keeping fruit from California fresh as it traveled across the country. The Union Pacific dug out two ponds in the Bear River to create ice blocks during the cold winters; now, they’re used for fishing and are a popular picnic site.
The quirky spirit of the West at Evanston, Wyoming
Although you can no longer ride a train through the Rockies to Wyoming, many of Evanston’s quirks pay homage to the railroad. Downtown’s Depot Square, with a red telephone booth, is an outdoor museum, wedding venue, and a popular gathering place. During the summers, you’ll likely hear live music as you walk past outdoor concerts on Thursday evenings, leading up to the Cowboy Days celebration over Labor Day Weekend. After, pull up a chair at Kate’s, the “Cheers bar of Evanston,” just a block away with your favorite drink.
Evanston formerly had a very large Chinese community and still celebrates the Lunar New Year as part of its history. Archaeologists found over 300,000 Chinese artifacts from Evanston’s former Chinatown a century ago, many of which are housed in the city’s Chinese Joss House Museum by Depot Square. More recently, this site has been expanded to include a gazebo and a Chinese garden. Across the street, Wonderful Inn, a beloved local restaurant, has a wide selection of Chinese food.
Long before the railroad, prehistoric creatures roamed across these parts of Wyoming and Utah. While Evanston does have the quirky Antares Fossils & Minerals store, complete with replica dinosaur sculptures, dinosaur enthusiasts young and old can’t miss visiting Fossil Butte National Monument just one hour north. The whole family will love digging for bones, and some nearby private quarries may let you take your find home. While there, venture out on two well-maintained hikes through the high desert, though pace yourself and bring a hat, plenty of sunscreen, and water for your trip.
Evanston: Wyoming’s gateway to the mountains and stars
