Content produced in partnership with Campbell County
If you’re looking to make your next vacation monumental – make it a trip out to the Wild West. Located in the scenic and picturesque northeast corner of Wyoming, Campbell County is just a short drive from Devils Tower, the nation’s first national monument and one of the country’s most extraordinary. Situated on the main route between Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Yellowstone National Park, it’s everything you look for in a road trip -- convenient, adventurous and surprisingly cultural.
The Must-Do
Experience the nation’s first national monument, Devils Tower, which is about 60 miles east of Gillette and 110 northeast of Wright. Rising up like a Phoenix, you’ll be awed by it’s looming presence. President Theodore Roosevelt used the 1906 Antiquities Act to establish this wondrous monument that towers 1,200 feet above the Belle Fourche River and the surrounding grasslands and Ponderosa pine forests. Plains Indians have revered this geologic wonder for thousands of years. Today, it’s one of the most popular places for climbers to test their stamina or casual travelers to admire its beauty.
Enjoy the Outdoors
You’re traveling to Wyoming to experience the greatest the outdoors have to offer, and Campbell County is no exception. Whether you plan on hiking or trying your hand at a less traditional sport like archery or disc golf, fulfill your desire for adventure and scenery in Gillette and Wright. For fishing, camping and mountain biking, Keyhole State Park has plenty of low-key recreational opportunities, while the Big Horn Mountains will appeal to adventurers with their glacially-carved valleys, rolling hills and impending mountain walls ripe for exploration.
Learn How the West Was Won
For a true Western experience, visit the 55,000-acre Durham Buffalo Ranch. One of the largest bison operations in America, you can tour the massive property or go on a guided hunt of the prized Pronghorn Antelopes, the fastest land animal in North America to really test your shot.
To learn about the Indians who once called the area home, you’ll want to visit the Vore Buffalo Jump. A naturally formed sinkhole, the intriguing archeological site uncovered perfectly preserved bones and artifacts that show how the early settlers used the geography to catch and trap migrating animals. Open to tour from June through Labor Day, it’s a real live history lesson.
Called the “Energy Capital” of America for oil and coal industries booming through the ‘70s, this unique region supplies a large percent of the nation’s electricity. You can tour the coal mines for an interesting look at how our country manages its mineral resources and what goes into mining these precious minerals.
Get Cultured
For a more traditional cultural experience, Gillette’s downtown area thrives with theatres, art galleries and film productions. The Heritage Center at the CAM-PLEX regularly features the area’s top entertainment like Broadway shows, concerts and dance performances. You can also see top local artists on the Avenues of Art, make your own at the AVA Art Center or catch the latest blockbuster at the local movie theater – the choice is yours.