Wyoming
Hikers Who Love Wildlife Should Visit Wyoming’s Underrated National Monument In The Fall – Explore
If you don’t live in Wyoming, the sight of a pronghorn antelope is positively magical. These thickly-coated mammals are like a cross between a deer and a wild goat, and look so peaceful as they graze in western grasslands. Yet the moment they’re startled, a pronghorn springs into action, sprinting up to 60 miles per hour across the plains. When you spot a pronghorn on the move, you believe it’s the speediest land animal in North America. They’re also an evolutionary oddity; they look a lot like African antelopes, but they’re genetically unrelated. Believe it or not, their closest relatives are giraffes.
This is just one species you may spot in the scrubland around Fossil Butte National Monument. Shaped like a giant, striated bottle cap, Fossil Butte is a big hill composed of sedimentary rock and speckled with vegetation. The multicolored surface may remind visitors of the Dakota Badlands, as may the surrounding treeless expanses. In a state full of natural wonders — from the jagged peaks of the Grand Tetons to the cylindrical monolith of Devils Tower — Fossil Butte is easily overlooked.
Moreover, this national monument in Wyoming’s southwest corner is difficult to reach without a long drive in the backcountry. But intrepid travelers will be rewarded with big skies and eponymous fossils. And, like this underrated Wyoming state park that’s a must-visit for wildlife lovers, Fossil Butte is a fantastic ecosystem for spotting wildlife.
The prehistoric origins of Fossil Butte
Animals have lived in this spot for at least 50 million years, but back then, most of its inhabitants had fins: the land mass that would become Fossil Butte lay was at the bottom of Fossil Lake. Over the eons, deceased marine specimens left permanent impressions in the emerging rock faces. Many of the fossils here are shockingly clear, giving scientists a vivid portrait of the sizes, shapes, and textures of various lifeforms.
So far, paleontologists have identified 27 fish species and 100 different kinds of insects. The Fossil Butte visitor center displays more than 2,000 of the fossils discovered here, including the “fish wall,” “turtle wall,” and “insect end case.” The center also has an extended physical timeline, representing different stages of geology since Earth was formed, helping patrons appreciate just how ancient this region is.
If you’re looking for fauna that still roams these parts, head outside. The grounds are crisscrossed with two main hiking routes: Historic Quarry Trail and Fossil Butte Nature Trail. Together, the trails cover about four miles and are well-maintained. More rustic alternatives include Cundick Ridge Trail, Eagle Nest Point Trail, and Rubey Point Trail. None of these trails is too difficult, and you’d be hard-pressed to get lost in such a wide-open space, but do make sure to bring water, snacks, and sunscreen, especially on hot days. (These are some of the hiking safety tips everyone should know.) From the trail, you’re likely to spot pronghorns in the surrounding grasses, as well as white-tailed prairie dogs and ground squirrels. You’re less likely to encounter a bobcat, mountain lion, moose, or badger, but rest assured, they’re out there.
Getting to Fossil Butte and where to stay
Fossil Butte is definitely off the beaten path. Two hundred miles south of Yellowstone National Park and more than 350 miles from Wyoming’s state capital Cheyenne, this national monument requires effort to visit. Interestingly, Fossil Butte is closer to Salt Lake City, Utah than it is to any major Wyoming destination, and you can drive from that city’s airport — a major hub — to the entrance of Fossil Butte in a little over two hours.
This is a great location to get away from it all; the landscapes from the highway are rugged desert and prairie as far as the eye can see. You can drive for miles without passing so much as a service station. You could easily weave Fossil Butte into a scenic road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park. One consolation for venturing out so far is that entrance to Fossil Butte is free.
The closest hotels to the national monument are nestled in the little town of Diamondville. This place doesn’t have quite 700 residents, but the nearby tourist attraction supports several accommodations, most under $100 per night. Note that Diamondville isn’t next door; you’ll have to drive about 12 miles to reach town, so keep an eye on that fuel gauge. If you come during warmer months, you can hop over to Bear Lake State Park in Utah, a popular spot for swimming and water-sports. It may give you an idea what Fossil Lake looked like all those ages ago.
LARAMIE — The Wyoming Cowboys return to the Arena-Auditorium on Wednesday to host San Diego State in a Mountain West matchup scheduled for a 6 p.m. tipoff on CBS Sports Network.
San Diego State enters the contest tied for first place in the Mountain West, while Wyoming is seeking its 10th home win of the season.
The contest will be broadcast on the Cowboy Sports Network across 26 affiliate stations with Keith Kelley on the call and Kevin McKinney providing color commentary. In Sweetwater County, the game can be heard on KUGR 104.9 FM.
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Wyoming comes into the game with an 11-5 overall record and a 2-3 mark in conference play after a road loss to Nevada on Saturday. The Cowboys are averaging 84 points per game, which ranks second in the conference, while allowing 72.7 points per contest. Wyoming is shooting 48 percent from the field and holding opponents to 44 percent. The Cowboys average 8.3 3-pointers per game, while opponents make 6.4, and Wyoming leads the Mountain West at 38 rebounds per game.
San Diego State is 11-4 overall and 5-0 in conference play after winning eight of its last nine games. The Aztecs are tied atop the Mountain West standings with Utah State. San Diego State averages 82.5 points per game and allows 72.8. The Aztecs are shooting 48 percent from the field while holding opponents to 40 percent, and they average 37.6 rebounds and 17.1 assists per game.
Leland Walker leads Wyoming in scoring at 14.5 points per game and also averages a team-high 3.8 assists, ranking seventh in the conference. Nasir (Naz) Meyer is averaging 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 52 percent from the field. Khaden Bennett adds 9.8 points per game and ranks second on the team with 4.8 rebounds per contest. Bennett ranks fourth in the Mountain West, shooting over 87 percent from the free throw line, and is second on the team with 41 assists.
San Diego State is led in scoring by BJ Davis at 12.1 points per game. He is shooting 44 percent from 3-point range and is tied for the team lead with 21 made 3-pointers. Reese Dixon-Waters averages 11.1 points per game and also has 21 3-pointers on the season. Miles Heide leads the Aztecs with 5.4 rebounds per game, and San Diego State has seven players averaging at least three rebounds per contest.
The Cowboys trail the all-time series 53-42, with the first meeting dating back to Jan. 12, 1979. Wyoming holds a 27-14 record at home against the Aztecs. San Diego State won both meetings last season by a combined five points.
Wyoming will return to the road Saturday to face Fresno State at 5 p.m. MT in a game on the Mountain West Network.
CASPER, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming has produced several NFL players currently making an impact. Here’s how they did in the most recent week’s slate of games.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen was explosive for the Bills on Sunday, and Buffalo survived its playoff opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars 27–24.
Allen accounted for three of his team’s four touchdowns, two coming on the ground and the third coming by way of the pass. He threw for 273 yards on 80% efficiency, also picking up 33 yards via the rushing game.
Allen and the Bills have advanced past the Wild Card round of the playoffs every year since 2020.
In the divisional round, the Bills will face the top seed in the AFC, the Denver Broncos.
Frank Crum, Denver Broncos
Crum and the Broncos were off last week, as they earned a bye in the playoffs as the top AFC seed.
Crum will take the field against the Buffalo Bills and reigning MVP and fellow UW alum Josh Allen in the divisional round.
Marcus Epps, Philadelphia Eagles
Epps had a respectable day for the Eagles, though the team ultimately fell 23–19 to the San Francisco 49ers, marking the end of their season.
Epps had a trio of tackles for the Eagles’ secondary unit in the loss.
The former Wyoming Cowboy finishes the year with 24 tackles, including one for a loss.
Chad Muma, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots easily handled their Wild Card opponents, beating the Los Angeles Chargers 16–3. However, Muma had little impact on the result in limited playing time.
In the victory, Muma failed to record a statistic. He only took the field for 13 special teams snaps and did not play a defensive down.
The Patriots will move on to face the Houston Texans in the next round of the playoffs.
Related
A Buffalo High School senior will soon trade in her black and gold, to play for the brown and gold.
Karly Davis has signed a written offer of athletic aid, to play basketball for the University of Wyoming Cowgirls.
So far this season, she is averaging 19.5 points per game, which is 4th in Class 3A and 8th in all classes of Wyoming High School Girls Basketball.
Her average is up 1 point per game from last year.
Davis explains what she thinks it was that Cowgirl Head Coach Heather Ezell and the UW Coaching Staff saw in her that made them try to recruit her.
“I’m definitely a competitor. I think I show that a lot in my game, and I think I can shoot the ball pretty well, so I think that’s kind of what they sparked interest in me with.”
Davis adds she plans to major in elementary education.
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