Lander, Wyoming is a gorgeous quintessential small western town nestled at the foothills of the Wind River Mountain Range. It has rated within the top five on a list of “Best Little Towns to Live and Play In”, in National Geographic publications a couple of times.

It may may be small town with a population just over 7,000, but it is teeming with culture and history and is home to one of the most ideological diverse groups of individuals I have ever imagined, let alone had the privilege of sharing life with. Service and commerce runs deep here and a localized economy is driven by individuals and not corporations that rapidly protects independent businesses and keeps big chains out. I have lived in much bigger towns that don’t offer a ¼ of the festivals, events, community celebrations and other galas. 
 

Lander is located on the east side of the Wind River Mountain Range in west central Wyoming and is part of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. It is located within the Washakie Ranger District and adjacent to the 101,870-acre Popo Agie Wilderness. This area of “Wind River Country” has 21 peaks over 12,000 feet in elevation and over 300 alpine and sub-alpine lakes and ponds.

Wind River Fishing

Lander has been rated the “Number 1 Trout Fishing Town in the Northern Rockies” by Fly Rod & Reel Magazine for good reason. There are a total of 270 miles of trails from six developed trail heads. 193 miles of non-motorized trail are accessible for x-country skiing, hiking, pack animals and biking; while the remaining acreage is available for ATV access in the summer and snowmobile access in the winter. In addition, premier climbing and mountaineering areas such as Wild Iris, Sinks Canyon and the Cirque of Towers complete an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.