Evanston sits in the Bear River Valley in Wyoming's southwestern corner, right against the Utah state line. It's a working railroad town — the Union Pacific runs through here — and it has the unpretentious, practical character that comes with that history. The High Uinta Mountains rise to the south, the Bear River winds through town, and the whole area feels genuinely western without trying to be.
Bear River State Park is the obvious starting point. Elk and bison roam the grounds year-round, and the paved trail along the river makes for an easy walk or bike ride. Downtown holds a few surprises, including the Uinta County Museum and the historic Depot Square, built around the restored Union Pacific Railroad Complex. The Chinese Joss House — a reconstructed Chinese temple that reflects the role of Chinese laborers in building the transcontinental railroad — is worth a visit. The Downtown Historic District has about sixty well-preserved railroad-era buildings.
Evanston is a practical base for exploring the Uinta Mountains, one of the few major mountain ranges in the continental US that runs east-west rather than north-south. The Wasatch-Cache National Forest begins just south of town and offers serious hiking and fishing in summer, snowmobiling in winter.