Sheridan

Northern Wyoming ranching town at the Bighorn foothills, with Western saloons and mountain access.

Sheridan sits in the Powder River basin at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming, a ranching town that has kept more of its character than most places its size. The historic downtown along Main Street has well-preserved brick buildings, good restaurants, and the Mint Bar — a classic Western saloon with saddles for bar stools, open since 1907. King's Saddlery and Museum and the Historic Sheridan Inn (a National Historic Landmark where Buffalo Bill auditioned Wild West performers) complete the essential Main Street circuit.

The real draw is the landscape. The Bighorn National Forest rises steeply to the west, with fishing streams, alpine meadows, and the spectacular switchbacks of US Route 14 climbing over the range. The Tongue River Canyon trail — sheer limestone walls following the river through the foothills — is a highlight accessible as a day trip. Cloud Peak Wilderness offers serious backcountry hiking, and in winter the area gets deep snow for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

Sheridan is also the gateway to the region's ranching heritage. The Brinton Museum in Big Horn, 12 miles south, is an outstanding collection of Western and Native American art in a working ranch setting — one of the best small museums in the Rocky Mountain West. The Trail End State Historic Site, a Flemish Revival mansion on Clarendon Avenue, tells the story of the cattle barons who built this town. The Sheridan WYO Rodeo in July is one of the largest in the state.

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Bars and Cafes

The Mint Bar at 151 North Main Street is the essential Sheridan experience — a genuine working cowboy bar with saddle bar stools, a century of memorabilia on the walls, and an atmosphere that no amount of craft-beer branding can manufacture. It has been here since 1907 and shows no signs of changing.

Beyond the Mint, Sheridan's downtown has a growing number of good coffee shops and informal restaurants serving local ranching families and the town's steady stream of outdoors visitors. The WYO Performing Arts and Education Center, housed in a restored 1920s building on Main Street, is worth checking for live music and events during your visit.

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Things to Do

Sheridan's appeal divides neatly between town and mountains. Downtown has a well-preserved Main Street with some genuinely characterful stops: the Sheridan Inn, a National Historic Landmark where Buffalo Bill once held cattle auditions on the veranda; King's Saddlery and Museum, a working saddlery with a legendary collection of Western artefacts; and the Mint Bar, Wyoming's most famous saloon, open since 1907.

The Trail End State Historic Site, a Flemish Revival mansion built by cattle rancher turned Governor John Kendrick, gives a vivid picture of the Gilded Age Wyoming ranching elite. The Brinton Museum in nearby Big Horn — a short drive south — is an outstanding collection of Western and Native American art in a handsome ranch setting.

For outdoor activity, the Bighorn National Forest rises directly to the west, with the Tongue River Canyon trail offering spectacular limestone canyon hiking just a short drive from town.

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When to Go

Summer (June through August) is the main visitor season, when the mountain roads are open, the hiking trails are accessible, and the town has its most animated atmosphere. The Sheridan WYO Rodeo in July is the biggest annual event — one of the larger rodeos in the northern Rockies, drawing competitors and crowds from across the region. Book well ahead if visiting rodeo week.

Spring and autumn are quieter and pleasant for hiking and driving. Winters are cold — Sheridan sits at about 1,100 metres — with reliable snow in the mountains for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Antelope Butte Ski Area in the Bighorn National Forest is small but serves serious skiers willing to make the drive.