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Guernsey State Park, Guernsey, WY

We had such a nice time with Jay and Cherie last night that we met up with them again at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum in Lion’s Park. They rode up on their gleaming aluminum tandem bicycle in matching “Airstream blue” jerseys, and we pulled in with the Airstream behind us.

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The museum captures the history of Frontier Days, which is a ten-day event that has been held in Cheyenne for over a century. The centerpiece of Frontier Days is a big rodeo, and the museum has an extensive collection of photos and memorabilia from the rodeo over the decades. It also features a very large collection of carriages and western art such as bronzes. Definitely a good stop if you’re in Cheyenne.

Keeping in our new philosophy of getting lost for a few days, we decided to wander just a bit off the beaten Interstate path, over to see Fort Laramie National Historic Site. That was well worth the 30-mile detour, especially with the books I’ve been reading about western history. Fort Laramie was central to many important events that happened in the mid-19th century, including the gold rush in the Black Hills, the Fetterman Massacre, Wounded Knee, and the events that surrounded the violent deaths of George Custer, Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, and many others.

Emma discovered there was a Junior Ranger program, and scurried around with Eleanor among the many restored buildings to collect the answers she needed for her twentieth Junior Ranger badge! That was probably the fastest badge she has ever earned, completed in under two hours.

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Meanwhile, I ran into a couple from Washington, Randy and Maureen, whose 1977 Argosy 24 was parked right next to ours. That’s the same model and length of trailer we used to own. They gave me a bunch of tips on traveling in Washington and we agreed to try to meet up in a few weeks when we get there. Instant friends ““ that’s one of the many things I love about owning an Airstream and doing my job.

ft-laramie-sign.jpgTonight we decided to stop at Guernsey State Park ($12 non-resident rate, no hookups), just about 13 miles from Fort Laramie, on a lark. We knew absolutely nothing about the park, but it turned out to be a spectacular one. The entrance road winds for miles along the shores of a lake, dipping down among canyon walls and yielding fantastic views at almost every turn. Little campsites are sprinkled along the shore, but most are not level. After about 3-4 miles of twisting along the road (at 10 MPH, the maximum safe speed for a big trailer like ours), we settled on a very quiet spot in a cove. Nobody else is here.

The water is low right now, so it looks like the Bay of Fundy at low tide. We walked out onto the dry mud bottom and found chunks of jasper lying in the mud, and crawfish shells. The wind is blowing strong and steady up above the canyon, but down here in our little secluded campsite it just makes the trees sway and rustle a little. This is a great place.

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30 Responses to “Guernsey State Park, Guernsey, WY”

  1. Virgil Turner, Montrose, CO Says:

    Rich,

    Not sure your route from here but I recommend that you check out Ayres Natural Bridge just to the west of Douglas. I visited there in the 1960’s while camping with my Dad. I took my family back thirty years later and they loved it as much as I did the first time. It is a county park with a nice first come first serve campground. The natural bridge is quite a sight. It has one of the highest flows under a natural bridge. Attached is a Wiki article on the bridge.

    Enjoy,

    Virgil

  2. Dirk Says:

    Hi,
    When in western Wyoming we always try to see the beautiful museums in Cody. Really well done and Smithsonian quality. Would be fabulous for Emma too as they not only have lots of displays about the Old West but also huge art displays by Charlie Russell and Fredric Remington. Well worth an all day visit if you can make it. Hope the weather holds out a little longer for you. Fall is in the air!
    Happy Trails

  3. Leigh Says:

    We LOVED Guernsey! We too were the ONLY campers there (July 2005)!

    Check out:
    http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/btrail/signaturerock.html

    Watch out for the local bar where they pour a glass of wine to the rim – we now refer to it as a “guernsey pour.”

  4. Bobby Says:

    I’m finally beginning to appreciate the fact that neat, beautiful places are almost anywhere you go, and most are sparsely visited. It’s great!

  5. puck Says:

    ooh, washington. camping there was a big part of my being a wee thing (because we lived there and couldn’t afford to go too far!). my dad lives just outside of dash point state park now. it’s beautiful, especially up along the peninsula.

  6. abe Says:

    Rich or Emma,
    I have never seen a Junior Ranger Badge, could we see a photo of one or several?
    Sure do enjoy your your blog!