Bear River State Park
601 Bear River Dr
Evanston, WY
A green riverside break off Interstate 80 where you can watch bison and elk graze a few minutes from the highway.
Bear River State Park is the kind of stop that turns a long haul across Wyoming into a good memory. Just off Interstate 80 on the edge of Evanston, it wraps a couple hundred acres of river bottom in paved and gravel trails, with small herds of bison and elk grazing where you can watch them from the path.
It is a day-use park, free and welcoming, built as much for a quick leg-stretch as for a real ramble. A visitor center full of Wyoming wildlife displays anchors the entrance, and an arched footbridge carries you over the Bear River into a wilder natural area on the far bank.
What Guests Love
- Watching resident herds of bison and elk graze in view of the trail
- A green, easy riverside walk right off the interstate to stretch your legs
- The arched footbridge over the Bear River into a quieter natural area
- A free wildlife visitor center that makes a good first stop
Worth Knowing
- It is a day-use park with no overnight camping
- The bison and elk are a managed, fenced herd kept for viewing, so keep back and never approach the fences
- Winter can bring snow and cold to this high valley, though the paved paths often stay walkable
- Combine it with the Bear River Greenway for a longer walk into Evanston
Details
Evanston, WY
Learn about Bear River State Park
The bison and elk
The park keeps managed herds of bison and elk for public viewing and education, and they are the reason many people stop. The bison, the animal at the heart of the northern plains, graze in a large enclosure near the trail, and the elk have called the park home since the mid 1990s.
These are wild animals kept behind sturdy fencing, not petting-zoo stock, so the rule is simple: enjoy them from the path, keep your distance, and never try to feed or approach them. Early morning and evening are the best times to catch them up and moving.
Trails and the river
A little over a mile of paved trail loops the developed side of the park, easy for strollers, wheelchairs, and bikes. From there an arched footbridge crosses the Bear River into a natural area with several more miles of packed gravel trail, quieter and closer to the water and the willows.
The paved path ties into the City of Evanston's Bear River Greenway, so you can keep walking or riding toward the ice ponds, a river pavilion, and downtown. It makes the park feel less like a fenced attraction and more like the green front porch of the town.
The river and its wildlife
The Bear River is the largest river in North America that never reaches the sea, looping through Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho before it empties into the Great Salt Lake. Where it runs through the park, the willows and cottonwoods draw songbirds, waterfowl, and beaver, and mule deer slip through in the early morning.
This corner of Wyoming was long the country of the Eastern Shoshone and their neighbors, who followed the game and the seasons across the Bear River valley. The mountain-man rendezvous of the 1820s and 1830s were held not far from here, drawing trappers and tribes to trade along these same waters.
Visiting
Take exit 6 off Interstate 80 and follow the signs a short distance to the park entrance, where you will find parking, restrooms, and the visitor center. The center is worth a few minutes for its wildlife mounts and travel information before you head out on the trails.
The park is open for day use year round. Summer is green and busy, but a crisp fall or a quiet snowy morning has its own appeal, and the paved paths usually stay clear enough for a walk.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Evanston
Downtown Evanston and the Roundhouse
About 2 miles north
Evanston's historic railroad downtown, anchored by the restored Union Pacific Roundhouse and Railyard, a rare surviving locomotive turntable and shop complex.
Fort Bridger State Historic Site
About 30 miles east
Jim Bridger's 1840s trading post turned Army fort, a key stop on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails, with restored buildings and a famous Labor Day rendezvous.
Bear River Greenway
Connected to the park
A paved city path along the river linking the state park to Evanston's ponds, pavilion, and downtown, easy for walking and biking.