We took a day trip on Friday after Tofurkey Day...headed west of Casper.
Castle Gardens (not a park or anything, just BLM land)
There were a bunch of petroglyphs carved into the formations.
And cool scenery...
(only picture Dad willingly let me take of him...and it was him taking a picture of me)
Wyoming's highpoint, Gannett Peak (13,809 ft) - check! This is one of those states where just seeing it counts...because it's a four day backpacking trip just to get to the hike to the top.
And more scenery...
Saw an eagle's nest.
But no real eagles, only this one.
And of course antelope! Scared a big herd driving out of Castle Gardens, they crossed the road in front of us and ran up the hill.
Next stop, Thermopolis...the world's largest mineral hot springs (as you'll soon see painted on the side of a hill...so it's gotta be true)
But first, we drove by Boysen Dam on the Wind River, to add to my dam tour of Wyoming.
Wind River, with mineral deposits from the hot springs in background.
The water was so hot (imagine that) you could see it steaming.
Close-up of mineral deposits, with some ice.
Dad telling me I should see the overhang I was standing on...but he was one to talk.
Wildlife!
In case you didn't believe them...it was painted on the hill.
The deer even liked the warm pools of mineral water.
Newer modern Park Service bath house...versus tacky looking older domed bathhouse.
The park also has a state maintained bison herd.
And while we were in the park, we wondered why there was so much "evidence" of deer (aka poop). But at dusk we found out why, tons of deer descended on the park and the town of Thermopolis.
Pretty sunset over Boysen Reservoir on the drive back to Casper.
Interesting to note, and put things in perspective - Thermopolis is the largest town in Hot Springs County, at a whopping 3,009 people! And just misses making the top 20 largest cities in Wyoming by 289 people.
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