Rawlins: Discover History, Art, and Trails

Rawlins offers travelers different ways to experience culture, history, and the outdoors. During your stay, you can choose from a tour of the former Wyoming State Penitentiary, exploring downtown, museum exhibits, and trails with different themes. Topics range from geology and murals to railroads, transportation links, cattle and sheep ranching, and mining. If you’re looking for a hotel in Rawlins, this overview can help you shape your trip around the interests that matter most to you.

Trails Through Rawlins and to Rawlins Uplift

The Outdoor Walking Trail in Rawlins includes 7.5 miles of paved trail through the city. Its route connects the Continental Divide Trail, Main Street in downtown, and the historic grounds of the Old Frontier Prison. The Rawlins Uplift Interpretive Trail leads from Rawlins Springs to Rawlins Uplift; interpretive signs there cover local history, geology, and other topics. The trails have different focuses: the Outdoor Walking Trail is described in terms of its length, paved surface, and connections to places in the city, while the Uplift Trail is described by the topics covered by its interpretive signs.

Wyoming Frontier Prison and Its Museum Exhibits

Wyoming Frontier Prison offers immersive tours of the former Wyoming State Penitentiary. The facility can only be visited as part of a tour. Wyoming Frontier Prison also includes an exhibit about the current Wyoming State Penitentiary and a separate prison museum. The museum exhibits can be viewed for free at your own pace. This distinguishes the guided tour of the facility from the self-guided viewing of the museum exhibits. Tour times may change, so check the current schedule before your visit.

Art and History Downtown

The downtown art tour uses twelve murals to highlight the history and natural beauty of south-central Wyoming. The art and history tour includes ten stories, with topics ranging from the Transcontinental Railroad to modern energy production. The historic city tour takes you through the nationally designated historic downtown district and to other historically significant places. It can be completed at your own pace and takes about 60 to 90 minutes. The murals, the ten stories, and the historic district each have a different focus; the approximate duration also helps you plan this tour into your stay.

Carbon County Museum

The Carbon County Museum’s collection includes more than 30,000 artifacts and archival materials. Its exhibits explore the heritage of cattle and sheep ranching and mining throughout Carbon County. An exhibit titled “How Did We Get Here: Travels Through Carbon County” covers the routes, transportation links, and journeys that connected Carbon County with the wider West. Exhibit availability may change, so check before visiting to see if this exhibit is still on display. Its focus is on all of Carbon County, extending beyond individual stories from downtown Rawlins.

Rawlins and Long-Distance Routes

In September 2016, Rawlins was designated a “Continental Divide Trail Gateway Community.” The city is near the midpoint of the more than 3,000-mile Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. On the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, Rawlins is at the midpoint of the mapped sections. These locations relate to two different routes: the first describes Rawlins’ position near the middle of a long-distance hiking trail, while the second places it at the midpoint of the mapped sections of a mountain biking route.

More Outdoor Recreation

Rochelle Ranch Golf Course is an 18-hole course with a pro shop and driving range. Seasonal operations may change, so check the current information before visiting. This gives you a specific recreational option to consider when planning your trip, alongside the historical and cultural attractions.

Explore more destinations: Saratoga, Elk Mountain.

For the broader travel overview: Carbon.