Riverside recreation and natural beauty in Lander
At the base of the Wind River Mountain Range, along the banks of the Popo Agie River, Lander is a rural Wyoming town known for its outdoor recreation and small-town vibes. Main Street is lined with local businesses, from coffee shops to art galleries, while the surrounding aspen and oak-lined streets have charming mid-century homes and spacious lots. “A lot of people that move here are drawn in by the rural atmosphere and all of the nearby fishing and hunting,” says Vicki Hughes, a Realtor with Wyoming Gold Realty who has lived in Lander for over 45 years. “I love the natural beauty here. People fish in the river and from the nearby lakes and we have tons of wildlife. It’s also the kind of town where everybody knows just about everybody and people help each other in times of need. When people get sick, locals rally to raise money to help with hospital bills. And if you ever have a flat tire on the side of the road, you can almost guarantee that someone will pull over to help you within a few minutes.”
Quiet streets and mid-1900s architecture
The community’s residential streets are lined with brick ranch-style homes, log cabins and Colonial Revivals, most of which were built between 1910 and 1970. On the south side, there are a small selection of modern traditional houses built in the 2020s. “The streets here aren’t crowded. You’re spread out and can enjoy the clean and fresh air that you don’t always have in larger communities.” Near the center of town, homes sit on quarter to half-acre lots, with properties on the outskirts of Lander spanning from 1 to 8 acres. Sold prices for homes in Wyoming are not publicly available. Most listings range from $230,000 to $670,000, while larger, 21st-century builds can go for $750,000 to $1.5 million.
Local public schools and programming at the Lander Library
Gannett Peak Elementary School serves kindergarten through third-grade students and receives a B grade from Niche, while the B-plus-rated Baldwin Creek Elementary serves fourth and fifth graders. Lander Middle School earns a B-minus and Lander Valley High School receives a B. The high school offers a unique selection of career and vocational studies courses, including sports and entertainment marketing, computer aided drafting and creative foods. The Lander Library is a few blocks from Main Street and hosts regular community programs, from yoga and story times to author visits and chess club.
Recreation along the Popo Agie and fishing in Sinks Canyon
City Park sits on the south side of town and is home to baseball fields, a playground, a picnic shelter and free camp sites. Paved walking trails line segments of the Popo Agie River, while riverside parks like McManus Park and Popo Agie River Park offer open field space and picnic tables. Around 8 miles south of Lander, Sinks Canyon State Park is a popular destination for camping, fishing and mountain biking. The 600-acre park also has guided cave tours, rock climbing and riverside fishing spots where anglers can reel in rainbow trout.
Main Street businesses and an active art scene.
Main Street is lined with charming local eateries, boutiques and galleries, with some storefronts dating back to the late 1800s. The Lander Bake Shop serves coffee, tea and baked goods, along with a small selection of sandwiches and breakfast burritos. Cowfish offers burgers, a variety of seafood dishes and craft beer from Lander Brewing Company. A few doors down, The Oxbow serves classic pub fare and savory breakfast skillets. “Travelers will stop here for a few days on their way to Yellowstone,” Hughes says. There are a number of hotels lining Main Street and along the riverside. Lander also has an active arts community, with a handful of galleries downtown, including Yellowstone Trails Gallery & Studio, Alchemy and the Lander Art Center. Safeway and Mr. D’s Food Center are nearby options for groceries.
Summertime events in Lander
The town hosts numerous community events throughout the year, including Lander Brewfest, where over 20 breweries from across the region gather on the second weekend of June in Lander City Park. The event also hosts live music, distilleries and food trucks. The International Climbers Festival is each July with bouldering and ropes climbing walls, vendors and local artisans.
Driving to Riverton and nearby national parks
Wyoming Highway 789 spans around 25 miles northeast to Riverton, the largest nearby city, while United States routes 287 and 26 can take drivers around 130 and 150 miles to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, respectively. The Central Wyoming Regional Airport is around 30 miles northeast.
Written By
Jillian Pillow
