Rock Springs
Around Rock Springs
Photo: Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Wyoming · 41k people
Rock Springs
“Energy Capital of the Nation”, “Home of the Red Desert”
Big skies, open lands, and a warm Western welcome
Vegas GoldNavy Blue
Welcome to Rock Springs—where the high desert meets the Gorge. Whether you're here for the rodeo, the fishing, or just passing through, you'll find a friendly nod and a good story. Enjoy the wide-open spaces and the quiet nights.
Clubs for Rock Springs
No clubs for Rock Springs yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Rock Springs. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Rock Springs. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Expedition Island Launch point of John Wesley Powell's 1869 expedition down the Green and Colorado rivers.
- Rock Springs Historical Museum Local history housed in a former city hall.
- Wyoming Frontier Prison Historic prison in Rawlins offering tours.
- Sweetwater County Museum Museum in Green River with pioneer and natural history exhibits.
- Bunning Park Central park with a band shell and summer concerts.
- Flaming Gorge Dam Massive dam and visitor center on the Green River.
- Outdoors Fish for trout on Flaming Gorge
- Outdoors Ride ATVs in the Killpecker Sand Dunes
- With kids Sweetwater County Museum
- With kids Bunning Park
- Evenings Line dance at the Cowboy Bar
- Evenings Catch a concert at the Sweetwater Events Complex
- Locals love rodeo arenas
- Locals love reservoir boat ramps
Through the year
- Sweetwater County Fair August County fair with livestock, carnival, and exhibits.
- Flaming Gorge Days July Music festival in Green River with bands and family activities.
- Rock Springs Rodeo July Annual rodeo at the Sweetwater Events Complex.
- Wyoming High School Rodeo Finals July Statewide high school rodeo championship.
High desert climate with big temperature swings. Winters are cold and snowy, summers hot and dry. Best time to be out is late spring and early fall. Best: Late spring and early fall are ideal—warm days, cool nights, and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “The Gorge”
- Flaming Gorge Reservoir
- “Sweeties”
- Rock Springs locals
Getaways
- Vernal, UT - Dinosaur National Monument See dinosaur fossils and stunning canyons.
- Logan, UT - Bear Lake Turquoise lake for boating and swimming.
- Steamboat Springs, CO - skiing Ski resort town with hot springs.
- Ogden, UT - Snowbasin Skiing and mountain biking.
Local flavour
Rooting for Wyoming Cowboys (NCAA), Denver Broncos (NFL)
Eat and drink
- chicken fried steak A classic diner dish in the area
- bison burgers Local game meat often featured in restaurants
- cowboy coffee Strong, campfire-style coffee
Where people go
- Rodeo grounds Local rodeo events and arenas
- Reservoir recreation areas Flaming Gorge and other outdoor spots
- Flaming Gorge Dam Historic dam and recreation area.
- Killpecker Sand Dunes Active dune field for off-roading and hiking.
- White Mountain Petroglyph site with panoramic desert views.
Heritage and traditions
Rock Springs is proud of its multicultural immigrant heritage, shaped by coal mining and the railroad, and its rugged high-desert landscapes around the Red Desert and Flaming Gorge.
This time of year in Rock Springs
- Hunting season Fall Fall is for antelope and deer hunting in the Red Desert.
Say it like a local: “the Dunes” — Killpecker Sand Dunes
Festivals
- International Day September Celebrates the town's diverse ethnic communities with food, music, and dancing.
- Christmas in the Park December Bunning Park is transformed with holiday lights and displays.
Landmarks with a story
- Chinese Cemetery Burial ground of Chinese railroad and mining workers, a reminder of the town's immigrant past.
- Rock Springs Union Pacific Depot Historic railroad depot, now a museum and event space.
- Sweetwater County Courthouse Historic government building in Green River, the county seat.
Food traditions
- Pasties Cornish miners brought these hand pies filled with meat and potatoes; still a lunch staple.
- Sarma Cabbage rolls from Eastern European immigrant families, often served at community gatherings.
- Dutch oven cooking A Western tradition for camp cooking, especially for rodeos and outdoor events.
Music and arts
- Ethnic folk music Polka, waltzes, and songs from the town's many immigrant groups.
- Community Fine Arts Center Hosts local theater, concerts, and art exhibits.
A little history
- 1885 Rock Springs Massacre
- Late 1800s Coal mining boom
- 1840s-1860s Oregon Trail
- 1964 Flaming Gorge Dam
Rivalries
- Rock Springs vs Green River high school football Annual cross-county showdown.
- Wyoming Cowboys vs Colorado State Rams Border war in college football.
- Game day High school rodeo
- Game day Friday night football
- Outdoors Ride ATVs in the Killpecker Sand Dunes
- Outdoors Fish for trout on Flaming Gorge
- With kids Ride the historic carousel at Bunning Park
- With kids Tour the Wyoming Frontier Prison
Residents speak with a Western accent, influenced by the rural and mining heritage, with a mix of Midwestern and Mountain West pronunciations. They often drop the 'g' in '-ing' words and use frontier terms like 'crick' for creek.
Only here
- The Killpecker Sand Dunes are the largest active sand dunes in North America.
- The Red Desert is the largest unfenced area in the lower 48.
- The historic carousel at Bunning Park has been operating since 1922.
- The Chinese Wall is a striking sandstone formation in the Red Desert.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for strong winds, especially in spring.
- Winter temperatures can drop well below zero, so have a good winter coat.
- The town is spread out, so a car is essential.
- Try a pasty at a local diner to taste the mining heritage.
- Learn to pronounce 'Rock Springs' with a flat 'a' as in 'rock' and 'springs'—it's straightforward.
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Nearby
Every areaKemmerer–Star ValleyWyomingA valley of stars and fossil dreams.VernalUtahWhere the red rock holds ancient stories.EvanstonWyomingHigh desert, high heartPinedaleWyomingWhere the Wind Rivers touch the sky.Roosevelt–DuchesneUtahBig skies, red rock, and quiet roads.RawlinsWyomingRed earth, big sky, and warm springs.RivertonWyomingBig skies, warm hearts.LoganUtahMountain views, Aggie pride
Rock Springs, WY. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.