Dubois DRIVE

Enjoying one of the most spectacular settings in the West, Dubois rests in a valley between jagged peaks of the Absaroka and Wind River Mountains and the high desert landscape of the Badlands. The region is abundant with wildlife and populated by recent settlers from all corners of the US and the world as well as descendants of the homesteaders and loggers who began living here a century ago.

 

The laid-back, independent Western way of living welcomes newcomers and allows them to assimilate at their own pace. We enjoy a small-town lifestyle with a subtle undercurrent of cosmopolitan sophistication.

​

The natural environment

​

Secluded in a mountain valley, an easy drive away from world-famous Yellowstone Park and Jackson Hole, Dubois is an unspoiled Old West town surrounded by publicly owned wilderness.

The surrounding area boasts some incredible features:

​

• 53 mountain peaks in the Wind River Range over 13,000 feet

• 626 lakes and reservoirs

• 2,057 miles of rivers and streams

• 5,242,085 acres (85% of the county) of publicly owned land

• Wyoming’s highest peak, Gannett, at 13,804 feet

• 7 of the largest glaciers in the Rocky Mountains, and dozens more

• 2.1 pronghorn antelope and only 4.1 people per square mile

• 300 days of sunshine per year

• Almost 200 miles of the Continental Divide

• More than 70 miles of the Oregon Trail, much of it on public land

Here you can enjoy the soul-nourishing outdoor experiences that only vast expanses of untouched nature can bestow.

Go hiking in the mountains or badlands. Explore the vast wilderness on horseback. Catch a fish (or plenty of them) -- or simply paddle the Wind River or one of our many lakes in a kayak.

Enjoy the views and the exhilaration on a mountain bike. Go snowmobiling for miles in the wilderness, or explore the same wilderness while Nordic skiing in a silent forest under a bright blue sky.

Go camping in the nearby forest. Discover new horizons by exploring offroad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

More Activities

Our four museums, galleries, and shops draw visitors from all over. During the summer, our legendary small-town rodeo is popular with locals as well as visitors on Fridays, and the novice-friendly square dance is a great way to spend a Tuesday evening. Locals enjoy the bowling alley and arcade all year round.

 

A mere day trip away, there's even more to explore, including a restored gold mine and ghost town, two casinos, a wild horse sanctuary, the Wind River Indian Reservation, and of course, Jackson Hole.

Climate

 

The Upper Wind River Valley is the “banana belt” of northwest Wyoming. Dubois ranks above average for days of sunshine and on Sperling’s comfort index. The dry desert climate keeps the town cool in summer and creates mild winters compared to nearby towns such as Jackson.

 

Don’t be fooled by the numbers you may see on weather apps. On most winter days, we’re quite comfortable running out to get something out of the car without putting on a coat. Layering suffices to keep us warm, and we might sit out on the back porch with a glass of wine in the late afternoon. We don’t need air conditioning in the height of summer, because opening the windows overnight is enough to keep the house cool all day.

 

Economy

​

Lacking mineral and oil deposits, the Upper Wind River Valley has been spared the boom-and-bust economy of other parts of Wyoming. In the half-century since the area’s last lumber mill closed, the Dubois economy has been based on a quiet mixture of ranching, tourism, and arts and crafts.

​

All this has been transformed by the steady expansion of high-speed internet to the Valley. Today the area remains peaceful and geographically remote, but a new breed of pioneers is arriving to take advantage of this resource. Quite a few of the area's residents work from home, in fields such as engineering, design, coding, consulting, publishing, and law. 

​

The high quality and favorable teacher-student ratio at the local K-12 school, availability of full university scholarships and the proximity of Central Wyoming College with a branch location in Dubois and main campus in Riverton to the east, offer opportunities for employee training and workforce development for companies wishing to take advantage of new technology.

​

Wyoming’s business-friendly tax structure makes this region ideal for those seeking a new business opportunity.There is a requirement for a business license within Dubois town limits which can be requested at the Town Hall. 

 

New business opportunities

​

Informal local surveys indicate that there are many new businesses that would be welcomed and would have a ready customer base in Dubois. Some of these include: a microbrewery and pub, drive-through car wash, , barber shop, art and crafts gallery, mercantile/general store, chiropractic office, mental health counseling, rock shop, light manufacturing (e.g. after market snowmobile parts, supplement bottling), call center, welder, general contractor, and so on. 

​

New businesses that have succeeded recently on our main street include a gourmet coffee shop, a flower shop, a boutique and bicycle repair store, a cooperative featuringing locally handmade products, and the Honey House, which sells  local honey and honey-based products. New restaurants are always more than welcome and well patronized.

​​Housing

​

Residences in Dubois range from modest apartments and prefabricated homes to large log-built mountainside lodges. Newcomers may choose homes within town limits, some of them fronting on the Wind River, or they may find a residence at the edge of a forest on a mountain slope or nestled at the base of a draw in the badlands. For further information, please click here.

 

Further information

​

A comprehensive listing of organizations and services is available here.