15 Little Known American West Towns You Have To Visit
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Sophia
Author
The American West has to be one of the most beautiful regions on the globe. From the time of the earliest pioneers to the gun-slinging cowboys of legend, the towns of the West have developed a certain charm and mystique that can’t be matched anywhere else. Check out the following list of best charming towns in the American West and plan a wild adventure!
Black Hawk, CO, USA
This gambling town is a historic mining settlement founded in 1859 during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush. Today, Black Hawk is home to only 128 permanent residents, making it the least populous town in Colorado. Besides the great casinos (it has more than Atlantic City, New Jersey), Black Hawk provides visitors with a glimpse into the mining history of the state.
Pioche, NV 89043, USA
This is one of Nevada’s most historic towns, and it offers some great dining to boot. The Historic Silver Cafe, a home-style restaurant, is the longest standing restaurant in the area. A few popular menu items include handmade tacos and Philly steak sandwiches. Pioche also offers several other tourist attractions, including Boot Hill, the Million-Dollar Courthouse, and the Thompson Opera House.
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Moab, UT 84532, USA
Mountain biking is a big deal in Moab—some claim it has some of the best trails in the world—in addition to rock-climbing and hiking. And the location, with its stunning crimson peaks and arches, is to die for. This is the place to go if you’re an adrenaline junkie looking to set up your base camp in a charming small town. There’s only one main street in Moab, but the sense of community is really strong.
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Las Cruces, NM, USA
Nestled between the dramatic Organ Mountains to the east and the powerful Rio Grande to the west, Las Cruces is home to a number of fine art galleries, museums, a thriving music scene, and beautiful desert landscape all around. This place is also known for its insanely nice weather: Las Cruces averages about 350 days of clear blue skies per year.
Jackson, WY, USA
There’s pretty much no outdoor activity that you can’t do here. Whether you prefer to walk, hike, swim, ride, sled, ski, or even catch a lift in a hot air balloon, Jackson is a great place to visit. Besides its close proximity to Grand Teton National Park, this town is surrounded by epic scenery and offers some great downtown spots, like their historic movie theatre and the Rusty Parrot Spa.
Stanley, ID 83278, USA
This place is teeny when it comes to population (there are only 122 residents at last count), but it’s big on beauty. Set against the jaw-dropping background of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, you come to Stanley for the sweeping panoramic views of Idaho’s choicest cuts of nature. When you're done exploring, make the Sawtooth hotel your quaint and cozy base camp.
Kanab, UT 84741, USA
A little bit campy, a little bit Wild West, and a bunch of beautiful. Kanab is surrounded by some of the most stunning landscapes in Utah, and it knows it. While in town, you’ll find gloriously tacky tourist traps, retro-style lodgings, and even some recreated Western film scenery. If you like kitsch AND incredible views, this is where you want to go. While you’re in Kanab, check out the nearby Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, or the gorgeous Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
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Greybull, WY 82426, USA
This small town is filled with flowers, campers, and old-fashioned charm. Strolling through the town, it might be hard to tell what decade you’re in. You’ll find charming houses with trellises of colorful blooms, a cheerful downtown, and lots of cute places to pick up one-of-a-kind knick knacks. During your visit, be sure to stay at the historic Greybull Motel and grab a hot slice at CC’s Pizza.
Deadwood, SD 57732, USA
In addition to having a name that is straight out of an old Western film, Deadwood has strong ties to actual famous historical events. Buffalo Bill met his end in this little town, and visitors can visit the final resting places of he and Calamity Jane, among other notable characters. Many of the hotels have movie props from famous Western films, and each hotel has its own modern casino. There are plenty of opportunities to learn about the history of the West, or just kick back and enjoy the small town charm of Deadwood.
Breckenridge, CO 80424, USA
If you’ve heard of Breckenridge, you’re probably a skier. Tucked into the majestic Rocky Mountains, this little hamlet does offer some grade-A slopes and powder, but there’s a lot more to be had here as well. Breckenridge has an adorable downtown area, complete with historic architecture and speciality food shops. It’s also a great place to go hiking, fishing, and try your hand at some white water rafting. Though the area has become a bit more resort-oriented in the past few years, people who are unfamiliar with Colorado should definitely put Breckenridge on their hit-list.
Alma, CO, USA
When you walk into a bar in Alma, you’re treated like a regular. But that might have something to do with there being only one bar in all of Alma. Don’t let that scare you off, though. Besides a gorgeous location, Alma has that old-fashioned, slightly tacky feel that guarantees you and your family will feel like locals in no time. There’s plenty of hiking, climbing, and horse-riding to be had, and the town’s quirky-nature is sure to charm you. Head to nearby Wheeler Lake for a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. Oh, and did we mention that Alma is billed as the highest incorporated community in America at a (literally) breathtaking 10,578 feet?!?
Bozeman, MT, USA
A quaint and well-maintained small Western town that's also considered one of the most objectively beautiful places in the country, Bozeman is chock-full of history and charm. Wild horses can frequently be seen roaming the outskirts of town. This town’s historic theater, The Ellen, was built in the early 20th century and remains a favorite local haunt. Check out Yellowstone National Park while you’re out there, or hit up nearby Burke Park if you don’t have time to tackle Yellowstone but still want an adventure.
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Ketchum, ID, USA
You might surmise from the name, Ketchum is a great place for fishing. The rural community has been largely untouched by the increased tourism in the area, and retains its old-fashioned charm even as its art and music scene blossoms. The town’s official motto is "Small Town, Big Life," and there’s no better way to describe Ketchum. Check out nearby Bald Mountain for some world-class skiing and hiking.
Wallace, ID 83873, USA
Wallace is a historic city in the Panhandle region of Idaho. "City" might be a bit of an overstatement – Wallace has a population that hovers around 750 people. An old silver mining town, the community still centers around a painfully adorable Main Street. Inexplicably, on September 25, 2004, Mayor Ron Garitone proclaimed Wallace to be "the center of the universe." Specifically, a sewer access cover was declared to be the precise location of the center of the universe. A specially made manhole cover was made to mark the spot. If you’ve always dreamed of having all of creation revolve around you, visiting Wallace might just be your big break!
Monowi, NE 68746, USA
According to the 2010 census, Monowi is the smallest town in the United States. How small? There is just one permanent resident. Uno. Elis Eiler is the lone resident of Monowi. She acts as mayor, granting herself a liquor license and paying taxes to herself. She is required to produce a municipal road plan every year in order to secure state funding for the village's four street lights. In 2004, Elsie founded a 5,000-volume library in memory of her late husband, Rudy Eiler. In addition, Elsie runs a tavern in Monowi and draws regular customers from far and wide.
Have you visited any of these charming towns hiding in the American West? Know of any others? Leave us a comment!
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More to Explore
Charming Towns in the American West
What are some other charming towns to visit in the West?
If you enjoyed the above list tiny-but-mighty towns hiding in the American West, you'll be delighted to discover these small towns:
- Afton, Wyoming. Only in Wyoming would you find the world's largest elkhorn arch, mounted over the downtown like a prized piece of taxidermy. In the small town of Afton, there's a big surprise awaiting visitors: a colossal, record-setting arch comprised entirely of antlers. The arch was built in 1958 using shed elk antlers collected by townspeople, a practice the locals still participate in to maintain the huge arch. Over 3,000 elk antlers were woven together to form the superlative showpiece, and there are two smaller arches flanking it on either side of the four-lane road it spans, all but guaranteeing that you'll long remember this Wyoming town.
- Claremore, Oklahoma. Straddling the line between the West and the Midwest, Claremore is an Oklahoma town that is one of the best hidden gems in the country. This town of under 20,000 is home to more museums per capita than any other city in the U.S., and these are next-level, must-visit, bucket-list-worthy attractions. From the Will Rogers Memorial Museum to the Lynn Riggs Memorial to the Davis J M Arms & Historical Museum and the eponymous Claremore Museum of History, there's a lot to see and do in this unassuming Oklahoma city.
- Telluride, Colorado. If you have ever had the pleasure of visiting gorgeous Telluride, Colorado, you know that it is an absolute treasure of a small town. In addition to its sublime scenic beauty, Telluride is also incredibly historic, and that history is a celebrated part of its culture. Downtown Telluride is a designated National Historic Landmark District with Victorian-era buildings, many of which have been painstakingly preserved and renovated to house local businesses and restaurants. And, of course, with regard to Telluride's outdoor recreation -- it's world-class. The town is well-known for incredible skiing at Telluride Ski Resort; and in the off-season, visitors can enjoy biking, hiking, fly fishing, golfing, and an abundance of river recreation.