Wyoming is full of strange and wonderful sights. The unique rock formations scattered around the state are just one example. It’s true we have some pretty amazing mountain ranges in Wyoming, but some of our smaller natural stone creations are so peculiar that they rival even the Grand Tetons as attractions in their own right. Here is a sampling of some of the strangest rock formations in Wyoming. Some are more well-known than others, but they all have to be seen to be believed.

1. Castle Rock, Green River
Castle Rock, Wyoming 82070, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
It's hard to picture the high desert of Wyoming as a land of lakes, but many of the odd rock formations here attest to the fact that a lot of the region was submerged in prehistoric times. The stately stone sitting watch over the town of Green River is one such formation. The layers of strata in this geological oddity are brimming with fossilized plants and fish. Castle Rock in Wyoming is a special place indeed.
2. Hell's Half Acre, Natrona County
Hell's Half Acre, Wyoming, USA
Doug Kerr/Flickr
This canyon, called Hell's Half Acre, is filled with odd geological formations. It was carved out centuries ago by the Powder River, and the Wyoming wind is credited with further eroding the clay and shale into the spikes and spires you see today.
3. Pilot Butte, Sweetwater County
Pilot Butte, Wyoming 82901, USA
Fotograefin/TripAdvisor
This distinctive mountain in Wyoming is exceptional for its historic significance. The easy to recognize characteristics and visibility from far off made it a landmark for pioneers traveling west. When they saw it in the distance, they knew Green River was drawing near.
4. Castle Gardens, south of Riverton
Castle Gardens, Wyoming, USA
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
These oddly shaped sandstone outcroppings are a double attraction. First, the formations, carved from the stone by eons of wind, have taken the shape of castle-like towers and turrets, giving the site its name. Then, there is the collection of petroglyphs etched into the stone and dating back as far as 1,000 to 1,250 AD. This geological formation in Wyoming is a bucket list item if we ever knew one!

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5. Man's Face Hill, Green River
Green Hill, Wyoming 82712, USA
Milonica - self-made, GFDL/Wikipedia
This hillside in Green River Wyoming makes the list of strange formations for it's uncanny resemblance to a human profile. The community has such a fondness for the collection of outcroppings that create the illusion that they decorate the summit with a lit Christmas tree each December.
6. Vedauwoo, Medicine Bow-Routte National Forest
Medicine Bow Trail - Routt National Forest, Wyoming, USA
Bryce Bradford/Flickr
The granite outcroppings at Vedauwoo are so unique, they almost don't look real. Etched over time by wind, water, and ice, they get their surreal color from white quartz and pink feldspar. The shapes are odd, as well, and kind of look like building blocks for a giant toddler.
7. Washakie Badlands, Washakie County
Washakie County, WY, USA
Best of Forgotten Wyoming/Facebook
The badlands just west of Ten Sleep hold a collection of strange rock formations. Like some in other areas of the state, a few look like castles and other man-made structures, while others amazingly appear to defy gravity. The Washakie Badlands are definitely a must-do!
8. Devil's Tower, WY-110, Crook County
Devils Tower, WY 82714, USA
Jim Bowen/Flickr
No list of weird Wyoming rock formations would be complete without the Devil's Tower National Monument. This laccolithic butte is thought to be the neck of a prehistoric volcano, possibly formed as magma oozing from the core cooled. Native American legend claims that the verticle marks on the surface of the monument were made by a giant bear.
9. Boar's Tusk, Sweetwater County
Boars Tusk, Wyoming, USA
carfull...home from Mongolia/Flickr
Standing guard at Killpecker Sand Dunes, this tooth-shaped geological oddity towers nearly 400 feet above the desert. Like Devil's Tower, this natural wonder is believed to be what remains of an ancient volcano.

What other odd rock formations have you seen around Wyoming? Tell us about your favorites in the comments!

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More to Explore

Wyoming Rock Formations

Tori Jane | May 25, 2022

What are some really cool, big Wyoming rock formations?  

Ah, Wyoming: a geology enthusiast’s dream. There are so many interesting Wyoming rock formations that some folks make entire road trips out of exploring them. Of course, there are too many to mention in one paragraph, but some of the largest, most impressive rock formations in Wyoming include – of course – the famed Devil’s Tower, an astonishingly fascinating, 1,627-foot monolith of a butte made by igneous (volcanic) rocks. Fossil Butte National Monument is another fascinating place for geology nerds; the rock formations here include hundreds of amazing fossils from all sorts of ancient critters, most of whom are long extinct. It’s a treat to visit no matter what, but especially if this kind of thing is your passion.  

Where are some interesting, strange rock formations in Wyoming?  

Like we mentioned above, Wyoming is the perfect place for geologists and nature enthusiasts to admire some of its most spectacular works of art, including rock formations and geological wonders. Some of the rock formations in Wyoming that we’re big fans of are wonders like Heart Mountain, which is 8,123 feet tall and up to 400 million years old. It’s quite unusual for the landscape it’s surrounded by, as it juts out of Bighorn Basin and seems to stick out.  

What big rock formation in Wyoming is the most interesting?  

If we had to pick, we couldn’t! Interesting is subjective, but boy, there are so many amazing rock formations in Wyoming that are nothing short of utterly fascinating. Other than the ones listed above, there are plenty more! Check out Boar’s Tusk, which sticks out of the otherwise open plains and is, quite literally, the core of a long-extinct volcano. The peak is 6,808 feet high, and it’s quite the sight! And then, 40 miles west of Casper, there’s a remote landscape that looks like something from another planet thanks to its big rock formations: Hell’s Half Acre, which is 320 acres of weird-looking formations, caves, and more. You can’t miss it.  

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