Lander

Lander is the county seat of Fremont County in western Wyoming, situated at the foot of the Wind River Mountains at roughly 1630 meters elevation. The small town runs along the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River and serves as a gateway to the nearby mountain ranges and wilderness areas of the region.

General Frederick W. Lander conducted survey work for an Oregon Trail cutoff in 1858, and the settlement was named after him in 1875. The town received its official incorporation in 1890 and grew into a regional center for ranching and mining.

The Pioneer Days Parade and Rodeo takes place every July 4th, while the Wyoming State Winter Fair presents livestock exhibitions throughout the season.

The central area sits close to the river and offers visitors easy access to shops, restaurants and services. Outside town, several roads lead to nearby hiking trails, climbing areas and Sinks Canyon State Park a few kilometers away.

The National Outdoor Leadership School maintains its international headquarters here and draws aspiring wilderness guides from around the world each year. In nearby Sinks Canyon, the Popo Agie River disappears into a limestone cavern and reemerges downstream in a pool that appears larger than the volume of water that vanished upstream.

Location: Fremont County

Inception: 1890

Elevation above the sea: 1,633 m

Website: https://landerwyoming.org

GPS coordinates: 42.83306,-108.73250

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:41