Things to do in Buffalo

Buffalo packs more genuine Old West per block than anywhere in Wyoming: the 1880 Occidental Saloon (bluegrass every Thursday), the Gatchell Museum's frontier collection, the paved creekside Clear Creek Trail, and Crazy Woman Canyon's granite narrows twenty minutes out. Here's every Buffalo place we send guests to, with our notes.

Every Buffalo place we recommend

• Lake DeSmetLakes & Fishing

  Big, moody, trophy-trout water between Sheridan and Buffalo, wrapped in local legend. Bring a windbreaker — it earns its whitecaps.

• The Historic Occidental Hotel & SaloonCulture & History

  10 N Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Founded 1880 and hosting ghosts of Butch Cassidy, Calamity Jane, and Teddy Roosevelt — bullet holes still in the ceiling. Tour the rooms, eat at the Virginian, and come back Thursday for the 7–9pm Bluegrass Jam. The soul of Buffalo.

• Clear Creek Trail SystemHiking & Biking

  A flat, paved creekside path connecting downtown Buffalo to the Bighorn foothills — herons, exercise stations, and the Old Power Plant Loop for a more rustic stretch. The perfect morning walk right out of Clear Creek Crossing's back door.

• Jim Gatchell Memorial MuseumCulture & History

  100 Fort St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  One of the finest frontier collections in the West — Native American artifacts, the Johnson County War, Fetterman Fight relics. Buffalo's history is wilder than fiction, and it's all here.

• Mountain Meadow Wool MillShops & Galleries

  22 Plains Dr, Buffalo, WY 82834

  The largest full-service wool mill in the West — take the self-guided tour, then buy yarn and blankets made right there. A only-in-Wyoming stop.

• Pie ZanosFood

  45 N Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Wood-fired pizza and creative pasta that landed on Guy Fieri's Triple-D. The tremendous salads are the sleeper hit. Buffalo's crowd-pleaser.

• Bozeman Trail SteakhouseFood

  675 E Hart St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Some of the best elk, beef, and bison in Wyoming, family-run and family-friendly. The steak dinner after a day in the Bighorns.

• The Virginian Restaurant (at the Occidental)Food

  10 N Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  White-tablecloth prime rib and steaks inside the historic Occidental. The special-occasion dinner in Buffalo — reserve ahead.

• The Busy Bee CafeFood

  2 N Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Iconic little diner perched over Clear Creek since the 1920s. Get a booth, get the breakfast, watch the water go by.

• Tom's Main Street DinerFood

  41 N Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Classic quick breakfast, made-to-order and out fast. No fuss, all fuel.

• Crazy Woman Cafe & CoffeeCoffee & Bakery

  51 N Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Buffalo's morning ritual — good coffee, warm room, named for the Crazy Woman Creek that cuts through the county. Fuel up here before the mountains.

• Crazy Woman CanyonScenic Drives & Falls

  A narrow, jaw-dropping canyon road climbing off US-16 southwest of Buffalo — tight granite walls, a rushing creek, and one of the most thrilling short drives in the Bighorns. High-clearance vehicle and dry conditions recommended.

• The Sports LureShops & Galleries

  66 S Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  A Main Street fixture since 1968 and the outdoor brain of Buffalo — gear and rentals for fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, and camping, plus the honest local intel on where they're biting. Your first stop before the Bighorns.

• MISHAP! Brewing CompanyBars & Breweries

  145 S Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Buffalo's own craft brewery in a historic downtown space, pouring their beers alongside other Wyoming favorites. The relaxed after-trail pint on the Johnson County side of the range.

• Margo's Pottery & Fine CraftsShops & Galleries

  1 N Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Handmade pottery and fine crafts from regional artists — the kind of piece you'll actually use and remember. A lovely Main Street browse.

• Sagewood Gifts & CafeCoffee & Bakery

  15 N Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Coffee, a light lunch, and a gift shop worth a loop, all in one warm downtown room. An easy, pleasant Buffalo morning.

• Lolly's Sugar ShackCoffee & Bakery

  Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Baked goods, pastries, and coffee to sweeten a Buffalo stroll — the kids will make you stop, and you'll be glad they did.

• Crazy Woman Fine Art GalleryCulture & History

  Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Regional fine art in downtown Buffalo — a quiet, free browse and a real sense of the artists working out here. Named, like everything good in this county, for Crazy Woman Creek.

• Potters' DepotShops & Galleries

  Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Pottery, yarn, and handmade goods in a beloved old depot building — pairs naturally with a stop at the wool mill for the makers-and-crafts crowd.

• Tavern 307Bars & Breweries

  4 S Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  A family-run sports bar right on Main Street, new as of 2025. Burgers and steaks made with local beef, plus fish and chips and a decent old fashioned.

• Bond's Brewing CompanyBars & Breweries

  93 N Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Craft beer brewed on site in a downtown taproom. A good place to land after a day up the mountain.

• Rosie's Americana CafeFood

  65 S Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Retro-style Main Street diner with breakfast plates, soups and salads, and loaded potatoes or mac and cheese. Easy stop near the square.

• Buffalo Thai KitchenFood

  94 S Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  A newer Main Street spot for pad Thai, lo mein and fried rice. Handy when the group wants something other than steak.

• Albertano's Mexican FoodFood

  75 N Bypass Rd, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Local favorite for carne asada burritos, lengua tacos and breakfast burritos. Sits inside the Quality Inn off the bypass.

• The BreadboardFood

  190 E Hart St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Subs, wraps and salads, with vegetarian and gluten-free choices. We send folks here to pack a picnic before heading up the mountain.

• Dash InnFood

  620 E Hart St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Old-fashioned burger joint with a drive-thru, indoor seating, shakes and generous portions. Quick and filling.

• The FixCoffee & Bakery

  323 E Hart St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  A Buffalo coffee shop on East Hart Street, handy for a latte before the drive up US-16.

• Creekside Family Fun CenterRecreation & Play

  665 E Hart St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Shaded mini golf along Clear Creek, with breakfast, lunch, dinner and ice cream on site. A good kid-pleaser.

• Wyoming in ColorShops & Galleries

  38 S Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Art and gifts on South Main Street, one of the downtown galleries worth a browse.

• Prairie SirenShops & Galleries

  98 S Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  A downtown Main Street shop on the south end of the historic district. Good for a wander between meals.

• Treasure Chest Antiques & CollectiblesShops & Galleries

  76 S Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Antiques and collectibles in a historic Main Street storefront. Fun for slow browsing on a rainy afternoon.

• Yoders Country Market & Trabing StoreGroceries & Provisions

  369 Trabing Rd, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Amish-made goods, quilts, furniture and a bakery just outside town. Bring cash, since they take cash only.

• Buffalo Golf ClubRecreation & Play

  500 W Hart St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Eighteen-hole public course on the west edge of town with Bighorn views. Open to daily-fee players.

• Buffalo TheaterRecreation & Play

  25 S Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834

  A historic two-screen movie theater on Main Street. A cozy rainy-day or after-dinner option.

• Buffalo Municipal PoolLakes & Fishing

  Big outdoor pool in the city park, fed by Clear Creek, and a New Deal-era landmark. There is an admission charge.

• Mountain Plains Heritage ParkHiking & Biking

  Easy walking trail on the east side of town that crosses the old Bozeman Trail and follows Clear Creek. Off-leash dogs are allowed.

• Dry Creek Petrified Tree Environmental Education AreaCulture & History

  A BLM loop trail of under a mile through petrified trees, with a shelter and picnic tables. It sits east of Buffalo off Tipperary Road.

• Grouse Mountain TrailheadHiking & Biking

  Trailhead off Highway 16 across from Hospital Hill that ties into the Clear Creek trail network. The Brush Creek and Grouse Mountain trails start here.

• Heaven Bound Boutique & BooksShops & Galleries

  235 S. Main St., Buffalo, WY 82834

  Tucked into the lower level of the Buffalo Theater building, this shop mixes clothing, shoes, gifts and a good shelf of books. There's plenty for the little ones too.

• Bucking Buffalo Supply Co.Shops & Galleries

  28 S. Main Street, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Longmire fans, this is your headquarters, with books, DVDs and shirts from the show. They also stock Western wear and a big case of turquoise and silver, lots of it vintage pawn.

• Cookies & Kisses BakeryFood

  10 N. Main Street, Buffalo, WY 82834

  A downtown Main Street bakery for when you need something sweet to go with the sightseeing. Grab a cookie and stroll the historic block.

• Buffalo BowlRecreation & Play

  90 S. Cedar Street, Buffalo, WY 82834

  A six-lane bowling alley that's been rolling since 1956, with automatic scoring now. Good rainy-day or snowy-evening plan for the whole crew.

• Cowboy Bar & GrillBars & Breweries

  177 US Hwy 16 East, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Burgers, sandwiches and hand-cut fries, with a family-friendly feel until the kitchen closes. After that it's a proper bar, with the occasional live band.

• Big Horn Mountain FarmsGroceries & Provisions

  680 French Creek Road, Buffalo, WY 82834

  A working ranch selling Wyoming Wagyu-cross beef, heritage pork, eggs and honey. Their Honor Store farm stand is open around the clock, so stock the cooler on your way to the cabin.

• Silver Sage Jewelry & GiftsShops & Galleries

  57 S. Main Street, Buffalo, WY 82834

  A downtown gift store with a nice selection of products made right here in Wyoming. A good stop for a souvenir that isn't mass produced.

• Buffalo DrifterShops & Galleries

  42 S. Main St., Buffalo, WY 82834

  Opened in 2024 with a mix of books, notecards, candles, scarves and vintage jewelry, plus Crazy Woman legend souvenir wear. They carry Skyway Roasters beans too.

• Branch & Vine HerbsShops & Galleries

  63 N. Burritt Ave., Buffalo, WY 82834

  A natural health store and apothecary run by a certified herbalist, now inside the Bomber Mountain Civic Center. Herbs, organic goods and body-care items.

• Sew Sisters Quilt ShopShops & Galleries

  63 N. Burritt Ave., Suite 103, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Finished quilts to take home or supplies to make your own, located in the Bomber Mountain Civic Center. The staff are glad to help with questions.

• Father De Smet MonumentCulture & History

  A stone monument near Lake De Smet, dedicated in 1940 by the state's historical landmark commission. Find it off Shell Creek Road at Monument Road.

• George Washington Memorial ParkRecreation & Play

  Buffalo's town park, home to the municipal pool. A fine place to burn off kid energy on a summer afternoon.

• Buffalo Golf Club Ski TrailsHiking & Biking

  500 W. Hart St., Buffalo, WY 82834

  In winter the public golf course turns into free groomed ski trails a few blocks from downtown. You might spot deer, antelope and turkeys out there.

• Lake Angeline (Angeline Trail #088)Hiking & Biking

  A steep 4.2-mile climb through high alpine country to Lake Angeline. Getting to the trailhead takes a high-clearance four-wheel-drive up FSR 391.

• Healy ReservoirLakes & Fishing

  Buffalo's popular 215-acre reservoir with a boat ramp — tiger musky, perch, and bass. The go-to warm-water fishing just off Highway 16.

• Mosier Gulch Recreation AreaHiking & Biking

  BLM/city day-use area on Clear Creek at the foot of the Bighorns — trout fishing, easy trails, and wildlife (deer, eagles, the odd elk) minutes from Buffalo.

• Tie Hack ReservoirLakes & Fishing

  Pretty little reservoir up US-16 from Buffalo, named for the tie hacks who logged these mountains — quick trout fishing and a scenic picnic on the way to the pass.

• Circle Park TrailheadHiking & Biking

  A favorite Cloud Peak Wilderness gateway on the Buffalo side — a chain of alpine lakes within a day's walk.

• Hunter Corrals TrailheadHiking & Biking

  The classic stock-and-hiker trailhead into Cloud Peak from Buffalo — pack trips and long days into the high country start here.

• Middle Fork Campground / TrailHiking & Biking

  Shaded camp and trail along the Middle Fork of Clear Creek — good fishing and a gentle way into the mountains from Buffalo.

• Bud Love Wildlife Habitat AreaCulture & History

  Prime elk-and-deer country in the foothills northwest of Buffalo — a WGFD gem for wildlife watching and fall hunting.

• South Fork Campground (US-16)Recreation & Play

  Creekside campground on the South Fork of Clear Creek — good trout water and a quiet Buffalo-side basecamp.

• Lost Cabin / Doyle area (US-16)Recreation & Play

  Remote camps and trails on the southern Bighorns — the country for anglers and hunters who want distance from the road.

• Crazy Woman CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Camp at the top of the wild Crazy Woman Canyon drive — dramatic granite, a rushing creek, and one of the range's great short 4x4 roads.

• Clear Creek (Buffalo, in-town fishing)Lakes & Fishing

  Trout right through downtown Buffalo along the Clear Creek Trail — cast before breakfast, walk to the Busy Bee after. Wonderfully easy water.

• Dull Knife ReservoirLakes & Fishing

  A high, remote reservoir southwest of Buffalo named for the Northern Cheyenne chief — cutthroat and quiet at the edge of the wilderness.

• Muddy Guard ReservoirLakes & Fishing

  Easy-access little reservoir off US-16 — a relaxed, kid-friendly cast on the way up or down the mountain.

• Johnson County Library (Buffalo)Culture & History

  Buffalo's welcoming library — kids' corner, local history, and a dry warm stop on a stormy Johnson County afternoon.

• Doyle Campground (US-16 south)Recreation & Play

  Deep-south Bighorns campground for anglers and hunters chasing solitude off the beaten byway.

• Deer Park Campground (US-16)Recreation & Play

  A well-liked forest campground off US-16 — good creek fishing and easy access to the Cloud Peak trailheads.

• Fort McKinney (Wyoming Veterans' Home)Culture & History

  The 1870s cavalry fort west of Buffalo, now the Veterans' Home — historic buildings and grounds that anchored the Johnson County War era.

• Bighorn overnight areaRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Buffalo area — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Canyon CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Buffalo area — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Fortification Creek Wilderness Study AreaCulture & History

  Nature/wildlife area in the Buffalo area — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Indian Campground & RV ParkRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Buffalo area — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Mikesell-Potts Recreation Area CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Buffalo area — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

Buffalo events worth planning around

• Longmire Days

  annual, late July (verify)

  Buffalo is the real-life setting for Craig Johnson's Longmire novels, and each summer the town throws a multi-day festival with cast appearances, author talks, and Western events. Huge for Johnson County — a reason to book Clear Creek Crossing or the Buffalo cabins. Verify exact dates; they shift year to year.

• Occidental Bluegrass Jam

  weekly, Thursdays 7–9pm year-round

  Free live bluegrass every Thursday in the historic Occidental Saloon. Walkable from the Buffalo stays — the definitive Johnson County evening.