Hell’s Half Acre Is A Little-Known Wyoming Destination With An Otherworldly Landscape
Hell’s Half Acre in Natrona County is a unique, otherworldly landscape once used by Native Americans for hunting and featured in the movie Starship Troopers.
Hell's Half Acre was one of the most remarkable places discovered by United States surveyors on their expeditions out West. While this jagged and rugged landscape had been used by local tribes for generations as a hunting ground, it was such a strange sight to Americans and Europeans making their way through the state. Today, this otherworldly spot is famous for starring as an alien planet on the silver screen.
When you're driving through Natrona County, it's easy to miss this remarkable landscape unless you know where to look.
For generations, Native Americans used these jagged canyons, bluffs, and cliffs as a bison hunting ground. When surveyors from the United States found it in the 1830s, they nicknamed the rugged land "Hell's Half Acre."
Many people have commented on the fact that these 300+ acres don't look like they belong here on Earth! It's truly a remarkable sight to see that water is capable of this kind of creation.
Filming at the site was difficult due to the topography, and slowly the site was closed off to the public. Now, it remains a little-known roadside stop.
Hell's Half Acre used to be a busy tourist destination, but today, it's rarely visited. Make plans to stop and see it for yourself, though, and you'll be glad you took a short detour to see Wyoming's own alien planet.
Tucked away near Douglas, Wyoming, Ayres Natural Bridge is a hidden wonder that feels like something out of a storybook. One of the few natural bridges in the United States with a stream flowing beneath it, this stunning geological formation arches gracefully over LaPrele Creek, creating a tranquil scene that’s perfect for nature lovers. Even better, the entire experience is free, making it an ideal destination for a memorable day trip or weekend adventure.
advertisement
Beautiful blue skies above the rock butte at a Wyoming landmark
To reach Ayres Natural Bridge, you’ll travel just a short drive from Douglas. The route takes you through rolling hills and scenic Wyoming landscapes, leading to a peaceful park nestled among towering red rock cliffs. The bridge itself is about 50 feet high and spans 100 feet across, with the clear waters of LaPrele Creek flowing gently underneath, creating an oasis-like setting. For generations, this natural wonder has been a favorite spot for locals and travelers alike, offering a unique glimpse into Wyoming’s diverse and stunning natural beauty.
Once you arrive, you’ll find plenty of things to do beyond admiring the bridge. The park includes shaded picnic areas, perfect for a relaxing lunch with friends or family, and well-maintained walking paths where you can explore the area around the bridge. You’ll also find grassy areas to relax, plus fishing spots along the creek if you’re interested in casting a line. Wildlife sightings are common here too, and you may see birds, deer, or even an occasional fox in the quiet corners of the park.
Ayres Natural Bridge Park , Wyoming
One of the best times to visit Ayres Natural Bridge is in late spring through early fall when the weather is mild and the landscape around the bridge is lush and green. The park is generally open from April through October, though it’s always a good idea to check for seasonal updates before planning your trip. Since the park is free, it’s a popular spot in the summer, especially on weekends, so arriving early is recommended if you’re looking to enjoy the scenery in peace.
Like any natural area, Ayres Natural Bridge is best enjoyed when we all do our part to keep it pristine. Follow Leave No Trace principles by packing out your trash, staying on marked paths, and respecting the local wildlife. The bridge and surrounding park have been preserved for generations, and with careful stewardship, they’ll continue to be a beautiful destination for years to come.
Ayres Natural Bridge Park , Wyoming
Whether you’re snapping photos, relaxing by the creek, or simply enjoying the unique experience of standing beneath a natural rock arch, Ayres Natural Bridge is a Wyoming treasure. This one-of-a-kind spot is a must-visit for anyone exploring the state’s hidden gems and offers a peaceful escape into nature that feels worlds away from the everyday.
With so much alpine foliage to explore in fall, Wyoming's Red Hills might not be the first place you think of when planning a late-season outing. But after all that gorgeous color starts to fade, this lesser-known region offers a brilliant palette of red rock and rolling desert vistas that pop beautifully against the clear blue skies and soft golds of autumn long after the last leaf has fallen. The Red Hills are tucked away in the Jackson Hole Valley, right up against the Gros Ventre Range near the small town of Kelly, marked by spectacular, iron-rich formations and sandstone mesas that just beg for exploration. They're gorgeous in every season! But there's no denying that these rust-colored hills and buttes take on a different kind of magic in fall that makes them a perfect last-minute destination for hiking, off-roading, and exploring Wyoming’s wild, wide-open spaces on a gorgeous autumn road trip.
advertisement
Even at an elevation of around 6,000 feet and just a short drive from Jackson, unlike the alpine settings Wyoming is known for, the Red Hills landscape is a mix of rolling, red-rock bluffs and sagebrush flats. The area's unique red hue comes from its rich iron content, which over millennia has oxidized to create photogenic, rust-colored formations that contrast beautifully with the forested mountains in the distance.
Even from a distance, the Red Hills introduce you to Wyoming’s high desert ecology, which includes unique flora and fauna suited to the harsher, dryer landscape. Rabbitbrush and a scattering of gold-leafed trees dominate the hillsides, while the last vestiges of wildflowers, like Indian paintbrush, add bright red accents that match the rusty rocks.
Like many of Wyoming's grandiose rock formations, the Red Hills’ geology is as intriguing as the scenery. The hills' saturated layers are part of the massive Gros Ventre Formation, which dates all the way back to the Paleozoic era. They're part of an exposed sandstone deposit leftover from when most of the region was underwater roughly 50 million years ago.
Close up of the Red Hills and yellow aspen and evergreen trees in Kelly, Teton National Forest, Wyoming.
While every season here is beautiful, autumn is extra special as the desert foliage polka dots the hills with warm pops of color. But what makes this spot even better is that you don't have to worry if you miss peak fall colors — the hills themselves have all the fiery seasonal colors you could hope for, especially for those who dare to venture beyond the main road.
Even better? You don't have to head off-trail to enjoy the autumn scenery. Gros Ventre Road is engineered in such a way that immediately after coming around a small bend in the road, a dramatic view of the hills overwhelms you with a sense of natural beauty and wonder. A pullout is conveniently located at that exact location so that you can fully appreciate the view. You'll see golden treetops dotting the nooks and crannies of the hills in some of the most picture-perfect desert scenes you could hope for. Along the way, the gorgeous drive leads you past quiet lakes and expansive ranches, all boasting vibrant autumn hues.
Dirt road in Bridger-Teton National forest leads to red hills of western Wyoming.
Though much of the Red Hills remains unmarked, for those who love a little route-finding adventure, the area offers a unique, trail-less approach to hiking. One popular spot to start your hike is the access point off Gros Ventre Road, where gravel tracks lead into the hills. From here, it’s easy to wander through small canyons, open sagebrush flats, and up the rolling terrain to get a better view of the valley below.
The area is steeped in recent history as well, from the Native American tribes who traversed the sagebrush terrain to the homesteaders who established Jackson Hole’s earliest settlements. Just a few miles away, the small town of Kelly offers a sobering reminder of the area’s natural power. In 1925, the Gros Ventre Slide — a massive landslide from the nearby mountains — dammed the Gros Ventre River, creating Lower Slide Lake. The slide buried much of the valley, and when the dam broke in 1927, a devastating flood swept through the area, impacting Kelly and altering the landscape forever.
Today, visitors can see the scars of the slide in the form of massive boulders and debris scattered around the valley and near Slide Lake. The hills near Lower Slide Lake feature a fantastic mix of red rock and hardy sagebrush, creating some of the most photogenic spots in the area. You can also explore Crystal Creek and some of the trails that weave through this part of the Gros Ventre Wilderness, where the elevation and views change subtly as you move deeper into the hills and into the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Landscape image of the colorful Red Hills and brush in Kelly, Wyoming.
Other trails in the Red Hills include the aptly named Red Hills Trail and the family-friendly Shadow Mountain Trail, along with more challenging treks like Grizzly and Blue Miner Lakes.
advertisement
Beyond hiking and off-roading, there are plenty of other activities to make the most of your fall adventure in the Red Hills. Photography enthusiasts will find endless opportunities to capture the stunning landscapes, from sunrise over the hills to the play of light and shadow on the rock formations. Birdwatchers can spot a variety of species, including golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and the occasional migratory waterfowl. Look out for the mule deer, pronghorn, and small critters like sagebrush lizards and rabbits that make this desert habitat their home.
Now, at this point, if you feel like you've explored similar red buttes elsewhere in Wyoming, you're absolutely right! While from a different formation, the Red Hills near Dubois are comprised of similarly aged and hued features, and the area around Rock Springs offers even more vibrant natural wonders like Boars Tusk, Flaming Gorge, and one of our state's many Chimney Rock formations (seriously, how are there so many?).
But the Red Hills on the outskirts of the Tetons have that perfect blend of alpine and low-country scenery that is simply breathtaking, with no shortage of Wind River mountain peaks dotting the horizon.
When it comes to fall foliage hotspots in Wyoming, the Red Hills in western Wyoming don't often make the list, but they should! There’s something invigorating about being surrounded by these natural colors and contours, a quiet side of the Tetons with few, if any other, visitors around. It's an unexpectedly magical experience that feels miles away from Jackson’s crowds and the iconic views of the Tetons. Here, the landscape has its own quiet beauty, with stark colors and unique formations that stand out under the fall light. If you’re looking for a quiet place to experience Wyoming’s wild late-season autumn beauty away from the crowds, the Red Hills offers a rugged, real taste of the state’s high desert that’s all your own!
