Living in Wyoming means we’re frequently having our breath stolen away, constantly surrounded by scenery that you’d only ever think to dream of. Right near our border in the small town of Afton, you’ll find a short hike that will lead you to someplace truly enchanting. If you’ve yet to explore this hidden gem, here’s why this natural wonder is a must-visit that will take your breath away:
Taking you through the mountains and beautiful meadows, this quick hike falls just under one-mile long.
John B./Yelp
John B./Yelp How to get here: Click here, to view where you’ll park and to see how far the walk from your car is.
The first point on Google Maps is where you’ll park, the area is relatively large and designated for parking so you shouldn’t miss it. From here, you’ll walk .08 miles until you reach your destination.
Waiting for you at the base of the mountain you’ll find Intermittent Spring, also known as Periodic Spring.
dario a/TripAdvisor This breathtaking spring in our state is one of only three others that exist in the entire world. I’ll give you all a moment to pick your jaws back up.
Pictured below, you can see an informational sign explaining how it is this fascinating spring works. Many refer to this place as “the spring that breathes”.
dario a/TripAdvisor To sum things up, the theory is that as you can see pictured above, there is an underground lake of sorts that fills up an empty space underground. The siphoning effect occurs when this water breaks through to the surface, and the magical cycle continues on for most of the year.
The unique natural wonder was discovered by a logger when he found the stream while working!
Thorsteds/TripAdvisor Imagine stumbling upon something like this? It didn’t take long for visitors to become fascinated with this area of our state. The beautiful stream has been a favorite attraction to visit ever since it’s discovery.
The water runs from the top of the spring for about 18 minutes before stopping its flow… and the best time to see it is now!
dario a/TripAdvisor While times and cycles may vary depending on when you visit, generally speaking, the spring flows for 18 minutes. After powerfully flowing, the spring stops for about 15 minutes and then the breathtaking cycle continues all over again.
While we love to enjoy this outdoor adventure all of the time, the best time to view the spring is in the late summer or early fall. Which means you should start planning your visit…now!
To see the Intermittent Spring in full action, watch this incredible time lapse video that will take your breath away:
John B./Yelp
How to get here: Click here, to view where you’ll park and to see how far the walk from your car is.
The first point on Google Maps is where you’ll park, the area is relatively large and designated for parking so you shouldn’t miss it. From here, you’ll walk .08 miles until you reach your destination.
dario a/TripAdvisor
This breathtaking spring in our state is one of only three others that exist in the entire world. I’ll give you all a moment to pick your jaws back up.
To sum things up, the theory is that as you can see pictured above, there is an underground lake of sorts that fills up an empty space underground. The siphoning effect occurs when this water breaks through to the surface, and the magical cycle continues on for most of the year.
Thorsteds/TripAdvisor
Imagine stumbling upon something like this? It didn’t take long for visitors to become fascinated with this area of our state. The beautiful stream has been a favorite attraction to visit ever since it’s discovery.
While times and cycles may vary depending on when you visit, generally speaking, the spring flows for 18 minutes. After powerfully flowing, the spring stops for about 15 minutes and then the breathtaking cycle continues all over again.
While we love to enjoy this outdoor adventure all of the time, the best time to view the spring is in the late summer or early fall. Which means you should start planning your visit…now!
So beautiful, there’s nothing like exploring Wyoming! If you’re missing home and need a reminder as to why our state is so amazing, check out these 12 Reasons Why Everyone Should Love Wyoming!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
