Bear River State Park in Wyoming, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-26. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bear River State Park in Evanston, Wyoming, is a day-use stop just south of I-80 Exit 6. Walk beside the river, cross the footbridge, and view the park’s captive bison and elk. Plan a separate overnight stop: this park is for day use.

Highlights

The park combines a managed wildlife-viewing area with a river walk. An arched footbridge links the paved route to a natural area west of the Bear River. The visitor center adds wildlife displays and Wyoming travel information.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Safety information

Plan the walk to finish by sunset. For animal viewing, choose a spot on the public visitor side of the enclosure and give the captive bison and elk space.

Visit responsibly

Use the park for a daytime outing. Keep the wildlife-viewing area comfortable for other visitors and choose a route suited to the group’s mobility.

Shelters and overnight planning

The posted shelter reservation season runs through October 15. Contact the park for group arrangements. Overnight camping is outside this day-use park’s role.

Maps, location, and access

Leave I-80 at Exit 6 in Evanston and head south to the park at 601 Bear River Drive, Evanston, WY 82930. See the official park notices and visitor information before arrival.

Nearby parks

For another stop along the I-80 corridor, Echo State Park is near Coalville, Utah. Echo Reservoir is under a harmful-algal-bloom warning; check the latest park notice before planning a water activity. Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park also passes through Coalville toward Echo Reservoir, providing a land-based alternative.

Explore the river trails

Choose from 1.2 miles of paved trails or cross the bridge to more than 3 miles of packed gravel trails on the west bank. The paved trail connects with Evanston’s Bear River Greenway. Use the park’s route and wildlife overview to decide whether to stay on the paved section or extend the walk.

Facilities and accessibility

The visitor center provides indoor wildlife displays and travel information. A paved route offers a different surface from the gravel trails; ask staff about any specific access requirements. Bring drinking water for a visit after the seasonal shutoff.

About the park

A river park since 1991

The 324-acre state park was established in 1991 and named for the river running through it.

Bison and elk

The bison and elk are captive herds maintained for public viewing and education. Seeing them here is a managed viewing experience, separate from seeking free-ranging wildlife.

Contact

Call Bear River State Park at 307-789-6547. For onward travel, Utah State Parks’ rail-trail information covers the Coalville–Echo corridor.