Dubois, WY

Badlands neat Dubois, WY (copyright 2009)

Dubois (Do, Boys) Wyoming is located on highway 26 close to the entrance to the Wind River Canyon in northwestern Wyoming. The area is surrounded by the Wind River and Absaroka Mountains and to the east by the badlands pictured here. It is called an “authentic western town” on the Dubois web page[1] The rustic log buildings along main street are much the same as in the 1800”s when the town was formed. The Wind River quietly runs through the town toward its destination of the Yellowstone.[2]

Dubois has a colorful history. American Indians lived on the land before whites settled there. The first known inhabitants were the Sheepeaters of the Mountain Shoshone Indians. The Wind River area was part of their annual migration route. You can still see petroglyphs and stone tipi circles in the Dubois area. [3] Early on French and British fur traders walked the rivers of the area trapping furs to be sent east and on to Europe. The first European trappers were Francois and Louis Verendrye in 1742–43. After them came Astorians who later established fur trade at the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon territory. Mountain man Jim Bridger passed through the area in 1807 on his way to the Yellowstone.[4]

Then in the 1870’s came homesteaders who decided not to go on over South Pass to Utah or Oregon. Lumber was the main industry early on.[5] You can still see remnants of the tie hacks that worked there to fell the trees and create ties for the railroads. Though the actual buildings have been destroyed by time there is still glass, turned purple by the sun and age, from some of the buildings and you can find cross cut saws and axes and other artifacts of the tie timber industry.[6] The town even has ties to Butch Cassidy who, in 1890 prior to his infamous crime spree, owned and managed a ranch outside of town.[7] In 1886 the people wanted to call their town “Never Sweat.” There are two interpretations on why they wanted to name it that. One says that it was a joke because the men didn’t take work so seriously and never sweat.[8] Another is because of the dry Chinook winds that grace the area no one ever sweats.[9] However, the US Postal Service, in its infinite wisdom, decided that was not an appropriate name for a town and named it after an Idaho senator,[10] Senator Fred Thomas Dubois (1851-1930), a member of the Postal Committee. [11]

The geology of the area is one of its main attractions. The Dubois Badlands is located in Fremont County, about 2 miles east of of Dubois. Access is from a county road on the western boundary. [12] These are made of alluvial deposits from the Wind River made up of Sandstone and Mudstone. Conglomerate in the formation is from algae fossils that formed in ponds about 55 million years ago. These formations have light vegetation like a high desert. Cottonwoods grow in the deeper canyons along streams. There are no official trails through the badlands, but you can follow stock trails through the Mason Draw area. These beautiful formations are in danger from housing developments to the west and also from oil and gas development on their fringes.[13]

Dubois offers many recreational opportunities. You can visit the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center and learn about the large herd in the area. The Dubois Museum provides a look into the history of the area. Dubois is home to many who work in the arts and has a 17,000 sq ft facility known as the Headwaters Community Arts and Conference Center. There is the Tie Hack Memorial that recognizes the Scandinavian Tie cutters who worked in the area supplying ties to the CB&Q railroad. It is located northwest of Dubois on highway 26/287. Rodeo and square dancing are held during the summer for those who would like to get a real look at western life. The area also offers camping, hunting in season, hiking and rock hounding. [14]

[1] http://www.duboiswyoming.org/
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubois,_Wyoming
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubois,_Wyoming
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubois,_Wyoming
[5] http://www.duboiswyoming.org/aboutdubois.html
[6] http://www.duboiswyomingchamber.org/see.html
[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubois,_Wyoming
[8] http://www.duboiswyomingchamber.org/
[9] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubois,_Wyoming
[10] http://www.duboiswyomingchamber.org/
[11] http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/dubois.html
[12] http://www.wildwyo.org/Dubois_Badlands.html
[13] (Movlar, Eric,
[14] http://www.duboiswyomingchamber.org/do.html
Wild Wyoming, Flash Floods, Badwater, p143-148: Globe Pequot Press; copyright 2001, A Falcon Guide)