Encampment, WY

Set in southern Wyoming between the Sierra Madre and Snowy Range mountains, Encampment got its name in the 1830s as a gathering spot for fur trappers. By the turn of the century, a sudden copper strike turned the valley into a lively frontier town, complete with a downtown opera house and an aerial tramway running up into the peaks. When the mining rush cooled off, the town shifted into a steadier, quiet way of life against the backdrop of the high country.

Today, Encampment is home to around 450 people who appreciate wide-open views, low traffic, and a close-knit community feel. Residents gather for traditions like the annual Winter Carnival and summer Copper Days, while the Grand Encampment Museum keeps the area's pioneer and mining roots alive. With the surrounding national forest and nearby blue-ribbon trout streams, it is a great base for anyone looking for quiet mountain living and immediate access to the outdoors.