The Corridors: icons and hidden gems in Wyoming and Idaho

Denver stretches out at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, exactly one mile above sea level, hence its famous nickname of the "Mile High City". Capital of Colorado, it is a dynamic, open-air metropolis, the ideal gateway to the great wild expanses of the American West, where urban energy meets a passion for nature and mountain sports. Its historic core is LoDo (Lower Downtown), a district of nineteenth-century red-brick warehouses skilfully restored and now alive with craft breweries, galleries and venues. Here stands the splendid Union Station, an elegant railway terminal transformed into a lively gathering place of cafés, restaurants and shops. Nearby, the pedestrian 16th Street Mall cuts through the commercial and financial centre, while the Colorado State Capitol, with its gold-leafed dome, dominates the Civic Center. The city boasts a notable arts scene, with the boldly designed Denver Art Museum and the creative RiNo (River North) district, a realm of street art and breweries, for Denver is considered one of America's craft-beer capitals. Culture lovers will find nearby the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a natural amphitheatre set among towering red rock formations, among the most spectacular concert arenas in the world. Its privileged location makes Denver the perfect base from which to explore Rocky Mountain National Park, the ski resorts of Aspen and Vail, and Colorado's endless alpine landscapes. The local table reflects the frontier spirit, with grilled meats, Tex-Mex cuisine and local produce, to be paired with one of the city's countless beers. Between gleaming skyscrapers, mountain trails and more than three hundred days of sunshine a year, Denver invites you to fully embrace the adventure of the West, with one foot in the city and your gaze turned toward the peaks.

when crossing the border between Colorado and Wyoming, a stop is recommended at the Rocky Mountains National Park, the largest mountain complex in Colorado, with over 100 peaks exceeding 3,000 m. It offers an impressive variety of landscapes: conifer forests, meadows carpeted with wild flowers, tundra, lakes and waterfalls, narrow gorges, broad valleys and wildlife such as squirrels, marmots, elk and deer. Cross the park along the Trail Ridge Road, the highest tarmac road in America. Peaks reaching heights of 4,000 m a.s.l and higher can be admired from the road's scenic viewpoint. Cheyenne guards the authentic soul of the American Wild West in the southeastern corner of Wyoming, of which it is the capital. Grown as a hub of the transcontinental railroad, the city retains elegant Victorian buildings and the imposing gold-domed State Capitol, but it is cowboy culture above all that defines its identity. Every summer it hosts Cheyenne Frontier Days, the world's largest outdoor rodeo, a genuine celebration of horses, lassos and frontier traditions that draws visitors from far and wide. The Wyoming State Museum and the Cowgirls of the West Museum tell the story of the prairies and of those who tamed them, while the Big Boy, one of the largest steam locomotives ever built, recalls the epic age of the rails. Amid boundless prairie, vast skies and the plainspoken hospitality of the West, Cheyenne is the gateway to the natural wonders of the Rocky Mountains.

On the broad plains of northeastern Wyoming, Gillette is a town of plain-spoken character, grown around the energy industry and known as the “Energy Capital of the Nation.” Far from the main tourist circuits, it retains the authentic atmosphere of the contemporary West, amid boundless spaces and immense skies. It is above all a convenient stop along the routes towards the region's natural wonders: a few hours' drive away lie Devils Tower, the imposing volcanic monolith that became the first national monument in the United States, and the Black Hills on the South Dakota border. Gillette offers the traveller a practical and genuine base for exploring the wild heart of Wyoming.

Sheridan is a historic town in northern Wyoming, set at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains and famed for preserving the spirit of the Old West intact. Its Main Street is home to the historic Sheridan Inn, once frequented by Buffalo Bill, and shops of Western craftsmanship such as saddles and boots. The town is tied to the tradition of rodeos and ranches, while nearby open valleys ideal for fishing, horseback riding and hiking. Between cowboy heritage, authentic hospitality and majestic mountains, Sheridan embodies the genuine charm of Wyoming. Founded in 1896 by the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody, this Wyoming town is the eastern gateway to Yellowstone National Park, reached along the spectacular Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway. Cody preserves the authentic soul of the Old West: the Buffalo Bill Center of the West brings together five museums devoted to the frontier, art, firearms and Native Americans, while every summer evening the Cody Nite Rodeo revives the adrenaline of the rodeo. All around, canyons, dams and prairies open the way to the geysers and wildlife of Yellowstone.

You travel along the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway, which follows the Shoshone River through the forest and the highest mountains in Wyoming, with very diverse landscapes: expanses of wild sagebrush, fir forests, glaciers, with a wildlife including elk, deer, mountain goats, grizzly bears, and brown bears. Established in 1872 as the world's first national park, Yellowstone spreads across a volcanic plateau between Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, holding one of the most extraordinary concentrations of geothermal phenomena on the planet. Here the famous Old Faithful geyser erupts at regular intervals, while the Grand Prismatic Spring dazzles with its rings of shifting colours and the limestone terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs form surreal landscapes. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, carved by the river of the same name, plunges into spectacular waterfalls between golden walls. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park is also a wildlife sanctuary where bison, elk, grizzly bears and wolf packs can be spotted, especially in the Lamar Valley. Among forests, alpine lakes and meadows, Yellowstone offers hikes, wildlife safaris and the thrill of a primordial, powerful nature, a symbol of the American wilderness.

Island Park stretches across a wooded plateau in eastern Idaho, a short distance from the western entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Famous for its main street, one of the longest in America, the locality is surrounded by forests, lakes and rivers renowned for fly-fishing. In winter it is a snowmobiling paradise, in summer a base for hiking and wildlife watching.

Salmon rises along the river of the same name in central Idaho, set amid the wild mountains of the north-western frontier. The homeland of the guide Sacagawea, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, it is today the capital of rafting on the famous "River of No Return". Its landscapes of canyons, forests and rushing waters draw lovers of adventure and pristine nature. Salmon is a gateway to the wild America of the Rocky Mountains.

Challis rises in the mountainous heart of central Idaho, along the course of the Salmon River, among the rugged peaks of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. A small frontier town surrounded by wild lands and deep canyons, it is a remote base for rafting, fishing and exploring one of the most pristine regions of the continental United States. The river and mountains dominate every horizon. Stanley gathers at the foot of the spectacular Sawtooth Mountains, in the mountainous heart of Idaho, a tiny village surrounded by grand nature. The jagged peaks, crystal-clear alpine lakes and the Salmon River make it a paradise for hikers, rafters and fly-fishers. Natural hot springs dot the surroundings. Stanley is the ideal destination for those seeking wild mountains, outdoor adventure and the purest wilderness of Idaho.

Boise, capital of Idaho, spreads along its namesake river at the foot of the Boise Foothills, where the desert plain meets the first heights of the Rocky Mountains. A city of surprising vibrancy, it owes its name to the cottonwoods that struck the early French explorers (les bois, "the woods") and today combines a dynamic downtown, a growing culinary scene and exceptional access to nature. Boise still strongly preserves its Basque cultural heritage from its early settlers.The Boise River Greenbelt, a long green path along the river, crosses the city linking parks and neighborhoods, while the picturesque Basque Block tells the heritage of the largest Basque community in the United States, with restaurants and its own museum. All around lie trails for hiking and mountain biking, rivers for rafting and ski resorts within easy reach. A city with an enviable quality of life, perfect for lovers of outdoor sport and the authenticity of the American West.

Twin Falls rises in southern Idaho, dramatically perched on the edge of the deep Snake River Canyon, spanned by the imposing Perrine Bridge from which base jumpers often leap. Not far away, the spectacular Shoshone Falls, nicknamed the 'Niagara of the West', plunge from a height greater than the famous Canadian falls. The area offers kayaking, hiking and scenic routes along the canyon. A crossroads between Boise and Yellowstone, set amid volcanic landscapes and fertile farmland, Twin Falls is a surprising nature stop in Idaho.

Idaho Falls rises in eastern Idaho, crossed by the Snake River which forms an urban waterfall ringed by a pleasant greenbelt of trails and parks. The most populous city in the region, it is a convenient base toward nearby Yellowstone and Grand Teton, as well as the volcanic landscapes of Craters of the Moon. Its lively riverfront and the Mormon temple mirrored in the waters make it a welcoming centre. A crossroads between deserts, mountains and great parks, Idaho Falls blends convenience, nature and the charm of the American West.

Framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah and the spiritual heart of the Mormon community. The majestic Temple Square complex, with its granite temple and the famous Tabernacle of extraordinary acoustics, marks the orderly, light-filled historic centre. Just beyond the city stretches the Great Salt Lake, an immense expanse of briny water home to migratory birds. Its privileged location makes Salt Lake City an exceptional ski base: the renowned resorts of Park City, Alta and Snowbird, host of the 2002 Winter Olympics, lie just a few kilometres away. In summer the surrounding canyons invite hiking, mountain biking and high-altitude trekking. A young food scene and thriving craft breweries enliven a centre in full transformation. Salt Lake City blends devotion, alpine nature and outdoor living in a surprising union.