One of central Wyoming’s most unusual landscapes is receiving national attention following its long-awaited reopening.
A recent National Geographic feature highlights Hell’s Half Acre, describing the recently revitalized badlands as a quieter alternative to Wyoming’s famous national parks and an easy stop for travelers heading toward Yellowstone and the Bighorn Basin.
Located along U.S. Highway 20/26 about 40 miles west of Casper, Hell’s Half Acre appears suddenly amid the rolling sagebrush country. The surrounding prairie gives way to a maze of colorful cliffs, narrow ravines, caves and strangely shaped rock formations extending across approximately 320 acres.
Despite its name, the site is considerably larger than half an acre.
Hell’s Half Acre Reopens to Visitors
Hell’s Half Acre reopened in May 2026 after roughly two decades of limited public access. A four-year improvement project added an accessible viewing platform, boardwalk, interpretive signs and picnic areas.
Visitors may currently view the badlands from above. Because the formations are fragile and the terrain can be dangerous, general access into the bottom remains restricted. Natrona County officials are reportedly considering guided excursions and a possible permit system for future access.
The overlook provides an impressive view without requiring a strenuous hike, making it a convenient stop for families, photographers and travelers passing between Casper, the Bighorn Basin and Yellowstone National Park.
A Window into Prehistoric Wyoming
Hell’s Half Acre is more than an unusual roadside landscape. Its exposed rock layers preserve a record of Wyoming during the Eocene Epoch, tens of millions of years ago.
At that time, the region had a much warmer, subtropical environment. Fossils discovered around the site include evidence of crocodiles, turtles, tropical plants and early mammals. The area is especially significant for its unusually rich collection of early primate fossils.
Archaeological evidence also shows that people used the area thousands of years ago. Projectile points, ceramics and radiocarbon dating indicate human activity at Hell’s Half Acre dating to at least 850 B.C. The rugged terrain may have helped Indigenous hunters drive and trap bison.
How Hell’s Half Acre Got Its Name
The landscape has carried several colorful names over the years, including the Devil’s Kitchen, the Pits of Hades and the Baby Grand Canyon.
According to Visit Casper, the present name grew out of an early tourism campaign. Casper boosters reportedly ordered thousands of postcards identifying the attraction as the Devil’s Kitchen, but the cards arrived bearing the name Hell’s Half Acre. Rather than discard them, promoters used the postcards, and the new name remained.
The federal government donated the site to Natrona County in 1924 as part of a 960-acre grant. For decades, a motel, restaurant and gift shop served travelers along the historic route to Yellowstone. Those businesses eventually closed, and the deteriorating buildings were later removed.
From Wyoming Badlands to an Alien Planet
Movie fans may recognize Hell’s Half Acre from the 1997 science-fiction film Starship Troopers. Its stark landscape portrayed the alien worlds of Klendathu and Planet P.
Filming brought hundreds of crew members and local extras to Natrona County during the 1990s. The movie helped establish Hell’s Half Acre as one of Wyoming’s most distinctive filming locations and added another chapter to the site’s already unusual history.
Planning a Visit
Hell’s Half Acre is located immediately off U.S. Highway 20/26 west of Casper. Parking is available, and the new boardwalk and overlook allow visitors to see the formations from the rim.
Travelers should remain in designated public areas, respect barriers and avoid entering the badlands without authorization. The steep slopes and easily damaged formations can make off-trail exploration hazardous.
The attention from National Geographic may introduce Hell’s Half Acre to a much wider audience, but the attraction remains characteristically Wyoming: remote, rugged and unlike almost anywhere else. For travelers heading between Casper and the Bighorn Basin, it is once again a worthwhile place to stop and explore one of the state’s strangest landscapes.
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