The Ultimate Joe Pickett Road Trip Through Wyoming

By Travel Wyoming last updated on Mar. 02, 2026

Where Fiction Meets the Real Wyoming

For nearly three decades, C.J. Box has invited readers into the wide open spaces of Wyoming through the eyes of game warden Joe Pickett. What began as a single novel has grown into one of the most successful Western crime series in modern publishing. More than 20 million copies have been sold worldwide, the books have been translated into 27 languages and the television adaptation,Joe Pickett. 

At the center of it all is Joe Pickett, a dedicated game warden whose jurisdiction stretches across mountains, sagebrush basins and isolated back roads. In nearly thirty novels, Joe has faced corrupt officials, violent criminals, environmental conflicts and the unpredictable force of nature itself. As a game warden, he occupies a uniquely Wyoming role. Wardens are often the first called when something goes wrong outdoors, whether it involves wildlife, ranchland or people who underestimate the vastness of the West. That responsibility places Joe at the crossroads of wilderness and community, where the landscape shapes every decision.

In Box’s newest novel, The Crossroads, Joe is found gravely injured in his pickup at the junction of three ranch roads, each leading to a different family with something to hide. As he fights for his life, his daughters step into the rugged terrain he has long protected, navigating the same remote country that has defined the series from the beginning.

Throughout every installment, one truth remains constant. The mountains, rivers, deserts and small towns of Wyoming are more than scenery. They are catalysts. They test resolve, reveal character and hold tightly to their secrets.

This road trip invites you to explore the real places that inspired the series and to experience the Wyoming that continues to shape one of the West’s most enduring literary heroes.