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Are you dreaming of fresh air, stunning landscapes, wildlife and wide-open spaces? Your first thoughts probably turn toward Yellowstone National Park when you’re planning grand outdoor adventures. What if you could have authentic Wyoming experiences coupled with small-town charm? That’s exactly what you’ll find, right when you need it most, in Casper, Wyoming.
All you need to change your outlook is a watercraft and a place to float. Casper, Wyoming’s rivers, lakes and reservoirs provide ample places to play and an abundance of boat, canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals.
Join locals on a lazy summer day and float along the North Platte River without a care in the world. If kayaking and boating are more your speed, launch your preferred vessel at Alcova Reservoir. From here, make your way to Fremont Canyon where stunning rock walls rise high on either side of the river. If you’re searching for an adrenaline rush, a mere mile and a half from downtown Casper you can ride the waves on four man-made rapids and practice paddling skills at the Platte River Whitewater Park.
However you decide to play on the waterways, you will spot cranes, loons and gulls and possibly an eagle or two. Not to mention wildlife grazing along the banks, and fish leaping out of the water are sure to delight while you soak up the sun and enjoy the untarnished beauty of Central Wyoming.
The North Platte River, Fremont Canyon and Alcova and Pathfinder reservoirs make Casper one of the world’s best fishing destinations. Soothing and exhilarating, this is as an outdoor activity the whole family or the sportsperson is sure to enjoy. Since the North Platte River flows through the heart of the city, blue-ribbon fishing is always within easy reach. Grey Reef has some of the most incredible fly-fishing in the country and hearty trout are biting in the more isolated Miracle Mile located just outside of town. Should you want to try your hand at ice fishing, Pathfinder Reservoir is one of the most popular destinations to catch walleye, trout and perch on a clear, crisp winter’s day.
When you’re ready to cast your line, you can forge ahead on your own and fish from the banks or by boat, just make sure you’re familiar with water rights. If you’d like some professional guidance, you’ll find fishing service guides are plentiful.
When you’re ready to stretch your legs, Casper’s world-class, modern trail system affords you plenty of ways to expand your horizons by foot or by bicycle. Rotary Park at the base of Casper Mountain is one of Casper’s most treasured spots where you can easily spend a whole afternoon. With multiple picnic tables, iron footbridges and a gazebo, the park is a picturesque spot to fuel up before you lace up and hit the trail. This path rewards you with a waterfall cascading into a mountain pool at Garden Creek Falls. Keep going, there’s more! Continue to the 4.5-mile kid-friendly Bridle Trail where you can earn bragging rights for reaching Split Rock. For a more prehistoric experience, visit the Cottonwood Creek Dinosaur Trail. The fascinating glimpse of how Wyoming may have looked during the late Triassic and Early Jurassic periods complete with dinosaur fossils is a real treat.
If mountain biking is more your speed, Casper Mountain is your playground with trails for every skill level. Cruise through 10 fast miles on well-marked and groomed Eadsville Trail with features like burned corners that carry smoothly one after the next. The Muddy Mountain trail cuts through dense forests and offers an almost sure chance to spot wildlife. Beginners and intermediate riders will want to hop on the Crossroads. Near the downtown area, this trail is perfect for comfortable scenic cruising along the North Platte River with nice corners and small bumps and jumps along the way for added excitement.
These days, no vacation is complete without social media posts to capture the places and spaces you explore. Casper, Wyoming, is filled with instaworthy stops sure to make your family and friends green with envy. For fanciful folks, visit Crimson Dawn where you’ll discover shrines dedicated to the Enchanted Witches and other characters from the book “Crimson Dawn”. At Martin’s Cove, you can pull a handcart to see how Mormon pioneers traveled west. For history buffs, the reconstructed 1865 military post at Fort Caspar and the Interpretive Trails Center are filled with photo ops from the fort to the artifacts and the interactive exhibits to the galleries, respectively. Swing by the Tate Geological Museum for a selfie with Dee the Mammoth, an 11,600-year-old Columbian Mammoth who lived in the American West during the Pleistocene.
There are even more places to snap pictures or take videos of experiences unique to Casper. From the optical illusion at Gravity Hill to the scenic view of the city from Lookout Point, the 7 wonders of Casper are a fantastic way to get acquainted with the city. Rotary Park’s new “lookout” platforms provide magnificent photo opportunities that are sure to result in your favorite vacation selfies. The somewhat steep trail will have you feeling like you’ve “scaled” the mountain, too. Just imagine the fun you’ll have captioning those posts!
The original cowboys and cowgirls of Casper really roughed it in the early days. You can spend the night under the stars, too, just a little more comfortably. There are an array of campgrounds and RV parks to choose from that are affordable and fun in Casper, Wyoming.
The Alcova Reservoir includes six campgrounds and eight boat ramps, making it an ideal retreat for outdoor Wyoming adventures. For a more relaxed vacation with days filled with fishing and boating, Black Beach is for you. Little Sandy Beach & RV Area is for families, complete with a sandy bay where children can swim and play, and beach volleyball is available for some friendly competition. Fremont Canyon Campground is a beautiful retreat with its red rock and location at the mouth of the Canyon, where hiking trails abound as do the fish. Okie Beach Campground is popular for boating, fishing, and camping. If you’re entertaining a large group, Westside Campground and Cottonwood feature group shelters along with campsites.
If you prefer to be located smack dab in the middle of historic Casper, stay at Fort Caspar Campground. The gateway to the intermountain west is close to Fort Caspar Museum and Five Trails Crossing on the scenic North Platte River. This is one of the few campgrounds that welcomes you year-round with full amenities for your RV.
Head west to Casper for every imaginable way to play in the great outdoors and make memories to last a lifetime!