Float and Fish Wyoming’s North Platte River

North Platte River

The crowning jewel of central Wyoming, the North Platte River flows in and around Casper and offers abundant recreational activities including fishing, floating, canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. No matter which option you choose, chances are you’ll see Casper locals casting a line (fly-fishing is big around here) or floating the river on inner tubes.

One of the best attributes about the North Platte River are its many public access points including Lusby, Government Bridge/Miles Landing, By the Way Ranch, Sechris, Speck/Bessemer Bend, Robertson Road, Morad Park and Paradise Valley. Additional access can be found along the Platte River Trail as it travels for 11 miles along the North Platte River corridor. Along its path are boat launches, restrooms, wildlife-watching locations and the Casper Whitewater Park.

Change your outlook on life in one afternoon. All you need is a watercraft (inner tubes work well), life jackets and a willingness to go with the flow. Floating the North Platte River is where locals love to spend their lazy, dog days of summer. There are plenty of places you can start and stop. For a long float, go from Bessemer Bend to Robertson Road; for a shorter trip, try Morad Park to downtown Casper. Along the way, you will see birds skim the water as they snag something to eat, wildlife along the banks and fish leaping out of the water. Relax, soak up the sun and enjoy the untarnished beauty of Central Wyoming. Life jackets are available to borrow free of charge from the Casper Fire Department.