Nathaniel & Jessica
Things To Do
Garden Creek Falls - Rotary Park
Casper has a waterfall right at the base of Casper Mountain. The waterfall is very easy to access, being 5-minutes (or less) from the parking lot. There is also a beautiful hiking trail, The Bridle Trail, with a short loop and a long loop. This is our favorite place to hike in Casper.
National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
This is an award-winning museum in Casper! It is completely free and only takes a few hours to go through. Amazing information about the history of all 4 of America's trails such as the Oregon Trail. This is a must-stop in Casper.
Duncan Ranch Trail Head
Located about 40 minutes southeast of Casper, this trail is easy to get to and has amazing views all around! There is a 3-mile loop (T-Trail) and a 5.5-mile loop (Duncan Ranch Trail). This trail has been one of our go-to trails near Casper. We recommend going earlier in the morning before the sun is at its peak. If you have extra time and a high clearance 4x4 vehicle, we recommend continuing on the road past the trailhead for some backcountry exploring. Be prepared for minimal phone service and potentially muddy conditions. The remote views are incredible!
Tate Geological Museum at Casper College
One of the first places we went when we moved to Casper! This free museum has an amazing collection of fossils that were mostly found in Wyoming.
Coates Road State Land Walking/Hiking
The publicly accessible State Land located off Coates Road in Casper is a fantastic place to wander freely with great views of the surrounding landscape and Casper Mountain. The State land is available for both free-roaming and trail hiking, with no restrictions. Flowers and new growth are particularly impressive in late spring/early summer. Recommended for a quick couple hour walk/hike without having to leave town. To access, a gravel parking lot is located at 42.790964, -106.394749.
Alcova/Fremont Canyon/Pathfinder Reservoir Loop
This road loop about an hour west of Casper includes stops at Alcova Dam/reservoir, Alcova Dinosaur Trail, the impressive Fremont Canyon of the North Platte River, and Pathfinder Reservoir in the San Pedro mountains. Some of the loop is gravel, but still accessible to all vehicles. We also recommend a stop at the Sunset Inn Bar and Grill for some of the best burgers.
Glenrock Paleon Museum
Another incredible museum with amazing fossils, they will even show you the fossil prep lab.
Bighorn Mountains
Our favorite city in Wyoming is Buffalo! Located at the base of the Bighorn Mountains, about 1.5 hours from Casper, this is a great stop if you are road-tripping it out here. You can't miss the Occidental Saloon downtown; there is also a lot of great shops. The drive into the mountains is beautiful, lots of great hikes and sightseeing. Drive all the way to Tensleep and you will drive through the scenic Tensleep Canyon. There is a great brewery in Tensleep as well! Just 30 Minutes north of Buffalo is another great town, Sheridan. They have a great, historic downtown, and you can visit the famous Mint Bar!
Hells Half Acre
Hell's Half Acre is a large geological formation 45 minutes west of Casper. Composed of deep ravines, caves, and large rock formations, this spot is a cool place to explore and also the site Native Americans used to drive thousands of bison over the cliffs during their hunt.
North Platte River Fishing
Trout fishing on the North Platte River is world-renowned. Particularly, sections upstream and west of Casper are well known, including Bessemer Bend, Grey Reef, Fremont Canyon, and the Miracle Mile. Note that some areas have great fishing but require travel on minimally maintained gravel roads to access.
Off The Beaten Path Activities
There are many particularly impressive scenic areas near Casper accessible to high clearance, 4X4 vehicles. Be prepared for remote landscapes far from the comforts of civilization and sections of rocky road with minimal maintenance. Some locations that we have explored include: - Casper Mountain Circle Drive Loop - South Bighorn/Red Wall Backcountry Byway - Castle Gardens Petroglyph Site (east of Riverton) - Any other BLM/Federal/Public roads you are willing to explore, with preparation!