Home - Location - Lodging - If you're not racing - Weather Patterns - Register - Notice of race- Contact

 

Something to do if you're not racing

CASPER

Casper is Wyoming's second-largest city and is steeped in history of pioneers who traveled the great trails. It was here that the pioneers crossed the Platte River for the last time and headed south to meet the Sweetwater River via Independence Rock. The last crossing was near the downtown area and one route of the trail is now Second Street in downtown Casper.

Casper was named for Army Lieutenant Caspar Collins, who was killed during a skirmish with Indians on the banks of the North Platte River, near the site of Old Fort Caspar. Platte Bridge Station (the early name of the fort) was established in 1859 as a trading post and stage stop. Fort Caspar has been restored and reenactments of life on the frontier are presented during the summer.

Fifty miles southwest of Casper on WYO 220 is the Independence Rock State Historic Landmark. The rock was named on July 4, 1830 by a party of trappers led by William Sublette. More than 5,000 names of emigrants were carved into the huge boulder.

Southwest of Casper on WYO 220 are two lakes, Pathfinder and Alcova, which are great for water sports especially sailing. Fremont Canyon, between the two lakes, is very scenic.

Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park is located on the banks of the North Platte River just east of Casper near Evansville.

Also while in the Casper area, take in a Wyoming Symphony, Orchestra concert. Enjoy music performed by some of the world's best regional, national, and international artists.

Performances are scheduled from September through May. The Wyoming Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 47th , season this year.

 

Where dinosaurs roamed ...

Fossils are abundant in central Wyoming. Dinosaurs bones can be seen in a rocky outcrop near Alcova Reservoir southwest of Casper, along what is now part of the Cottonwood Creek Dinosaur Trail.

Rock formations along the path including many vertebrate, invertebrate animal and plant fossils. The deposits indicate many different environments from 200 million to 140 million years ago including tidal flats, sand dunes, beaches, oceans, storm deposits and complex river systems.

The trail offers an exciting encounter with real fossils and the geology of central Wyoming. Along with deposits containing dinosaur bones and extinct sea creatures, fossil plants, tracks, traces and burrows highlight this slice through ancient landscapes. Come prepared with water, adequate footwear and appropriate clothing. The trail is about half a mile long and rises nearly 300 feet in elevation. Users should be in good physical condition and exercise caution while on the trail.

The trail is free and open year-round, seven days a week, from dawn until dusk.

For more information, call the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation office in Casper at 261-5628.

Please bear in mind that restrictions exist on collecting some-fossils, particularly sea turtles, fossilized mammal bones, and various sea creatures. Should you find such fossils, please contact the State Geological Survey in Laramie, or the Wyoming Geological Association in Casper at 237 0027.

 

And the antelope play...

If you like critters a bit more animated than your average fossil, you don't have to look far. The Casper area has far more wildlife than people.

Over 75 percent of the world's pronghorn antelope live within a 150 mile radius of Casper. Mule deer, sage grouse, red-tail hawks and golden eagles also are common.

(Be aware that the local wildlife includes prairie rattlesnakes. If you should encounter one of these neighborhood reptiles, don't let it rattle you. Just give it a wide berth and leave it alone.)

Fast beyond compare

Pronghorn antelope are champion sprinters of the High Plains. They can leave predators like coyotes in the dust, and by such a wide margin it isn't even a good race.

So why can antelope run so fast, when more modest foot-speed would more than suffice?

Some scientists believe it's because of the long extinct North American cheetah.

Cheetahs can sprint 70 miles per hour for short distances. As a result, biologists say, pronghorn may have developed their blazing speed to avoid these fleet-footed felines. When the cheetah died out, the swiftness of the pronghorn remained.

So next time you see an antelope running full-speed across the plains, perhaps you should credit the ghosts of Wyoming's ancient cheetahs.

Pronghorn antelope are the most numerous big game animals, but mule deer and white-tailed deer also are plentiful. Elk are found on Casper Mountain.

Small game animals include such quarry as cottontail rabbits snowshoe hares and fox squirrel Sage grouse are the most common upland game birds, but smaller populations of chukar, gray (Hungarian) partridge, and blue grouse also can be found. Duck and goose hunters will find good shooting in the Central Fly way which crosses Natrona County.

Black bear and mountain lion populations are small, and special hunting techniques are required.

Seasons and restrictions vary according to species. Some hunting licenses are available only through random computer drawing with specific application deadlines. Others may be purchased over the counter. Check with a license-selling agent or Game and Fish office for details. Waterfowl seasons are established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In addition to paying a license fee, hunters and fishers in Wyoming must purchase a $5 conservation stamp. Only one stamp is required, no matter how many licenses are held.

The North Platte River and its reservoirs offer anglers prime opportunities for catching rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout and walleyes.

Pathfinder Reservoir is great for trout and walleye during both summer and winter. Boats can be launched from the marina boat ramp near the dam. Anglers fishing from shore will have the best of luck with bait in the Bishop Point, Marina Bay, Wolf Point and Canyon Creek Bay areas. Boaters will find trolling rapalas or flatfish lures very productive.

Alcova Reservoir is great for rainbows, browns and walleyes. Rainbows are the most numerous and can be caught from shore at Okie Beach, Sandy Beach Cottonwood Bay, Black Beach, and near the mouth of the canyon. Boaters will catch rainbows while fishing with bait near the power plant or trolling lures in the canyon, or around the canyon mouth, and off beach areas. Because there are many water skiers, always exercise good water-safety practices.

The North Platte River from Gray Reef Dam downstream to Casper is a good place to fish for lunker rainbows, cutthroats and browns. It's a favorite of flyfishers and river floaters.

Alluring lures

The North Platte River between Gray Reef Dam and Casper has excellent public fishing where anglers can match wits with both rainbow trout and browns.

Flies and lures that might give fishers an edge include half back flies, various patterns of the North Platte River Special streamer, wooly buggers, scuds (during warm weather), and various types of Panther Martin spinners.

Regulations vary on this stretch of water. From Gray Reef Dam downstream eight miles to the upstream boundary of the Lusby Public Fishing Area, the limit is one trout per day or in possession, and all trout less than 20 inches in length must be released. Tackle is limited to artificial flies and lures only.

From the upstream boundary of the Lusby Public Fishing Area to Bessemer Bend Bridge (Natrona County Road 308), the limit is two trout per day or in possession, and only one may exceed 20 inches in length.

Numerous public fishing areas are available on this section of river. For floaters, a free float map is available from the Casper Game and Fish office or from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management office.

This productive stretch has been marked with signs indicating whether lands passed while floating are publicly or privately owned. Blue rectangular signs indicate public land that is accessible and red signs indicate private land.

In addition to hunting and fishing, all this wonderful wildlife is worth seeing for its own sake. Wildlife-watching can be as intensive, or as easy, as you want to make it. But whether you prefer viewing from an air-conditioned vehicle or a rugged, back-country trail, don't forget your camera and plenty of film.

 

Home - Location - Lodging - If you're not racing - Weather Patterns - Register - Notice of race- Contact