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Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming, with about 59,000 people on the North Platte River at the foot of Casper Mountain. It grew around the spot where the Oregon, Mormon, California and Pony Express trails crossed the river, and later boomed with oil discoveries at the nearby Salt Creek field in the early 1900s.
The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center tells the story of the pioneers who passed through, with exhibits on wagon trains and river crossings, and Fort Caspar Museum recreates the 1860s army post that gave the city its name. The Nicolaysen Art Museum shows regional and contemporary art.
Casper Mountain rises just south of town with hiking, skiing and Garden Creek Falls, and the North Platte River is famous for blue-ribbon trout fishing. Downtown has the historic Rialto Theater and a revitalized David Street Station plaza, and Alcova and Pathfinder reservoirs are a short drive southwest.
A museum on a hill above Casper telling the stories of the Oregon, California, Mormon and Pony Express trails that crossed the area, with life-size exhibits, a wagon simulator and films. It is run by the Bureau of Land Management. Allow about two hours, and enjoy the views over the North Platte valley.
A museum and reconstructed 1860s army post on the site of Platte Bridge Station, a key crossing on the emigrant trails, with rebuilt fort buildings, a replica of the Mormon ferry and exhibits on regional history. It is near the North Platte River. Allow about an hour, and check seasonal hours.
A contemporary art museum in a former power plant building in downtown Casper, often called The Nic, with rotating exhibitions of regional and national artists, a discovery center for children and classes. Admission is usually free or low cost. Check the website for current exhibitions and hours.
A free geology and paleontology museum at Casper College with fossils, minerals and dinosaur bones from Wyoming, including Dee, a large Columbian mammoth skeleton. Visitors can watch preparators work on fossils in the lab. It is a good stop for families; check the hours, which follow the college schedule.
The historic center of Casper with restored buildings, local restaurants, breweries, Western stores and the David Street Station plaza. Murals and public art add color around town. Street parking is easy, and summer brings concerts and events; it is the best place to eat and shop in the city.
A public plaza in downtown Casper with a stage for free summer concerts and events, a splash pad, lawn seating and an ice rink in winter. It has become the city's main gathering place. Check the event calendar, especially on summer weekend evenings, when concerts and markets are held there.
A waterfall on the lower slopes of Casper Mountain in Rotary Park, just a few minutes from the city, reached by a short trail of about a quarter mile. Longer trails continue up the mountain. It is best in late spring when snowmelt makes the falls strongest; trails can be slick, so wear good shoes.
A mountain rising about 8,000 feet just south of Casper, with forested trails, campgrounds, cross-country skiing, the Hogadon Basin ski area and wide views over the city. The drive up is short but steep and winding. Weather is much cooler than in town, and snow tires are needed in winter.
A major river flowing through Casper, famous for blue-ribbon trout fishing and floating, especially on the stretches below the dams southwest of town. Local outfitters run guided fishing trips. In town, riverside parks and paths make it easy to enjoy the water; check flow levels before floating.
A paved trail system following the North Platte River through Casper for more than 10 miles, linking parks, fishing spots, the Fort Caspar area and downtown. It suits walking, running and cycling with good river views. Watch for wildlife such as deer and geese, and expect strong wind on open sections.
A historic movie theater from the 1920s on Center Street in downtown Casper, with a restored neon marquee and classic interior. It has been renovated for films and live events. Even when no event is on, the marquee is a good photo stop; check the schedule for movie nights and performances.
A huge granite rock southwest of Casper, now a state historic site, where thousands of emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails carved their names in the 1800s. A trail circles the rock, and visitors can climb to the top. It is about an hour's drive; bring water and wear grippy shoes.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Tom Hagerty, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Department of Commerce. Bureau of Public Roads. 8/20/1949-4/1/1967, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Department of Commerce. Bureau of Public Roads. 8/20/1949-4/1/1967, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
