Area 3,552 km² | Phone +1 307-632-7946 | |
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Address 1264 Granite Springs Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82009, USA Similar Vedauwoo Picnic Site (recgovn, Wyoming State Parks & Cultural, AB Camping, Laramie KOA Journey, Restway Travel Park | ||
Hidden falls in curt gowdy state park wyoming
Curt Gowdy State Park is state-operated, public recreation area located on Wyoming Highway 210, halfway between Cheyenne and Laramie, 24 miles (39 km) from each city, in Albany and Laramie counties, Wyoming. The state park covers 3,552 acres (1,437 ha) and is known for its extensive trail system, fishing reservoirs, and Hynds Lodge, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Curt gowdy state park wyoming
HistoryEdit
The park was established in 1971 through a lease agreement with the City of Cheyenne and the Boy Scouts. It was originally called Granite State Park and covered 2,473 acres (1,001 ha). In 1972, it was renamed in honor of Wyoming native and sportscaster Curt Gowdy (1919–2006).
In 2006, the park saw initiation of an International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) trail improvement project. The trail system earned the IMBA's "Epic" designation in 2009. In 2009, Wyoming began a program to build additional hiking trails in several Wyoming state parks. Curt Gowdy State Park served as the pilot project for the program, with 32 miles of additional trails. The state required that the newly built trails do not fundamentally alter the landscape of the park. Funding for the trails came from federal and state funds and private donations.
Trail improvements resulted in a substantial increase in visitorship with number of annual visitors to the park increasing from 56,000 in 2006 to 120,000 in 2013. To accommodate the park's newfound popularity, a new state-of-the-art, green-certified, visitor center was opened in 2014.
GeographyEdit
Park terrain consists of rolling hills and sharp granite outcroppings in the foothills of the Laramie Mountains. Elevation ranges from 6,450 feet (1,970 m) to over 7,500 feet (2,300 m). Wildlife that can be found include: kokanee salmon, perch, brown, rainbow and lake trout, white-tailed deer, and mule deer. The park is divided into seven sections centering around three reservoirs: Granite Springs, the largest, Crystal, the smallest, and the isolated North Crow, located northwest of the main park.
Activities and amenitiesEdit
The park offers over 35 miles of trails for biking, hiking, and horseback riding. Other activities include boating, canoeing, water skiing, fishing, camping, rockhounding, and archery.