Halfway between Cheyenne and Laramie sits a park with seven faces and one waterfall

A Wyoming park with seven distinct sections

You can stand in the foothills of Wyoming’s Laramie Mountains and see why this park pulls people from both directions.

It sits almost exactly halfway between Cheyenne and Laramie, about 24 miles from each, and spreads across seven sections of granite, meadows, and rolling hills.

You’ll find bike trails, hiking paths, fishing spots, and boat launches all inside the same boundary. The park stays open all year, but its name traces back to a Wyoming sportscaster.

How a Wyoming Broadcaster Earned This Park’s Name

The park opened in 1971 under a different name, Granite State Park, before officials renamed it a year later for Curt Gowdy, a well-known sportscaster from Wyoming.

Gowdy was born in Green River and grew up in Cheyenne, where his broadcasting career began. The location fits him well, since the park sits between the town that raised him and Laramie, the college town nearby.

At the 1972 dedication, Gowdy called the honor a fitting one.

Tackle 35 Miles of Epic Rated Trails

In 2009, the International Mountain Bicycling Association gave this park’s trail network its Epic rating, the first and only one in Wyoming. More than 35 miles of trails wind through the park, and you can pick your pace.

Beginners stick to smooth, flowing paths, while experienced riders head for rocky, technical climbs. Four skills areas mix in rock features, wooden planks, and banked turns for extra challenge.

Follow Crow Creek Trail to Hidden Falls

The Crow Creek Trail takes you straight to Hidden Falls, a waterfall tucked away in the park’s backcountry.

The out-and-back route runs about 3.6 miles and carries an intermediate rating, so you’ll want decent shoes and a little time.

Along the way, you’ll cross granite cliffs, open meadows, and creek crossings before reaching the falls.

If you want more elevation, El Alto and Slabz climb short and steep, and pay off with wide views over the reservoirs and hills below.

Cast for Trout in Three Reservoirs

Three reservoirs anchor this park: Granite, Crystal, and North Crow.

Granite is the biggest of the three, while Crystal is the smallest, and both draw anglers casting for trout from the shore or a boat.

Head about five miles west and you’ll find North Crow, the quietest and most natural of the three, away from the busier spots.

If you’d rather fish moving water, the streams connecting the reservoirs are open too, giving you another way to spend an afternoon.

Paddle Coves Ringed by Granite and Pine

Boats are welcome on both Granite and Crystal reservoirs, though the rules differ. Granite allows motorboats with no horsepower limit, while Crystal caps it at 15 horsepower.

North Crow stays non-motorized, which makes it the spot for canoes, kayaks, and other small craft. Paddlers can work their way through coves lined with granite and pine without a motor in earshot.

On warm days, all three reservoirs fill up with people looking to cool off and get out on the water.

Shoot 28 Targets on the Archery Course

Twenty-eight targets sit spread through the woods here, part of the park’s archery field course that runs about two miles over moderate ground.

The Cheyenne Field Archers built the course back in the 1960s, and it still meets National Field Archery Association standards today.

It stays open all year, but you’ll need to bring your own bow and arrows, since the park does not supply gear.

Ride the Equestrian Loop Year Round

An equestrian loop runs through the park all year, giving riders views of meadows, hills, and granite outcrops along the way. Horses get their own space too, in a large fenced pasture built just for them.

Near the Aspen Grove campground, you’ll find a free public horse corral, open to anyone who trailers their horse in for the day or a longer stay.

It’s one more way to see the park’s terrain without staying on your own two feet.

Climb or Hunt Rocks Among the Granite

Granite outcroppings rise up all across the park’s rolling hills, giving the whole landscape a rugged, Western look. Rock climbing is one of the activities you can do here, right on those same formations.

If climbing isn’t your thing, rockhounding draws plenty of visitors too, since the park has become a popular spot for hunting interesting rocks.

Either way, the granite makes a solid backdrop for photos, and it’s just as good a spot for a picnic.

Spot Elk, Marmots, and Mountain Bluebirds

Mule deer and elk show up often enough that you’ll probably spot one on a drive through the park, along with yellow-bellied marmots sunning on the rocks.

Squirrels and chipmunks are easy to find too, scurrying around campsites and trailheads.

Birdwatchers do well here, especially from late April into early May, when migrating birds pass through in bigger numbers. Keep an eye out for mountain bluebirds, which nest in boxes set up around the park just for them.

Reserve the Historic Hynds Lodge

The Hynds Lodge stands out as one of the park’s most recognizable landmarks, built from granite in a style called ashlar masonry.

It holds a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, and it sits right against a hillside, framed by big rocks and old trees.

Groups can reserve the whole lodge, which sleeps 20 people overnight and holds up to 90 people for larger day gatherings.

Wind Down on Kate’s Trail

Kate’s Trail gives you an easy option: a paved, one-mile path that works for wheelchairs and strollers alike.

Gentle paths also wind between the reservoirs for a relaxed walk instead of a climb, and kids get their own spot at a play feature called the Little House.

Once the sun goes down, dark skies make the park a good spot for stargazing and the occasional star party, while picnic shelters and open meadows give the rest of the family room to gather.

Visit Curt Gowdy State Park, Wyoming

You’ll find Curt Gowdy State Park on Wyoming Highway 210, also known as Happy Jack Road, about 24 miles from both Cheyenne and Laramie.

The park stays open all year, and the visitor center generally welcomes you daily with maps, restrooms, and park information. Day-use runs about $7 a vehicle if you live in Wyoming and $12 if you don’t.

Camping is available year-round across several campgrounds, some with reservoir views, and you can reserve Hynds Lodge from May 1 through Sept. 30.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• Squaretop Mountain is on every Wyoming license plate: here’s what it looks like up close
• This 64-mile Wyoming backway has sand dunes, granite canyons, and world-class trout fishing
• Where does the river go? Wyoming’s Sinks Canyon has stumped scientists for forty years