Curt Gowdy State Park

The park's three lakes, Granite, Crystal, and Upper North Crow reservoirs, were built across small mountain drainages to hold water for the growing city of Cheyenne. Set among rounded granite outcrops and pine, they now serve just as much for recreation as for water supply.

The reservoirs draw anglers after trout and boaters and paddlers looking for a quiet afternoon. Coves and rocky points ring the shores, and the water mirrors the surrounding ridges on a calm morning before the wind comes up.

What has really put Curt Gowdy on the map is its trails. Volunteers and the state have built an extensive, thoughtfully designed network that winds over granite slabs, around the reservoirs, and up through the rocks, earning national recognition as a premier mountain-biking destination.

Riders come for the mix of flowing singletrack and challenging technical rock, and the same trails serve hikers and trail runners. Routes fan out to hidden corners of the park, including a path to Hidden Falls, a small cascade tucked back in the granite that rewards a short walk.

Curt Gowdy was born in Green River, Wyoming and went on to become one of the most famous voices in American sports broadcasting, calling World Series, Super Bowls, and Olympics. He never lost his love of the outdoors, hosting a long-running program on hunting and fishing and speaking up for conservation.

Naming the park for him ties this landscape to that legacy of getting people outside. It is a fitting tribute, a place built around water and rock and trails where families come to fish, ride, and camp under the big Wyoming sky.

The park's mix of water, rock, and pine supports mule deer, pronghorn on the open flats, wild turkeys, and a good range of birds, from raptors overhead to waterfowl on the reservoirs. Mornings and evenings are the best times to see wildlife moving.

This is high, exposed country, famous for wind, and its weather can turn quickly, with summer thunderstorms building over the ridges in the afternoon. Summer is the busy season for riding and boating, fall brings crisp air and gold, and winter closes much of the park in snow and cold, when the reservoirs freeze under a wide, quiet sky.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Curt Gowdy State Park, in the hills between Cheyenne and Laramie in southeastern Wyoming, is a scenic park set among granite outcrops, forests, and three reservoirs, named for the famous sportscaster who was a Wyoming native. The park is a popular destination for hiking, mountain biking on its renowned trail system, fishing, boating, camping, and archery, all amid rugged rock formations and pretty mountain scenery. Its extensive, well-built trails have earned national recognition among mountain bikers. With its reservoirs, granite scenery, and outstanding trails, Curt Gowdy State Park offers a rewarding outdoor destination in southeastern Wyoming.

You can hike and mountain bike the park's extensive, nationally recognized trail system winding among the granite outcrops and forests, fish and boat on the three reservoirs, camp, picnic, try the archery range, and enjoy the rugged scenery and wildlife. The mountain-biking trails are a special draw, ranging from easy to challenging. The reservoirs offer relaxed water recreation. With its celebrated trails, reservoirs for fishing and boating, camping, and beautiful granite scenery, Curt Gowdy State Park offers a rewarding outdoor experience between Cheyenne and Laramie in southeastern Wyoming.

The park sits at higher elevation where weather can change quickly and be cooler than the cities, so bring layers, water, and sun protection, and be prepared for wind on the open ridges, while boaters and paddlers should wear life jackets and watch for changing conditions on the reservoirs. The trails range from easy to technical, so choose routes suited to your ability, and stay on marked paths among the rocks. Being prepared for the elevation, weather, and trail difficulty ensures a safe and enjoyable visit to Curt Gowdy State Park in southeastern Wyoming.

Late spring through fall is ideal for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, boating, and camping, when the weather is mildest and the trails and reservoirs are at their best, with summer the peak season and fall offering pleasant temperatures and color, while winter is cold and quiet. Even summer can be cool and windy at the elevation, so bring layers. For the best combination of comfortable weather and full recreation, aim for late spring through fall at Curt Gowdy State Park between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.

Curt Gowdy State Park is between Cheyenne and Laramie in southeastern Wyoming, near the Vedauwoo rock formations in the Laramie Mountains, the Medicine Bow National Forest, and within reach of Cheyenne with its State Capitol and museums and the college town of Laramie. That makes Curt Gowdy State Park a rewarding outdoor stop to combine with Vedauwoo, Cheyenne, Laramie, and the other attractions of southeastern Wyoming on a visit to the state.