​As the year comes to a close, we’re looking back on 2025’s successful projects and events and feeling so grateful for the partners who made it all possible. The reason Platte River Trails can advance trail expansion is due to several strategic partnerships and supportive organizations that also believe in the value of our community trail system. From our projects to the events that help fund them and the educational and enrichment opportunities we’ve been fortunate to be involved in, we’re giving a great big “cheers” to all the trail partners who made 2025 a tremendous year!

​The trails are an outlet for adventure; to get closer to nature, to exercise outdoors, to spend time with our dogs, and so much more. Simply put, trails greatly improve our community's livability. Platte River Trails can continue trail expansion across Natrona County thanks in large part to your donations, especially during our Annual Giving Campaign. Every $100 gift helps advance another 10 square feet of trail. With your donation, combined with that of many others in our community, we can turn those feet into miles of trail expansion. If you use the trails, then help us build and protect them.

​In this October Guide to Casper Trails, we share the best trail maps, highlight popular routes like the Platte River Trail and Casper Rail Trail, and point you toward scenic stops from Morad Park to the Tate Pumphouse and beyond. Whether you’re looking for a casual stroll, a bike ride, or a connection to Casper Mountain trails, this October trail guide will help you make the most of the season!

​Platte River Trails is thrilled to introduce DogFest, Casper’s inaugural event that celebrates our biggest trail users: dogs! Platte River Trails invites all of Casper’s pet parents and dog-loving community to celebrate tails on the trails on September 13th from 9 a.m. to noon at the Tate Pumphouse. Leash up and join us for this free event, featuring a variety of pup-focused vendors, activities, prizes, and most importantly, meet and greet fellow pups.

Platte River Trails (PRT) is gearing up for the 33rd annual Riverfest on August 9th, crafting a great summer lineup of regional brews, local food trucks, and live music performances. Returning to the roots of the original river gathering, Platte River Trails has placed a greater emphasis on the brewfest component this year, ensuring Riverfest provides the true brewfest feeling that Casper residents know and love. Riverfest, taking place on August 9th from 1-6 pm, serves as PRT’s biggest fundraiser of the year, supporting trail maintenance and expansion in and around Casper.
 
So, what can you expect this year?

​To be successful and enjoyable, trails must be safe and accessible, and that’s exactly what Platte River Trails works toward. Through a network of supportive community members, an involved board of directors, and innovative partnerships, Platte River Trails sustains a working system to support non-motorized transportation in Casper, Wyoming, and beyond. The key to success is ensuring that trails support a major form of non-motorized transportation – bikes.

For decades, the Kiwanis Overlook Shelter stood as a quiet resting point on the River Trail, marking the 0.0-mile location of the Platte River Trails system. Perched at one of the highest points on the trail, it offers uninterrupted views of Casper Mountain and the North Platte River winding below. After years of standing tall, the Overlook Shelter received a facelift in 2024. ​

​With so many trails and amenities available within our trail network, how do you make sense of it all? A map, of course! However, a trail map is only helpful if you know how to read it. In this guide, we break down how to read and use the Platte River Trails trail map so you can plan the best outdoor excursion. From trailheads and parking to dog parks and bike repair stations, everything can be found on our map, so your next adventure isn't into the unknown.

​It all started in the 1960s when a grassroots group of citizens sought to reclaim the heavily polluted and neglected North Platte River, making it Casper’s crown jewel while creating accessibility to our outdoor spaces. What became the Platte River Trails system now boasts over 20 miles of pathways winding through Casper, thanks to decades of continuous innovation and support, including the efforts of the PRTT’s annual Spring Cleanup volunteers and sponsors.

After more than a decade away, Dean Hawks returned to Casper, drawn back by what he missed most—places like Casper Mountain, Alcova Lake, and the trails. During his absence, Platte River Trails had expanded its trail system throughout Casper, and he was thrilled to see how it had grown. While enjoying the trails, Dean ran into a friend at the dog park who encouraged him to join the Platte River Trails Trust board. Wanting to get involved in the community, he eagerly stepped into the role, seeing firsthand how trails connect not just places, but people.