Introducing Trails West Recreation Area

​Platte River Trails is thrilled to introduce the Trails West Recreation Area, our newest connection between west and east Casper. While still in the early stages of development, Trails West is already shaping up to be a new favorite outdoor recreation space for Casper residents and visitors alike. Here’s a look at what’s taking shape.

​Trails West Rec Area is a product of community collaboration and ongoing donor support. Located northeast of Rim Rock Ranch, we’re continuing Casper’s west-side momentum thanks to the generous gift of 125 acres of donated land from Kieth and Diane Tyler and the Doris M. McMurry Trust. Their extraordinary donations not only reflects their belief in our mission to continue trail development but also underscores the importance of accessible spaces for outdoor recreation and enjoyment.
 
This land, reserved for future recreation and neighborhood connections, is in its early days of development; however, recent work has moved forward in partnership with Central Wyoming Trails Alliance. After gates were installed, fencing was completed earlier this spring to establish a designated walk‑run‑bike area with controlled pet use. Complemented by a soon-to-be-developed parking area at the end of Village Drive, the Trails West trailhead is now officially open to the public.
 
With each project, Platte River Trails relies on community partners to lend their expertise in trail planning and construction. For the Trails West Rec Area, we are grateful for our collaboration with Central Wyoming Trails Alliance (CWTA), an important community partner in building trails throughout Natrona County.
 
“We’re always excited about new trail successes that come from our partnerships. CWTA’s involvement in the development of the Trails West area began as a growing idea and has since become a project that strengthened our collaboration with Platte River Trails,” says CWTA Executive Director Austin Burgess.
 
CWTA has been essential to the conception and early development of Trails West by working with PRTT to assess the feasibility of improving the property and developing a stepwise plan to better define the area, using signage and physical enhancements, including installing a wire fence.
 
“We recognized immediately that this project aligned with our mission and reflected who we are as a trails alliance,” Austin continues. “Our initial efforts focused on installing gates at key access points and adding signage to clearly communicate authorized uses of the area.”
 
Currently, the area is suitable for walking, running, and biking, but it is not open to motor vehicles of any kind. The CWTA team has constructed more than half a mile of new fencing and improved the existing fence line that outlines the property boundary donated to Platte River Trails. Several non-motorized walk-through gates were also installed by CWTA, ensuring wildlife-friendly under-crossings, with particular attention to the pronghorn that frequent the area.
 
Trails West Rec Area marks the first step toward creating a truly usable non-motorized recreation area west of Casper. The next phase of the project will require collaboration between Platte River Trails and CWTA as trail design, layout, and development progress, ensuring the space evolves into a well-planned, accessible, and enjoyable trail system for the community.
 
“We deeply value the partnerships that allow us to make meaningful impacts in our community. Our work with Platte River Trails is a strong example of how collaboration can enhance and protect the outdoor spaces we all enjoy,” says Austin.
 
Immediate future plans for Trails West Recreation Area include refining trail routes, laying gravel, and adding purpose-built paths geared more toward cyclists, runners/walkers, and pet owners. Long term plans include studying possible access and alignments to connect this new gem to the River Trail and Robertson Rd. While the area is open for public use, no motor vehicles are permitted. The private property was donated for the specific use of a non-motorized trail, and we ask our community to respect it as such.
 
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