Living in Natrona County

Wyoming’s plains are the historical home to many nomadic tribes including the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Shoshone and Sioux. Today, about 6,000 Shoshone and Arapaho continue to reside on the 2.3 million acre Wind River Reservation, northwest of Natrona County.

In 1812, John Jacob Astor established Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia and sent Robert Stuart east to start what was hoped to become a network of trading posts. Stuart found South Pass by following a Crow Indian trail and entered our region. Near Bessemer Bend, Stuart and his small band erected the first white man’s hut in 1812. Although Astor’s plans failed when the British captured Astoria in 1812, trappers and scouts continued to explore our high plains and develop transit routes. On July 4, 1824, some of these trappers named Independence Rock.

In 1840, Father Jean Pierre DeSmet began spreading the gospel among area Indians. Father DeSmet was the first to carve his name on Independence Rock and give it the name, “The Register of the Desert.” In 1843, John C. Fremont (known as “The Pathfinder”) chiseled his name on Independence Rock and later with Kit Carson as his guide, went on to explore the country along the Platte and Sweetwater Rivers.

Jan 15

[ARCHIVED] Conditions & Grooming Report January 15, 2016

The original item was published from January 15, 2016 3:59 PM to June 22, 2020 2:24 PM

Update for January 15, 2016

  • The mountain received 3" of new snow.
  • About 1/2 of the trail network was groomed on January 15th.  The remaining trails will be groomed over the weekend.
  • Casper Mountain Trails Center has resumed normal operating hours.  There will be an evening dinner on Valentine's Day.
  • We are still working on the revised Nordic Trail maps.  The current brochure is fairly reliable for the western two-thirds of the trails.
  • Fat-biking allowed on groomed Nordic Trails provided bikers remain to the narrow side of the classic XC tracks and observe courtesy and etiquette.
  • All users must possess a Nordic Trails Pass. We have smaller, more durable trail passes this season; get yours today.
  • Be sure to download the newsletter to read more about what's new at the Nordic Trails
  • Download Conditions Report here.