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.

Dec 06

[ARCHIVED] Casper Mountain Conditions and Updates

The original item was published from December 6, 2021 1:26 PM to December 6, 2021 1:29 PM

Nordic Trails Conditions Update for December 06, 2021

Goods news... it snowed! Bad news, not nearly enough.

  • 4-6 inches of light dry powder, repacked Strube and portions of the Maze. 
  • Strube is in decent condition, some gravel showing from the parking lot to the Braille Trail. 

  • The Maze is mostly “snirt”, a combination of snow and dirt, with lots of vegetation and exposed rocks. Skiing is not recommended around the Lights. The Stadium, and part of Burma are okay.

  • Parking Lot Hill is CLOSED, it is bare ground.

  • All other trails are CLOSED, please stay off.

  • No hiking, No dogs.

  • ROCK SKIS NEEDED
    Lights will be turned on today as enough of the Maze is currently skiable with caution. Once we have enough drifted snow, we will start addressing some problem areas of the Maze, be aware later this week for equipment in the Maze area and some equipment ruts/tracks.

Thank You, NC PARKS