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Camping and Hiking in Wyoming
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Buffalo Bill State Park
The history of Buffalo Bill Reservoir and "Cody Country" is
rooted in the rich lore of the old West. Buffalo Bill State Park
was named for Colonel William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, famous as
a wild west showman, promoter and developer. He first came to
the region in the 1870's as a guide for a survey expedition and
spent the next 20 years guiding and sponsoring hunting parties
in the area. "Buffalo Bill" Cody was influential in bringing
irrigation and agricultural development into the area and
founded the town that bears his name. Some of the land now
occupied by Buffalo Bill State Park was originally owned by
Colonel Cody and was acquired from him by the federal government
to implement the reservoir project. Work began on the dam in
1905. When completed in 1910 it was the highest dam in the world
at 325 feet. Buffalo Bill State Park was established in 1957 and
provided recreational areas and facilities along the original
shoreline. In 1993 an eight year project was completed which
raised the crest of the dam 25 feet and increased the reservoir
storage capacity. The enlarged reservoir inundated the former
recreation areas which required the removal of the old park
facilities. Buffalo Bill State Park has been redeveloped as part
. There are two developed campgrounds at Buffalo Bill State
Park. North Shore Bay Campground (35 sites: 32 pull through
sites and 3 designated tent sites) is located approx. 9 miles
west of Cody on US Highway 14-16-20 North Fork Highway. North
Fork Campground (62 SITES: 56 pull through sites and 3
designated tent sites) is located approx. 14 miles west of Cody
on (North Fork Highway). Campsites have pull-through parking
(except designated tent sites), table and grills. Hookups are
not available but water hydrants and restrooms are convenient to
all sites. Roads and parking areas are paved.Campsites are
available on a "first come, first served" only. Reservations
cannot be made. Trout Creek Group Camping Area is located within
North Fork Campground. This area provides a large shelter with
tables and grill, an area for tents, and enough parking space
for a group of trailers, RV's etc. The group camping area is
available on a reserved use basis only. For information call:
(307)587-9227
Curt Gowdy State Park
Curt Gowdy State Park, named after the famous broadcaster, was
established in 1971 through a lease agreement with the city of
Cheyenne and the Boy Scouts. Today it is administered by the
Division of State Parks and Historic Sites, Wyoming Department
of Commerce. This region was a favored camping area for the
Comanche, Pawnee, Crow and Shoshone during their search for
bison. Other tribes, including the Iowa, Cheyenne, Arapaho and
Sioux are thought to have roamed the area also. The arrival of
Union Pacific construction crews in the 1860s caused Native
Americans to be pressured on the ever-shrinking hunting lands
and their presence diminished into oblivion on the lands now
known as Curt Gowdy State Park. For information call:
(307)632-7946
Seminoe State Park
The Seminoe Mountains around Seminoe State Park were once the
site for gold prospecting during the late 1800s. The name
"Seminoe" is commonly assumed to come from the Seminole tribe,
but is an Americanized spelling of the French name Cimineau.
Basil Cimineau Lajeunesse was a French trapper in the area in
the 1800. All of designated campsites have picnic areas and
campfire rings. Restroom facilities and drinking water are
within close proximity to each campsite in both the North and
the South Red Hills areas of the park. A trailer dump station
and pull through sites are available in the North Red Hills
Campground. A 35' R.V. length or less is recommended at this
park. Limited services and facilities are available during the
winter months. Tire chains and/or four wheel drives only are
recommended during winter weather from Seminoe State Park North
to the Miracle Mile and Alcova Dam Areas. For information call:
(307)320-3013
Sinks Canyon State Park
Sinks Canyon is so named because the Middle Fork of the Popo
Agie, a rushing mountain river, flows out of the Wind River
Mountains and through the Canyon. Halfway down the canyon the
river abruptly turns into a large limestone cavern, and the
crashing water "sinks" into fissures and cracks at the back of
the cave. The river is underground for 1/4 mile until it emerges
down canyon in a large calm pool called "The Rise" and then
continues its course into the valley below. Where the water goes
while it is underground is unknown. The sinks narrow to small,
unexplorable log and rock jammed fissures. The Sinks and Rise
occur in the thick, easily eroded off-white Madison Limestone
formation. The amount of water flowing into the Sinks varies
with the season. The average amount of water in the river is 150
cubic feet per second. During high water during spring run-off
over 500 cubic feet of water per second roar down the rocky Popo
Agie River channel. For many years it was unproven that the
water flowing into the Sinks was the same water flowing out at
the Rise. Dye tests have proven it is the same water but have
revealed other mysteries: it takes the water flowing into the
Sinks over two hours to reappear at the Rise. Geologists
speculate that while underground the water circulates up and
down and through many narrow, winding passages and pools until
it resurfaces. It was also discovered that more water flows out
at the Rise than goes in at the Sinks. The additional water may
be coming from underground springs or other sinks formations in
the area. It is unknown exactly how old the Sinks are although
they are likely an Ice Age feature thousands of years old. The
massive glaciers that carved the canyon exposed the soft
limestone and the millions of gallons of water from the melting
ice helped erode the underground passages. Native Americans knew
of the Sinks for generations. The first white men to see them
were fur trappers in the early 1800s. Sinks Canyon State Park
offers 30 camping sites. Many of these sites are located along
the river amid jumbled granite boulders, lodgepole pine and
aspens. Some of the sites are accessible to R.V's up to 40'
long. Hiking trails are available across the river from Popo
Agie Campground. A one mile loop and a four mile loop start at
the suspension bridge in the upper end of the campground.
Sawmill Campground at the mouth of the canyon offers five sites
and a new handicap accessible site and fishing pier by the Popo
Agie River. Both campgrounds have drinking water and latrine
type toilets. No hookups are available at either campground. All
sites are available on a first come first serve basis. Camping
is $4.00 per night and there are self registration canisters at
both campgrounds For information call: (307)332-3077
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