Curt Gowdy State Park

A recreational gem sits in the lumpy, rolling Laramie Range of southern Wyoming.  Curt Gowdy State Park has something for everybody: hiking, mountain biking, wildlife, boating, and even waterside camping!  The state park has become quite popular among Wyoming residents and Coloradoans exploring beyond the state's borders.  For stand-up paddleboarders, the park has three different lakes with their own personalities.  The most interesting paddling is in the lakes' inlets, which meander through the granite outcrops and mid-elevation pine forests that typify the region.  

Granite Springs Reservoir

Even though Curt Gowdy is in a different state, it's a surprisingly quick trip from Denver.  The route to Gowdy follows Wyoming State Highway 210 (Happy Jack Road), exit 10D from Interstate 25.  The exit is about 1.5 miles past Interstate 80, and the route to the park is clearly signed from this point onward.  The main entrance to the park is about 24 miles west of Interstate 25, for a total travel time from Denver of around 2 hours (without traffic).  If you're traveling from Colorado (or any other state), the non-resident fees are $12 for day use and $32.34 for camping.  

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    (Granite Springs / Crystal / 

        Upper North Crow)

    Scenery: 4 / 4 / 3
    Shoreline Interest: 4 / 4 / 3
    Use: Moderate / Low-moderate / Low
    Fee: $12/veh day use (non-res)
    Access: Paved/Gravel
    Full elev: 7200 / 6990 / 7500
    Rec info 
    Rec map
    Weather 

Camping at Curt Gowdy

Despite the large number of campsites at Curt Gowdy State Park (159 in all), it can still be difficult to find one on busy summer weekends.  Futhermore, all campsites must be reserved ahead of time May through September through reserveamerica.com.  The website can be a little cumbersome to navigate to a specific park and campsite, but it is worth putting in a little forethought before selecting a site.  Not all sites have convenient water access, and amenities vary by location--particularly for RVs.  Conversely, some campgrounds that are accommodating for RVs might not be as pleasant for tent camping.  The satellite view on google maps can be really helpful in assessing the character of a campsite ahead of time.  

Sunset vista over Granite Springs Reservoir

It's also worth thinking about what other activities your party might be interested in.  The majority of the park's camping areas are near Granite Springs Reservoir.  The best variety of biking trails are west of the reservoir.  The areas south and west of Granite Springs also have the most forested hiking trails.  It can be really convenient to begin a hike or bike ride in these areas straight from camp.  The South Causeway area has some of the best access to both water and trails.  

Crystal Reservoir has some great drive-up, waterside campsites along partly protected coves.  These are especially nice if the  forecast does not predict significant winds from the north or east.  The area surrounding Crystal Reservoir is less forested than Granite Springs, and its trails are generally longer and more difficult.  

Crystal Reservoir's inlet

It might be a lot to consider, and it's not necessary to anticipate every aspect of the trip, but a little bit of pre-planning on campsite selection can have a outsize impact on overall trip experience.  Regardless of where you camp, it's easy to drive to desired trailheads or launch locations within the park.  A completely different option is to camp in the nearby Medicine Bow National Forest.  

Fun for all on Granite Springs Reservoir

Granite Springs Reservoir

Granite Springs is the largest and most developed of the lakes at Curt Gowdy.  Most of the lake's expanse is visible from the park road as it descends from the main entrance off Highway 210.  Granite Springs has a lot of campsites around its perimeter and a great network of trails through the surrounding forests.  Numerous coves protrude from the lake, all of which can be good paddleboarding spots.  However, the premier waters for stand-up paddleboards are on the Middle Crow Inlet.  Middle Crow Creek is a wonderful drainage that winds west to east across the park. Its inlet into Granite Springs is hard to miss--it is the only place where the main park road crosses a finger of the lake.  The causeway is a pleasant and popular area with parking areas on either side.  When putting in or taking out, be cognizant of fishing lines cast into the water and allow them ample space.  

Middle Crow Inlet

Granite Springs from the causeway

The Middle Crow inlet meanders south and west through an area with some impressive granite outcrops.  The area is particularly photogenic in the low-angle sunlight of morning and evening.  It is also one of the best-protected areas in the park.  If you're in the park on a windy day, Middle Crow will give the best chance to find calmer conditions.  The Middle Crow Inlet is moose habitat, and they can be on shore or in the water.  If you happen to see one, please give it plenty of space.  Aside from Middle Crow, there are many other coves and inlets on Granite Springs Reservoir to explore, some of which are noted on the interactive map above.  Even on a breezy day, good waters can usually be found in an up-wind cove.  

Crystal Reservoir

Crystal Reservoir Panorama

Crystal Reservoir is southeast of Granite Springs, further down the Middle Crow drainage.  In fact, one of Crystal Reservoir's best areas is also where Middle Crow Creek enters the lake.  The best launch point for this part of the lake is probably Violin Trailhead, unless you're lucky enough to have one of the campsites on the east shore of Crystal Reservoir.   The inlet is reached by paddling northeast along the shoreline 700 feet or so, then sharply left around a sandy point.  The point and adjacent shores are popular with anglers, so be aware of lines in the water and allow some space.  Once around the point, the inlet winds westward for 0.4 miles through interesting, sometimes cliffy terrain.  The inlet is well protected from wind and will usually have at least a few pockets that are still and calm.  Check out the interactive map above for more pockets of Crystal Lake to explore.  

Crystal Reservoir Inlet

Upper North Crow Reservoir

Upper North Crow Reservoir sits in an undeveloped parcel of Curt Gowdy State Park.  It feels more remote and it is non-motorized.  The road to Upper North Crow heads north from State Highway 210 just 1.8 miles west of the Gowdy main entrance.  The reservoir is about 3 miles north on a decent dirt road, with vehicle access to both the north and south sides of the lake.  The terrain around Upper North Crow is less dramatic than Middle Crow basin, but the lake still has plenty of interesting shoreline to explore.  There is less topographical protection from wind, so it's best to find a fairly calm day to paddle Upper North Crow.  The state park lands around the reservoir are day use only, but the Medicine Bow National Forest is only a mile west.  The national forest lands have plenty of undeveloped camping sites in similar terrain, accessible from State Highway 210 a few miles further west.       

Upper North Crow Reservoir

Mountain Biking

Most of the trails at Curt Gowdy allow mountain biking.  The best cluster of trails is centered around the Stone Temple Circuit, just west of Granite Spring Reservoir.  Stone Temple finds the happy center of the Venn Diagram where fun, scenic and family-friendly overlap.  But there's more:  Numerous side trails weave through the loop's interior and outer fringes with varying degrees of flow and difficulty.  There are multiple signed play areas along the route that feature numerous session-able lines on the rolling granite terrain. Then there are the Gold trails:  Gold Standard, Gold Watch and Gold Rush.  These twisty, fluid trails are thoughtfully designed for mountain bikes and might be the funnest rides in the park!    

Typical terrain of
west side trails

Top of Gold Rush;
much fun ahead!

The Gold trails are built to creatively utilize the abundance of boulder for various fun and exciting features.  Some lines are reminiscent of the Little Scraggy, Charlie's Cutoff or Raspberry Ridge Trails of Colorado's Buffalo Creek area.  All of the Gold trails are great segments to bring a Go-Pro.  These amazing trails have been brought to life through a partnership between the Curt Gowdy State Park and Fort Collins-based Overland Mountain Bike Association.  Local biking groups such as Overland have done a lot to bring quality trails to communities across the country.  Consider contributing to or volunteering for a local trails organization, wherever that may be.  

View of Granite Springs from
the top of Stone Temple Circuit

If you're still looking for excitement after rolling through all of Stone Temple's play areas and Gold spurs, a whole new level of challenge lurks in the park's southwest corner.  The ominously named Skin and Bones area has lines that ratchet up aggressiveness and consequence a few degrees.  Some of the features feel like Buffalo Creek's Blackjack, but more feral and remote.  At the opposite end of the park, some longer loops can be assembled in the area around Crystal Reservoir.  Start out with a good attitude and an open mind because the east side trails tend to have punchier climbs and less flow than the Stone Temple area.   

Hiking through
the pine forest

Boulders along
Crow Creek Trail

Hiking trails

The 35+ miles of trails at Curt Gowdy give limitless hiking options.  Some of the trails that are too rough for type 1 fun on a bike are great for exploring on foot.  The trails in the Middle Crow drainage are among the best.  This area features beautiful pine forests, intriguing rock formations, and a lush, shady stream running through it.  Multiple great loops can be made using the Crow Creek Trail.  The trip to Hidden Falls, 3.6 miles each way, is one of the park's most popular hikes.  The trails in the eastern part of the park are less visited and more committing with a nice change of scenery.  

Moose habitat

Weather and wind considerations

The summer season at Curt Gowdy is a little shorter than comparable locations in Colorado.  The Wyoming wind has a sustained presence, which makes warm temperatures more of a requisite for good paddle conditions.  While it's possible to find pleasant weather in early May or late September, it might be a gamble to commit to a campsite reservation more than a week out.  June, July and August can get hot mid-day, but the warm temperatures counteract the cooling effect of breeze on the water.  There are enough coves along the lakes' shorelines that protected areas can usually be found along the upwind side on breezy days.  The lakes are all large enough to get very choppy in the wind.  If a wind is present, it's best to stay close to shore and be sure that you can paddle back to where you started.  

Rocky shoreline on Crystal Reservoir

Aquatic Invasive Species

Transport of zebra and quagga mussels is a major concern in the State of Wyoming, just as it is in other western states.  Wyoming's regulations are different than Colorado's, and specific precautions are necessary when bringing in watercraft from out of state.  Please take a few minutes to review the AIS prevention page on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website.  Inspections are mandatory for all watercraft passing an inspection station.  Most watercraft are also required to display a current AIS decal.  Paddleboards are exempt, as are most other inflatables 10 feet or less in length.  However, if you are traveling with a canoe or kayak, an AIS decal will be required.  A comprehensive guide on AIS decal requirements for various watercraft is available on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website here.  Even though stand up paddleboards are a lower risk tier, it is still important to wipe them down and dry them off when taking out of the water.  

Curt Gowdy is a wonderful change of scenery from the waters on the front range.  It has lots of places to explore on the water and even more off the water!  Bring a bike, trail shoes, family or friends.  Remember to stay safe on the water and wear a PFD!