North Platte River Projects WY to NE

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Recreation 11 Each year, more than 800,000 people visit Reclamation's recreation facilities within the North Platte River Basin. Sailing, boating, fishing, picnicking — all are popular activities at basin reservoirs. Alcova Reservoir is the primary recreation area for Casper and the surrounding region. Sailboating and water skiing in summer and ice fishing in winter attract many visitors each year. A boating marina, several boat ramps, and rental boats are available. Picnic, camp, and beach facilities are popular, and more than 227,000 people visit Alcova each year. Seminoe Reservoir is not as accessible as Alcova, but is well worth the 70 -mile drive from Casper. It is also easily reached from Rawlins. Camping, picnicking, swimming, and boating are favorite activities for visitors to Seminoe. Fishing is good at the reservoir, as well as at the nearby "Miracle Mile," the stretch of river between Pathfinder Reservoir and Kortes Dam. This section of the river now supports a nationally known "blue ribbon fishery." Approximately 27,000 people visit Seminoe annually, and Kortes - Miracle Mile averages 65,000 visitors. Both Guernsey and Lake Minatare offer excellent camping and picnic areas. Fishing, boating, swimming, and water skiing are featured activities. A tour through the museum at Guernsey or a view of the lighthouse at Minatare provides the visitor with a firsthand view of CCC construction. Guernsey serves 83,000 visitors annually, while Minatare averages 242,000. At Guernsey State Park, the CCC built miles of foot trails leading to scenic views around the reservoir. The Guernsey visitor may also see where emigrants' wagons cut ruts into the path of the Oregon Trail; Register Cliff, where they etched their names in rock; and Fort Laramie, a national historical site. All are within 15 miles of Guernsey. Hartville, just west of the reservoir, is listed as the oldest community in Wyoming. Glendo Reservoir, upstream from Guernsey, is a primary recreation area for southeastern Wyoming. It provides fishing, boating, picnicking, camping, and recrea- tional vehicle facilities. Commercial estab- lishments provide such services as rental boats. Approximately 77,000 visitors use Glendo each year. In addition to providing water -based activities in the and West, recreation also has a positive effect on the economies of cities and towns in the area by supporting recreation related business and services. 13