The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Located in Casper, Wyoming, the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is a museum that focuses on Western American history, specifically the trails that western-moving pioneers used from 1841 to 1868. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a government agency, manages this site along with roughly one in every 10 acres of land in the U.S. Camping on or near BLM-managed land is referred to as "dispersed camping," which means that the camping is extremely primitive, and there are usually no services available. Simply search for "BLM camping near me" to find these areas. Popular exhibitions at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center include galleries titled "Ways of the People," "The U.S. Looks West," "The Oregon Trail," "The Mormon Trail," "The California Trail," "The Pony Express Trail" and "Epilogue: The Trail Today." Outside of the museum, visitors can walk a short nature hiking trail that features views of the town of Casper or view a demonstration about trail exploration. Though RVs may not park at the museum overnight, RVs and buses are welcome to use the parking lot during operating hours. The closest national park to the museum is Grand Teton National Park, which is about four hours to the northwest. The world-famous Yellowstone National Park is approximately six and a half hours northwest of the interpretive center.
Platte River Trail is a paved hiking and biking path that travels through the city of Casper and along the Platte River. This trail is fairly even and features a few hills. Length: 9.5 miles Intensity: Easy
Another fairly level pathway, the Casper Rail Trail runs on a previously active railroad path and is partially paved and partially gravel. Length: 6 miles Intensity: Easy
The Duncan Ranch Trail, located 40 minutes southeast of the interpretive center, is a five-mile loop that features wildflowers in the warmer months. This trail may be hiked or biked, and horseback riding is popular along the route. Length: 5 miles Intensity: Moderate
Fishing near the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is extremely popular in the North Platte River. This river has been awarded blue-ribbon status for its trout, specifically rainbow and brown trout. Visitors to this area can also fish, swim, or boat in Soda Lake, which is well-stocked with trout from May to November.
Plenty of native Wyoming wildlife, including birds like eagles, western meadowlarks, sandhill cranes, American dippers, loons, gulls, great horned owls, and wood ducks, can be spotted in the city of Casper near the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center. Visitors to this city and the surrounding area may also encounter coyotes, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. You are also bound to see some pronghorn antelope since there are famously more antelopes than humans inhabiting the state of Wyoming.
There are plenty of parks with picnic sites available for visitors to use in the town of Casper, including Riverview Park, which has covered picnic tables plus a nearby playground. Another popular picnic site is Centennial Park, which has picnic pavilions built on the pavement.
Stargazing is popular at the BLM campgrounds just outside the town of Casper since there are few lights to interfere with the dark sky there. Make sure you set up your equipment for camping and stargazing before dusk on days when the skies seem cloudless. Views of the Milky Way may be possible in this area at night, especially in the summer.
Although Bureau of Land Management campgrounds offer inexpensive camping options, many do not feature RV camping with hookups. If you would like to camp near the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center somewhere with full hookups, try the Casper East RV Park & Campground, which has water and electrical hookups plus multiple pull-through campsites. You may also like staying at the Casper KOA Journey, a campground with full hookups plus a playground, a golf course, and laundry facilities.
If you want to take advantage of Bureau of Land Management free camping, check out one of the BLM-managed campgrounds located near the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center. One place you may want to camp is the Teton Reservoir Recreation Site, which provides five campsites, a vault toilet, and fire rings. Another option is Dugway Campground, a five-site campground with the same amenities. Both campgrounds are entirely primitive, meaning they offer no electrical hookups or water, and they are located a little over two hours southwest of the interpretative center.
If you plan to stay at a BLM campground near the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, be sure to bring enough water for drinking and washing if there is no potable water at the campground at which you end up staying. You can also bring battery and solar-powered equipment or a generator to use sparingly during daylight hours. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Anyone who visits the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center or the nearby BLM campgrounds must follow the BLM's "Leave No Trace" rules. These regulations include things like cleaning up after yourself and your pets, watching campfires at all times, and respecting the local wildlife. Follow these principles to help keep public lands clean and safe for other visitors to use.
To reach the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center from Buffalo, Wyoming, take Interstate 25 South for approximately 111 miles into Casper. Take Exit 189, and drive north onto Poplar Street. Continue for one mile, and then turn right into the museum's parking lot. Address: 1501 N. Poplar St., Casper, WY 82601 Ready to visit National Historic Trails Interpretive Center? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night, where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen; bathroom; and nice, soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
