Casper Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Casper Mountain |
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Casper Mountain, from the east side of Casper, Wyoming.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 8,130 ft (2,480 m) |
| Geography | |
 Casper Mountain
Location in USA West
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| Parent range | Laramie Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Goose Egg, Casper, Brookhurst, Freeland, Crimson Dawn, Otter Creek |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hiking, on roads |
Casper Mountain is a cool place in Wyoming. It's part of the Laramie Mountains. This mountain looks over the city of Casper, Wyoming. It's also near the North Platte River. Casper Mountain is very tall, reaching about 8,130 feet (2,478 meters) high. That's about 3,000 feet (914 meters) above Casper!
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Fun Things to Do on Casper Mountain
Casper Mountain is mostly owned by private people. But don't worry, there are still many miles of trails for you to explore! You can go hiking and enjoy nature.
Winter Sports and Activities
There are lots of fun things to do here, especially in winter.
- Hogadon Ski Area is a popular spot. It's special because you park at the top and ski down! Even though it's not huge, it's the best place for winter fun on the mountain.
- You can also go cross-country skiing. This is where you glide across flat snow.
- Snowshoeing is another great activity. You wear special shoes to walk on deep snow.
- For more adventure, try snowmobiling. You ride a motor vehicle over the snow.
- Some cross-country ski trails even have lights at night. This means you can go night skiing!
Summer Adventures
When summer comes, Casper Mountain is perfect for outdoor activities.
- You can go camping under the stars.
- Hiking on the trails is a great way to see the mountain.
- Picnicking with friends and family is also popular.
The Braille Trail
The Braille Trail is a special hiking path. It was made for people who are blind. But everyone can enjoy its beautiful views! In 2010, the trail celebrated its 35th birthday. About 2,000 people visited it that year. There are picnic spots near the trail. It's a very popular place in the summer. You can find the trail on a road near Tower Hill.
More Hiking and Waterfalls
Besides the Braille Trail, there are many other hiking paths. At the bottom of the mountain's north side, you'll find Garden Creek Falls. The Casper Rotary Club helps take care of these trails. In 2010, they started making the trails safer. They also planned to add solar-powered lights to the parking lot.
Crimson Dawn and Beartrap Meadow
Casper Mountain also hosts a yearly summer event. It's called the Crimson Dawn gathering. It's based on old children's stories. These stories were told by a local woman in the 1930s and 1940s. Now, hundreds of families come to see actors perform these tales.
Beartrap Meadow is a big open space on the mountain. It's a popular spot for large parties and camping. Since 1994, Beartrap Meadow has hosted the Beartrap Summer Festival. This festival happens in late July or early August. It features awesome bluegrass music. Famous bands like Ricky Skaggs have played there!
Animals on the Mountain
Casper Mountain is home to many wild animals. You might see wild grouse or mule deer. There are also elk living here. Sometimes, people even spot mountain lions! On the west side of the mountain, in Jackson Canyon, many bald eagles gather. It's one of the biggest groups of bald eagles in the world during certain times of the year.
Mountain Neighbors
The southern side of Casper Mountain is next to Muddy Mountain. Muddy Mountain also has many places for outdoor fun.
Weather on Casper Mountain
The mountain has its own weather patterns. Here's a quick look at the average temperatures and rainfall:
| Climate data for Casper Mountain, Wyoming | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 28 (−2) |
30 (−1) |
39 (4) |
45 (7) |
54 (12) |
65 (18) |
74 (23) |
72 (22) |
62 (17) |
47 (8) |
34 (1) |
25 (−4) |
48 (9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 13 (−11) |
14 (−10) |
20 (−7) |
25 (−4) |
34 (1) |
43 (6) |
50 (10) |
49 (9) |
41 (5) |
30 (−1) |
21 (−6) |
13 (−11) |
29 (−2) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.7 (43) |
2.0 (51) |
2.8 (71) |
3.8 (97) |
3.9 (99) |
2.1 (53) |
1.1 (28) |
0.9 (23) |
1.7 (43) |
2.8 (71) |
2.3 (58) |
2.0 (51) |
27.1 (688) |
| Average precipitation days | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 101 |
| Source: Google/NOAA | |||||||||||||
Communication Hub
Casper Mountain is a very important place for communication.
- All of Casper's powerful television stations have their towers here.
- Most of the area's FM radio signals also come from the mountain.
- There's an area called Tower Hill where many of these towers are. A cross-country ski trail even goes right through it!
Emergency and Public Services
Many important groups use the mountain for their communication. This includes:
- Local, State, and Federal agencies.
- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
- The Sheriff's office, Fire Department, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
- The Casper Police Department.
They use the mountain for both old-style radio systems and the WyoLink statewide system. This helps them talk to each other quickly.
Other Services
Other companies also have sites on the mountain. They provide services like:
- Wireless internet (ISP).
- Cell phone service.
Local amateur radio operators also use the mountain. The Casper Amateur Radio Club (W7VNJ) runs a popular radio repeater there.
Fires on Casper Mountain
The mountain has had some wildfires over the years.
- In August 2006, a big fire called the Jackson Canyon Fire burned over 11,496 acres (40 square kilometers). This was on the western side of the mountain.
- In September 2012, the Sheep Herder Complex fire burned even more land. It covered 15,887 acres. Sadly, it also destroyed 37 homes and 23 other buildings. The fire was fully stopped by September 16, 2012. No one knows what caused this fire.
- A smaller fire was reported on July 14, 2017. It burned about 75 feet but didn't damage any buildings.
