Editorial note: We choose and update recommended nearby parks using official park information, visitor-planning usefulness, available activities and facilities, geographic fit, and editorial review. Learn more in our Editorial Policy & Review Methodology.
The Laramie River flows through the valley between the Snowy Mountains Range and the Laramie Mountain Range, and along its riverbanks in southeastern Wyoming, you’ll find Laramie.This western town got its start in the mid-1800s as a tent city for railroad workers building the nation’s first transcontinental tracks.Passengers embarked here the very day the railroad was completed, and by the time the train had a regular schedule, Laramie was a bustling and colorful frontier town.From these simple beginnings, Laramie has established itself as a vibrant college town and a gateway for year-round outdoor recreational activities. It is driven economically by agriculture, mining, and tourism.Laramie has a historic downtown district with galleries, museums, shopping, eateries, and the nearby University of Wyoming. UW, centrally located, and Centennial Complex are home to the Art Museum and the American Heritage Center.Also on campus are other fascinating museums of Anthropology, Geology, and the Rocky Mountain Herbarium, all excellent places to visit.The Museum of Vertebrates is an unforgettable and educational event featuring “Big Al,” the Allosaurus. The youngsters will love a visit here.The friendly folks of Laramie welcome you to explore their frontier town and the surrounding wild and undeveloped territory.Many stellar national parks come to mind when you think of Wyoming—Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, Devils Tower, the Bighorns.But don’t forget about state parks; they are another excellent way to get out in the great outdoors and see the stunning scenery and landscape Wyoming is famous for and are almost always less crowded.We’d like to introduce you to Wyoming State Parks near Laramie; let’s get started.Map of State Parks Near Laramie WY
Here is a map of the Wyoming state parks covered in this post:List of State Parks Near Laramie
Here are each of those state parks with distance from Laramie and what is special about each.1. Curt Gowdy State Park
Distance from Laramie: about 20 miles southeast of Laramie (straight-line).
Location: 1264 Granite Springs Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82009Only 30 minutes east of Laramie, the Curt Gowdy State Park, formerly named Granite State Park, rests in the foothills of the Laramie Mountains. Features of the park are three reservoirs, Granite Springs, Crystal and North Crow, hilly and rolling terrain, and magnificent granite rock formations. The elevation here starts at 6450 feet and climbs up over 1000 feet in some places.Curt Gowdy is a relatively young park, established in 1971 through the combined efforts of the Boy Scouts and the city of Cheyenne. The park was renamed in 1972 after “local outdoorsman and national sportscaster” Curt Gowdy.2005 saw the park grow with the addition of the Upper North Crow Reservoir; in 2006, biking trails were added. In 2009 under a new development program, the State of Wyoming used the park as a “template” for trail improvement, adding 32 miles that did not change the park’s landscape, a condition of the program.The granite outcroppings and boulders here are simply breathtaking and inspiring, and the fishing is excellent. The park is home to Wyoming MBT Camps, a mountain bike camp, Hynds Lodge, an Amphitheater, camping, archery, hiking, biking, and picnicking.Helpful tip: Be sure not to miss a view of the Hidden Falls located at the western end of the Crow Creek Trail. For a detailed look at how to find this somewhat elusive waterfall check out a map of the trail systems in the park; it’s well worth the effort.Curt Gowdy State Park is a public recreation area covering 3,395 acres (5.3 sq mi; 13.7 km2) in Albany and Laramie counties in Wyoming, United States.
Highlights associated with Curt Gowdy State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Curt Gowdy State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Lory State Park
Distance from Laramie: about 54 miles southeast of Laramie (straight-line).
Lory State Park, is a state park located west of the city of Fort Collins, Colorado and is west of Horsetooth Reservoir and north of Horsetooth Mountain Park.
Highlights associated with Lory State Park include lake recreation, mountain scenery, and wooded landscapes.
See our full Lory State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Colorado State Forest State Park
Distance from Laramie: about 55 miles south of Laramie (straight-line).
Colorado State Forest State Park is a public state park in Colorado near Walden. The park offers a peaceful retreat into nature for visitors of all ages.
Highlights associated with Colorado State Forest State Park include lake recreation, river access, and mountain scenery.
See our full Colorado State Forest State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Boyd Lake State Park
Distance from Laramie: about 67 miles southeast of Laramie (straight-line).
Location: Loveland, Colorado
Explore Boyd Lake State Park in Loveland, Colorado, offering camping, fishing, boating, and more at one of Colorado’s top parks.
Highlights associated with Boyd Lake State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and mountain scenery.
See our full Boyd Lake State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Pearl Lake State Park
Distance from Laramie: about 77 miles southwest of Laramie (straight-line).
Location: 61105 Rcr 129 Clark CO 80428
Pearl Lake State Park, at the base of Farwell Mountain, is in Routt County, Colorado near the town of Hahns Peak Village, Colorado and is north of Steamboat Springs.
Highlights associated with Pearl Lake State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Pearl Lake State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
