Everything You Need to Know About Exploring Muddy Mountain
Approximately 20 miles south of Casper, beyond Casper Mountain, is an amazing place called Muddy Mountain. At 8199 ft. in elevation, this mountain offers views in all directions and an amazing habitat for wildlife, wildflowers, and abundant natural beauty. This beautiful mountain also offers a multitude of recreational opportunities, along with dark skies that allow you to see the stars and the galaxy at night.
This information has been sourced directly from The Bureau of Land Management, which manages the public spaces on this mountain, and they are open to the public seasonally from mid-May through October, depending on weather conditions.
The area is an easy drive from Casper, and access includes paved roads to the top of the mountain. Spend a full day exploring the mountain and check out our recommendations for areas to explore below!
- Rim Campground
- Lodgepole Campground
- Rim Overlook Trail
- Lodgepole Pine Trail
- Aspen Loop Trail
- Beaver Pond Trail
- Environmental Education Area
- Muddy Mountain Interpretive Nature Trail
Rim Campground
Rim Campground is in the middle of the pine forest on Muddy Mountain and overlooks the valley between Muddy and Casper Mountains, as well as the valley east of Casper Mountain. This campground is approximately 3 miles after the pavement turns to gravel on the Muddy Mountain Road. It features 8 campsites with level tent spots and trailer sites with picnic tables and firepits, vault toilets, overlooks, and trails for mountain biking and hiking. Prices for camping: $7/night/site, $3/extra vehicle/night. Access Pass and Senior Pass holders receive half price—no charge for day use.
Lodgepole Campground
Lodgepole Campground is also in the pine forest of Muddy Mountain and offers 15 camping sites with level tent pads, a few pull-through sites for RVs, fire pits, vaulted toilets, and potable water. This campground has easy access to nature and trails. Prices for camping: $7/night/site, $3/extra vehicle/night. Access Pass and Senior Pass holders receive half price—no charge for day use.
Short Hiking Trails on Muddy Mountain
Rim Overlook Trail
This trail is .9 miles long and has an average grade of 2.5%. It features overlooks of the valleys that have stunning views.
Lodgepole Pine Trail
This trail is .7 miles long and has an average grade of 4.10%. This trail offers wildlife viewing and amazing views of the forest.
Aspen Loop Trail
This trail is .7 miles long with an average grade of 4.10%. The trail winds through aspens, offering wildlife viewing and incredible fall colors.
This trail is in the Environmental Education area and offers 1.6 miles of hiking with amazing overlooks at the end. There is a 350 ft elevation change, and it takes around 20 minutes to complete the trail one way. The view of the beaver ponds is spectacular.
Environmental Education Area
This area encompasses 1260 acres, a 2-mile trail, and two scenic overlooks that offer expansive views of the valleys. This area offers mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking, along with amazing forest and mountain views and the chance to see a wide range of wildlife, from birds and marmots to foxes, deer, and even elk. The trail is at approximately 8,000 ft. in elevation, so the air can be a little thin.
Muddy Mountain Interpretive Nature Trail
The two-mile Interpretive Nature Trail connects the Lodgepole and Rim campgrounds. It has 28 interpretive signs about the environment and is handicap accessible. Two overlooks along the trail offer a unique view of the valley below. Travel along this trail is limited to hikers only.
The 700-acre natural area is restricted to non-motorized recreational activities such as mountain biking, hiking, and primitive camping. The trail system inside the natural area accommodates hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. A small parking area is located on the northwest corner of the boundary just east of Rim Campground.
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