Winter is either your favorite time of year or your least favorite time of year, there doesn't seem to be many people on the fence about this one! Whatever group you fall into, you're sure to find something to love about winter in Casper, Wyoming. We have a wide variety winter adventures from retail therapy in the cozy indoors to the miles of winter adventures up on Casper Mountain.
Hogadon Basin Ski Area
Skiing and snowboarding in Casper is a one-of-a-kind experience. Across the Rockies, there are only a few places that you can polish off brunch downtown and be on the slopes less than 20 minutes later. Hogadon Basin Ski Area has 27 trails that offer some of the most scenic and versatile skiing and snowboarding in the area. Plus, the price of a lift pass at Hogadon is just a fraction of other resorts in the area. Add to that a night skiing pass and you've really taken your trip down the mountain to the next level!
Hogadon is typically open November – April, dependent on snow conditions.
Fat Biking Casper Mountain
When Casper Mountain’s epic mountain biking trails get covered with 'a few' feet of fresh snow for the winter, it’s not the end of biking season in central Wyoming. In fact, it's just the beginning! Fat bikes are similar to mountain bikes, but their oversized tires allow the rider to glide through softer terrain such as freshly fallen powder. With already existing and easy to access bike trails, Casper is naturally among the region’s top destinations for this growing sport.
A local favorite for fat biking is Eadsville Trail, which is accessible from the Skunk Hollow parking lot. Eadsville features some of the best winter riding in the area. It is groomed, marked, well-maintained and ideal for both experts and beginners. Experienced riders will appreciate the natural jumps and tight corners while beginners can build confidence on the wide main roads near the trail head.
Get started by getting your trail pass here.
Exploring Casper Mountain's Nordic and Snowshoeing Trails
If you’re looking for a simple, budget friendly way to experience the best of Casper Mountain in the snow, strap on a set of snowshoes and hit the trail. Snowshoeing requires minimal gear and doesn’t take a lot of practice to get the hang of. With a pair of snowshoes strapped to your boots, you can hike many of the mountain’s trails, even when they’re covered with feet of fresh powder.
You may have heard the saying, “if you can walk, then you can snowshoe.” Snowshoeing in Casper is a great activity for families or groups. If you don’t have the gear, rentals are available at a couple different retailers including Mountain Sports and Gear Up and Get Out There.
If cross country or Nordic skiing is more your style. On Casper Mountain, you can glide along and explore Wyoming’s pristine winter wonderland for hours. The best place to start is at the parking lot of the old Casper Mountain Trails Center, which serves as the trailhead for 26 miles of groomed, nordic trails. The trails range in difficulty and type of terrain, so there is something for every skier.
In Casper, the days in winter may be short, but the skiing doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. In addition to the amazing daytime trails, a short section of the trail at the Casper Mountain Trail Center is well-lit until 10 p.m. in the winter months. Night skiing is a great way to take in the serenity of winter in Wyoming. While you’re on the mountain at night, don’t forget to look up. Casper’s night sky is full of stars and is truly a sight to behold.
These trails require a trail pass in the winter that can be purchased for a day or the season here.
Ice Skating at David Street Station
Get here while the ice lasts! The highlight of early winter in Casper, Wyoming is skating around the giant community Christmas Tree at David Street Station.
At the heart of downtown Casper, this is a great way to spend a day or an evening with your sweet heart or your whole family. Conveniently located in the heart of Casper's downtown, David Street Station, is the perfect place to kick-off your winter fun before checking out our nearby amenities.
Ice Fishing
The warm months of summer are over, but that doesn't mean the great fishing has to end! Here in Casper, you can fish our legendary waterways year round.
Casper is home to some of the most passionate fisherman in the world, and to them, fishing is a year-round sport. It doesn’t matter if its 75 and sunny or if it’s 10 degrees and snowing, our devoted fishing community has proven that you can enjoy our waters in the winter just as much as you can in the summer. Here is a list of local guides who can help you plan the best winter fishing trip around!
Shop Downtown
Shopping in downtown Casper is an amazing and unique experience. You can find handcrafted goods, homemade sweets, your next style, the perfect piece to make your home decor pop, and so much more. You'll also be a short walk in any direction to great lunch spots, coffee shops, and local breweries. There really is no better place to spoil yourself with a little retail therapy on your winter vacation!
Get Active & Stay Warm With Indoor Sports
Casper Pickleball & Sports Complex
Newly opened December 2023, the Casper Pickleball & Sports Complex features eight state of the art professional grade outdoor surface courts, eight professionally designed indoor batting cages, an event space for parties and group events, and a small store for all your pickleball needs.
The Range at 5150'
Another exciting new space here in Casper is The Range at 5150 Sports Bar & Indoor Golf. They have four HD Golf Simulators, eight TV's and a full bar. They have their own leagues and tournaments as well, so be sure to check them out.
Music, Theater, and Art
Casper is home to a growing music community that already offers a wide variety of artists from almost every music background you can imagine; country, jazz, rock, pop, and more. Even the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra is located right in the heart of downtown Casper. That's just the beginning! If your love is music and theater, each year we have Broadway at the Ford Wyoming Center check out their line up for this year here. We also have Stage III Community Theater, Theater of the Poor, and the Casper College Theater program who all put on amazing performances, especially throughout the winter months. Waiting for all those great evening performances to begin? We'd recommend visiting the Nicolaysen Art Museum, or taking a self-led audio tour of Casper's Murals.
5150' WinterFest & The Casper International Film Festival
We are excited to announce that the first ever Winterfest is coming to Casper in January 2024. With a film festival, photography exhibition, a snow sculpting competition and more!
Film is a unique, ever-changing, and ever growing art medium. We're excited to present to you an amazing line-up of films from our parent festival, the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival. They will be shown at Frontier Brewing Co.
We can't wait for you to join us for this week of unrivaled action and fun!
5150' Restaurant Week
Right on the heels of 5150' Winterfest is our annual 5150' Restaurant Week. During the week, 40 plus businesses are coming together to offer special pricing on select items on their menu. The pricing at each location includes $3.07 for Wyoming’s area code, $18.90 for the year Wyoming became a state, and $51.50 for the elevation of our beloved city. Find your new favorite place to eat or enjoy a beverage in Casper, Wyoming.