Austin Burgess, executive director of the Central Wyoming Trails Alliance (CWTA), updated the parks trustees on summer trail work on Casper Mountain and an upcoming collaborative project at Alcova.
Burgess said CWTA is finishing phase 1 of the Kaelin master plan and has purchased a mini excavator to speed construction. He reported about three-quarters of a mile on the main trail remains before the connector is complete, and that the new work will add nearly five miles of continuous trail to disperse recreational use and reduce erosion from “straight lining.”
CWTA also opened a downhill-focused, mountain-bike-only trail that has hazard-warning signs in place; Burgess said the route has received “really positive feedback” from advanced riders. He said CWTA will work with parks staff to name trails, add GIS entries and push trail routes to mapping apps such as Trailforks and AllTrails.
On Alcova, Burgess said CWTA will begin the Cottonwood Creek Dinosaur Trail this fall and that the project is fully funded by private donations and partners including the Wyoming Geological Association and the Tate Museum at Casper College. He said CWTA will coordinate closely with the Bureau of Reclamation on that work.
Why it matters: the trail connector and new downhill trail aim to disperse high-use corridors on Casper Mountain and improve trail safety and user experience; the Alcova project adds interpretive and geologic trail work in partnership with scientific and museum partners.
Discussion vs. decision: the update was informational; trustees and staff encouraged coordination and agreed to meet with CWTA to plan signage and long-term maintenance. No formal approvals or funding commitments were made at the meeting.
Next steps: CWTA plans to finish the connector before key staff leave for scheduled time off, continue signing and GIS updates in coordination with parks staff, and begin Cottonwood Creek Dinosaur Trail work this fall under a collaborative agreement.