Casper, Wyoming, Is a Mecca for Winter Snow Sports
With Wyoming’s Teton Range, Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and South Dakota’s Black Hills within a day’s drive, Casper, Wyoming, fills a sweet spot for winter snow sports, particularly since 2020.
“Casper Mountain bloomed during the pandemic. There was plenty of local activity, but we got quite a few visitors from neighboring states, too,” says Bruce Lamberson, owner of Mountain Sports, a local retail store. “It was small scale but still noticeable.”
And that interest continues as people consider alternatives to busy, expensive destinations. “They don’t have to deal with traffic, crowds and exorbitant prices,” Lamberson says.
Casper Mountain a ‘Gem on the Mountaintop’
Casper Mountain looms south of the city. Just a few miles from downtown, it features the Hogadon Basin Ski Area, with a new lodge, food court and bar, and downhill ski trails of varying difficulty.
For more than 50 years, Lamberson has operated Mountain Sports in downtown Casper with a satellite location at Hogadon Basin. The store is a cornerstone of the Casper outdoor community. With a focus on personalized service and a deep understanding of the local terrain, they equip adventurers of all levels with the gear and knowledge to explore winter snow sports throughout the region.
An Olympic Training Grounds
What Casper Mountain is famous for is its exceptional cross-country skiing. The new Casper Mountain Trails Center opened in 2025, creating a revamped hub for a 26-mile trail system.
“We have the best groomed, best taken-care-of trails in Wyoming,” says Jim Miller, Vice President of the Casper Nordic Club.
And he should know. Miller is also an Olympian and U.S. champion in Nordic Combined, competing in cross-country and ski jumping. “The terrain is tough,” he says. “We don’t have many flat areas, so it’s a very hilly, challenging course, but people really enjoy it.”
Still, like Hogadon Basin, there are ski trails for every skill level.
“We have longer trails that connect to the biathlon area for beginners and intermediate,” Miller says. “So, it’s a great combination of the two centers working together and making a great trail system.”
The other center is the Casper Mountain Biathlon Club. It hosts competitions and year-round training plus major events like the 2023 U.S. Biathlon National Championships.
Robert Rosser is also an Olympian, a five-time U.S. national champion and biathlon coach.
“It’s the most demanding sport in the Olympics, combining the most physiologically challenging sport of cross-country and a very cognitive sport of marksmanship under extreme stress such as wind, cold and snow,” Rosser says.
He cofounded the Casper Mountain Biathlon Club in 2008 after friends convinced him to move to Casper.
“I figured it must be a good fit considering they love winter sports,” he says. “Plus, one of my favorite qualities of our area is the unmatched hunting.”
A Community Hub
In addition to an outstanding trail system, the biathlon and Nordic clubs offer lessons, including some through the public schools.
“It’s enjoyable working with our fourth and fifth graders. They come up to our venue to learn to ski and shoot for a day,” Rosser says. “The hope is that after such an enjoyable time, they’ll convince their family to get out and experience the same together.”
Meanwhile, the Casper Nordic Club has ski classes for kids and adults, and it puts on high school and community races. In fact, two Casper high schools offer Nordic ski teams.
“It’s important for community involvement, something to do in the wintertime knowing that we have this gem on the mountaintop,” Miller says.
That jewel is multi-use, too, and is popular for other winter snow sports, including snowshoeing and fat biking. One trail section even has overhead lights and stays open until 10 p.m.
Casper Mountain is also a winter paradise for snowmobiles with 32 miles of groomed trails and an extensive untouched area for playing in fresh powder.
Get to Know Casper
Want to learn more about living and working in Casper, WY? Check out the latest edition of Livability Casper, Wyoming.