Rails to Trails Creating New Memories
I grew up in Riverton Wyoming. This little town seems to be a lot of dusty roads and barren land but when you have lived there long enough you find that there are mystic places with your reach. One of my favorites is now deemed a public place, although when I was a young girl it was in my friend’s back yard. The Wyoming Heritage Trail was created on land that was once used for the train tracks that passed through the town. This trail is twenty two miles long and extends from Shoshoni to Riverton. The trail passes among creeks, wetlands, and high mountain desert terrain. It includes glimpses of farm land and river bottom paths. Although this trail is used for activities such as ATV, Mountain Biking,
Snowmobiling, Walking, and Cross Country Skiing, Horseback is the way to go. This trail, traveled on horseback, is amazing. It allows for the opportunity to view a wide variety of wild life. There are blue heron that frequent the river near the trail, a variety of native birds can be seen in the trees and brush along the way. White tailed deer and cotton tail rabbits are plentiful and easily seen. If you are lucky you might get a glimpse of a beaver or a river otter swimming in the current.
The Old railroad bridge outside of town holds a special place in my heart. Before this was a public place this was my secret thinking place.
A lot of people knew about this place because it was frequently used as gathering place for teenagers to hang after dark. Often there would be a bonfire burning into the early morning hours and sometimes there were parties. My friends and I used the bridge as a place to swim and frolic in the waters below. We would take turns jumping from the beams of the bridge into the cool murky water. There was a rope attached to the bridge that we would swing on and drop into the river. The sandy beach near the water’s edge was wide and inviting. I would visit this bridge when I was in need of a place to be alone and think. I would climb all the way to the top of the bridge and sit on the wide solid beam looking out over the smooth surface of the flowing river. The breeze in my hair and the solitude I found there was usually enough to allow me to clear my mind.
Riding this trail can be an adventure as it crosses and then follows the Wind River. The bridges may be in disrepair but if you can get past that this is so worth the time. As you travel the trail and think about the rich history behind it you can almost hear the chug of the train and the whistle in the air. Wyoming doesn’t get much better than this.
Snowmobiling, Walking, and Cross Country Skiing, Horseback is the way to go. This trail, traveled on horseback, is amazing. It allows for the opportunity to view a wide variety of wild life. There are blue heron that frequent the river near the trail, a variety of native birds can be seen in the trees and brush along the way. White tailed deer and cotton tail rabbits are plentiful and easily seen. If you are lucky you might get a glimpse of a beaver or a river otter swimming in the current.
The Old railroad bridge outside of town holds a special place in my heart. Before this was a public place this was my secret thinking place.
A lot of people knew about this place because it was frequently used as gathering place for teenagers to hang after dark. Often there would be a bonfire burning into the early morning hours and sometimes there were parties. My friends and I used the bridge as a place to swim and frolic in the waters below. We would take turns jumping from the beams of the bridge into the cool murky water. There was a rope attached to the bridge that we would swing on and drop into the river. The sandy beach near the water’s edge was wide and inviting. I would visit this bridge when I was in need of a place to be alone and think. I would climb all the way to the top of the bridge and sit on the wide solid beam looking out over the smooth surface of the flowing river. The breeze in my hair and the solitude I found there was usually enough to allow me to clear my mind.
Riding this trail can be an adventure as it crosses and then follows the Wind River. The bridges may be in disrepair but if you can get past that this is so worth the time. As you travel the trail and think about the rich history behind it you can almost hear the chug of the train and the whistle in the air. Wyoming doesn’t get much better than this.