You'll find the astonishing beauty of our Valley unparalleled. The
mesmerizing rustle of sagebrush grassland, diversity of trees and forests, lush
riparian habitats, as well as the stunning variety of mammals, birds and fish
will simply amaze you. Such variety can be attributed to the extremely
diverse terrain that nature offers here.
The Upper North Platte River Valley region of southeastern Wyoming is
characterized by gently rolling prairies of sagebrush grassland. Sagebrush
is an evergreen shrub and is a crucial component of the dry, windswept basins
between mountain ranges in the Rocky Mountains. Not only does the
sagebrush provide important forage for big game and other wildlife, but also
eaten are the the grasses and broad-leafed plants living next to the sagebrush.
Pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, coyotes, jack rabbits, sage grouse, golden
eagles and many other species find a home here; elk and mule deer winter range
here.
Our valley has the Snowy Range Mountains on one side, and the Sierra Madre
Mountains on the other. In these surroundings, coniferous forests abound.
Coniferous means, "cone-bearing." These trees are uniquely suited to
survive the Rocky Mountain environment because they are hardy against drought
and short growing seasons. Pine, fir and spruce are just a few of the
types of trees in these forests. Also in the mountains are the beautiful
aspen trees, also known as "quaking aspen." It is believed the leaves
"quake" because not only does this seem to help protect the leaves from strong
winds but also to enable leaves throughout the tree to photosynthesize more
efficiently. You'll find in these forests and along their edges elk, black
bear and marmots, as well as many varieties of birds, such as blue and ruffed
grouse, goshawks and gray jays.
Even though we have much desert and forest, there are riparian areas as well.
Riparian habitats are related to water, influenced by a river or stream.
These can include stands of cottonwoods, meadows or rushes, marshes and willow
flats. All life needs water, so these wetlands offer not only water to
drink but also plants, bushes and trees on which wildlife can forage. Moose are
abundant in these riparian environments, as are beavers, minks and muskrats. Bald
eagles, great blue herons, ospreys, sandhill cranes, pelicans, ducks and geese and many migratory birds are also found here.
Paradise is just one word anglers use to describe our river valley.
The Upper North Platte and Encampment Rivers absolutely teem with trophy-sized trout,
specifically rainbows, cutthroats, brooks and browns. Fly casters and spin
tackle and bait fishermen will find just about any type their hearts desire.
The Wyoming Game and Fish label this area the "premiere blue ribbon trout stream
in Wyoming". Bring your gear...you'll see why!
