Curt Gowdy
This was my second time back at Curt Gowdy State Park, tucked away in southern Wyoming near Cheyenne. It’s one of those places that feels like a hidden gem—over 35 miles of trails winding through rugged terrain, perfect for hiking, biking, or even horseback riding if that’s your thing. I’d been itching to get a good hike in this year, but since I couldn’t find anyone to join me for a mountain trek, I decided to switch things up and take a solo adventure instead.
With no real plan in mind, I just started walking—following whichever trail caught my attention. It felt freeing to let curiosity lead the way. That is, until I realized there was zero cell service out there. For a split second, I had that little jolt of panic—35 miles of trails and no GPS to save me if I got turned around! Thankfully, I tend to keep track of landmarks and directions pretty well, so I managed to stay on course. Still, it was a good reminder that sometimes adventure means trusting your instincts.
If you haven’t noticed—I’m pretty red in these photos. It was only about 65 degrees out, but it felt like I was melting! The sun was blazing, and without much shade on the trail, I was basically getting slow-roasted as I explored. At least I got a little reward for braving the heat: I spotted the cutest chipmunk snacking on a pine cone perched on a rock. I managed to sneak a few photos before he noticed me.
It ended up being such a beautiful day for a hike—I logged about 2.5 miles total, which felt just right. On my way out of the park, I decided to take the “scenic route” and check out the other exit… which turned out to be a bunch of dusty dirt roads. Not exactly ideal when you’re driving a Challenger! Still, it wasn’t all bad—along the way, I passed a group of curious cows who stopped what they were doing just to stare at me creeping down the road. They were ridiculously cute, and honestly, it was the perfect funny little ending to the day.
