For recreation, we are home to two of the premier state parks, Glendo State Park near Glendo, and Guernsey State Park near Guernsey and Hartville. Ft. Laramie National Historic Site is less than a half an hour from Guernsey. Devil’s Tower, our nation’s first national monument, is just a couple hours north of Wheatland, and Yellowstone National Park, our nation’s first national park, is about six hours by automobile from Platte County. Mt. Rushmore National Memorial and the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota are about 3 hours drive north.
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Platte County has the distinction of being the only county in the state of Wyoming that is home to two state parks…Glendo State Park in the northern part of the county, and Guernsey State Park in the northeast. Both provide ample opportunity to enjoy outdoor recreational opportunities and, in the case of Guernsey State Park, to learn the history of the region as well.
Guernsey and Glendo lakes have become meccas for the summer outdoor crowd. Festivals, competitions, and just relaxing weekends have drawn thousands of faithful followers from many parts of Wyoming as well as Colorado, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Both state parks are heavily used during the summer months, so arriving early is a good idea. As in all of Wyoming’s state parks, fees for day use and for camping are applicable. These fees are minimal, but they are important to help maintain our parks.
It is essential for guests to become familiar with park rules and regulations, be cognizant of changing weather conditions, stay on designated roads and trails, and do your part to keep our parks clean.