Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation

Giving Santa cool swag is a sure way to stay on the nice list! 🎅 Stop by the Out West Snow Fest happening at the Cody Auditorium today until 4:00 p.m. Be sure to bring gear to swap, and say hello to the OREC team! ❄️

Snowmobiling season is almost here, and our friends at the Wyoming State Trails Program would like to remind snowmobilers that ​it is best to purchase your snowmobile registration online before arriving at your snowmobile destination.

You can have the registration decal mailed to you (if you have more than a week before your arrival) or pick it up in-store when you arrive; please look at the map of selling agent locations at the link below. This will help you and the selling agent reduce the time spent at the check-out counter.

Resident and non-resident registration information and a map of selling agents can be found at wyotrails.onewyo.gov/wyotrails?id=wyo_snow_home. So that you know, you will need to register/log in to purchase a registration sticker!

Are you interested in learning more about how public land management agencies are leveraging public/private partnerships to meet the growing demand for outdoor recreation opportunities?

Join us this Thursday, November 14th from 12-1:30 p.m. for our second Outdoor Recreation Knowledge Exchange, a free webinar series featuring industry experts, government representatives, and resource agencies.

Register at bit.ly/outdoor-rec-knowledge-exchange-2024.

The five-session series is a collaborative effort organized by the University of Wyoming's Extension and Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Initiative and Colorado State University’s Office of Engagement and Extension. The Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation and Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office are also involved in the project.

Mark your calendars and join us for the Wyoming State Trails' Advisory Council meeting on November 15th in Sheridan! More details can be found below.

Agenda items include approval of the FY2024 Recreational Trails Program and OHV Partnership grant applications, Trails Program updates, and an Office of Outdoor Recreation update.

Date, time, location and virtual meeting information are as follows:

📆 Friday, November 15th, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
📍 Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Sheridan Hotel & Convention Center, 1809 Sugarland Dr., Sheridan, WY
📱 Video call link: https://meet.google.com/djb-hyiv-nym or dial: ‪(US) +1 267-819-1406 PIN: 869 572 717 #

The Wyoming State Trails Advisory Council is a ten-member recreational trail advisory committee appointed by the Governor to advise the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources regarding trail policies, functions, and priorities. Learn more at wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/home-trails.

Winter is on the way, and Yellowstone National Park's East, South and West gates have been closed as of November 1st to regular vehicles for the season. ❄🦬

Most roads are closed to prepare for commercially-guided snowcoach and snowmobile travel during the winter season, which will begin December 15th. The road between the North and Northeast entrances is the only road open year-round to regular vehicles, weather permitting.

For current conditions, please visit nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.

Last weekend, members of the WYOREC team attended Bent Sprockets' final community work day to build trail at the Backyard Park!

Bent Sprockets has been an amazing partner and supporter in the Northeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative, and we were happy to lend a hand and move some dirt.

Check out some photos from the work day!

Have you heard about the Outdoor Recreation Knowledge Exchange? Colorado and Wyoming have partnered to offer this free webinar series addressing opportunities and challenges in the outdoor recreation industry. 🤩👇

The five-session series is a collaborative effort organized by the University of Wyoming's Extension and Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Initiative and Colorado State University’s Office of Engagement and Extension. The Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation and Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office are also involved in the project.

Kickoff the series with us tomorrow Thursday, October 24th from 12:00-1:30 p.m. to discuss Workforce Development in Outdoor Recreation.

Registration can be found at bit.ly/outdoor-rec-knowledge-exchange-2024 or scan the QR code below!

Are you curious about what the Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives have been up to? Check out the October edition of The Collaborative Connection!

Follow the link below or visit https://conta.cc/4hhjT1h.

The Collaborative Connection Email from Wyoming Office Of Outdoor Recreation   Vol. 2, Issue 10   Organization of the Month   Common Outdoor Ground, SWORC When land managers need extra hands for projects in southeast Wyoming, th

Join us for this exciting, upcoming webinar series addressing opportunities and challenges in the outdoor recreation industry!

Titled “Outdoor Recreation Knowledge Exchange: Wyoming and Colorado Roundup,” the inaugural five-session series is a collaborative effort organized by UW Extension, UW’s Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Initiative and CSU’s Office of Engagement and Extension. The Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation and Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office also are involved in the project. See you there! 👇

UW and CSU Partner to Offer Free Webinar Series on Outdoor Recreation The University of Wyoming has partnered with Colorado State University to offer monthly webinars addressing opportunities and challenges in the outdoor recreation industry.

We ended the Outdoor Media Summit with bang, welcoming Minnesota and North Dakota to the Confluence of States and OREC Manager Patrick Harrington was honored as an outstanding outdoor professional under forty!

Confluence members even squeezed in a hike to the M before heading out of town. Thanks for a great time Missoula!

This week, we’re representing Wyoming in Missoula, MT for the Outdoor Media Summit and the Confluence of States! ❤️

The Confluence of States is a bipartisan organization, made up of 18 states’ OREC office and division directors, developing a national platform to grow the outdoor recreation industry, protect our nation's wild places and transform conservation into a driver for economic prosperity.

Each year, the Confluence teams up with this annual outdoor event that brings together outdoor professionals from marketing, media, and PR. The summit offers education sessions, networking opportunities, a product exposition, and of course, gives members of the Confluence the chance to visit with each other and attendees.

Join the movement and learn more at confluenceofstates.com.

Don't forget you can join our Non-motorized Trails crew and Lander Cycling Club tomorrow Saturday, October 12th for more Sunnyside Trail construction! ☀️ We'll be kicking off the day at 9:00 a.m. across the street from the Sinks Canyon State Park Visitor Center.

All ages and skill levels are welcome; no prior experience is needed. All tools will be provided, but please remember to dress appropriately for weather and outside work. Stay hydrated!

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Funded by grants from the Wyoming State Trails Program, construction of the Pole Mountain Connector Trail is complete and open for public use! 🤩

Last Saturday, Wyoming Pathways hosted a ribbon cutting event to celebrate the trail’s opening, bringing together nearly 60 attendees including Office of Outdoor Recreation and Trails Program staff! During the event, partners, local elected officials, and agency representatives highlighted the value of the partnerships that made this project possible and its positive contributions to mental and physical health, community vitality, economic impact, and destination management.

The seven-mile-long non-motorized, multi-use trail expands recreational opportunities for residents and visitors by connecting the city of Laramie to the adjacent Pole Mountain unit on Medicine Bow National Forest through the existing Pilot Hill and Happy Jack trails systems.

The Pole Mountain Connector Trail connects to Pilot Hill Recreation Area Trail 12 at the Forest boundary, providing public access across land management lines. The newly constructed section of trail is approximately 3.1 miles long and winds from the junction of Forest Roads 703 and 714, south and east to Wyoming Highway 210, where it goes under the highway and then ends at the existing Happy Jack Parking Lot.

Learn more about the many grant opportunities offered by Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources, including the Recreational Trails Program, at wyospcr.wyo.gov/index.php/grants.

Thank you to our 200+ 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒔 for celebrating with Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites, Wyoming State Trails, and the Office of Outdoor Recreation! 👏 Together, our agency hosted 16 events statewide with 16 local, state and federal partners! 😍

Save the date for National Public Lands Day 2025 - the third Saturday in September! ❤️

Hogadon Basin Ski Area will be ready for folks to hit the slopes after 50+ volunteers attended the annual Tune-up Day in celebration of ! 🎿

This event was supported by Hogadon Basin Ski Area, Natrona County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative - NCORC , the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, and other local sponsors.

Over 30 volunteers and staff gathered on for new trail construction at the Sunnyside Trail in Sinks Canyon! A huge thank you to our Non-motorized Trails crew for showing us the ropes. 🥾🚲

This event was brought to you in partnership by Lander Cycling Club, Sinks Canyon State Park, Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative - WRORC, and the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation.

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Nearly 3,000 pounds of trash was collected by 35 volunteers at our second Roger Canyon cleanup this past weekend in celebration of ! 🤩

This event was brought to you in partnership by the Bureau of Land Management - Wyoming, Common Outdoor Ground, Southeast Climbers Association, Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative - SWORC, Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, and Wyoming State Trails.

Thank you to our 10 participants who stopped by the 8th Street Boat Ramp in Thermopolis for our cleanup and float! 💦🛶

We had representatives from the Thermopolis - Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative - BBORC, Hot City Outdoor Alliance, and more!

This event was brought to you in partnership by the Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative, Bighorn River Blueway Trail Committee, Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, and Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation.