Contact Information
P.O. Box 1596
Evansville, WY 82636
307-577-5150
Edness K. Wilkins State Park, is named after Edness Kimball Wilkins, twenty-five year Wyoming legislator and area resident who died in 1980 at the age of 84. In 1981, the land was purchased and almost entirely funded with General Fund monies. The purchase price was approximately $380,000 and the total state investment through 1993 was $1.3 million. Edness K. Wilkins State Park, containing 315 acres, was once nothing but rock quarry. However, since master planning began in 1982, the area has taken on a massive transformation. Initial efforts focused on the installation of a road system and parking areas. Planting, seeding and pruning improved the vegetation in the area. Barriers, fencing and signage allowed for continued use of designated roads while certain areas returned to their natural state. Edness K. Wilkins State Park, located 6 miles east of Casper off Interstate 25, features a pond with sandy beach, swimming area, access to the North Platte River, picnic tables, grills, group shelters, playgrounds, launching ramp for canoes or rafts, handicapped accessible fishing pier, and an additional 2.8 miles of handicapped accessible hard-surfaced paths.
Edness K. Wilkins State Park, located 6 miles east of Casper off Interstate 25 , offers a serene day-use park. Nature lovers and those looking for solitude can enjoy the huge old cottonwoods as they cast reflections on the historic North Platte River and lend shade to visitors. A pond, with its sandy beach, is an oasis in the summer months and the North Platte River provides a natural habitat for a variety of wildlife. Today visitors can utilize picnic tables, grills, group shelters, playgrounds and a launching ramp for canoes or rafts. The handicapped accessible fishing pier, the only one like it in the state, has become one of the finest amenities provided to visitors. An additional 2.8 miles of handicapped accessible hard-surfaced paths provide visitors with an opportunity to view some of the finest wildlife in the area. Anglers can try their fishing luck in the North Platte River and swimmers can take a refreshing dip at the park swimming area.
Recreational activities in the park include picnicking, swimming, fishing, wildlife viewing, canoeing, rafting and handicapped access to fishing pier and 2.8 miles of hard-surfaced paths.
As throughout the Rocky Mountains, the climate varies drastically depending on elevation. Summers generally offer warm clear days with cool nights. Afternoon thunderstorms are often a possibility in the summer. In the winter, sunshine, with plenty of snow in the higher elevations, are ideal for winter activities. Harsh weather - including wind, cold, and snow - is possible throughout the winter and even throughout the year, in the highest elevations.
