Alcova Reservoir is Casper’s backyard lake – a 2,500-acre reservoir on the North Platte River set among red sandstone bluffs about half an hour southwest of the city. With sandy beaches, a marina and warm summer water, it’s central Wyoming’s go-to spot for boating and water sports, while the famous trout tailwaters just below it make the whole stretch of river a fishing destination.
This guide covers Alcova Reservoir: the recreation, the fishing, and access. It’s part of our growing Wyoming Lakes Database.
Alcova Reservoir at a glance
- Surface area: ~2,470 acres on the North Platte River
- Location: Natrona County, central Wyoming (about 30 miles southwest of Casper)
- Built: Alcova Dam, completed 1938
- Top fish: rainbow & brown trout, walleye, yellow perch (trophy trout in the tailwaters below)
Casper’s summer playground
Alcova is the most popular recreation lake near Casper. Set in a striking landscape of red-rock bluffs and the nearby Fremont Canyon, it offers a marina, sandy beaches and warm water that draw boaters, water-skiers, paddleboarders and swimmers all summer. Lakeside cabins and campgrounds make it an easy weekend escape, and the scenery – especially in Fremont Canyon, with its sheer walls dropping to deep green water – is some of the prettiest in central Wyoming.
Fishing Alcova and the tailwaters
The reservoir itself holds rainbow and brown trout, walleye and yellow perch. But Alcova is most famous for what’s just downstream: the North Platte through the Gray Reef tailwater and the “Miracle Mile” is a blue-ribbon trout fishery, producing big, hard-fighting rainbows and browns that draw fly anglers from around the world. A Wyoming fishing license is required.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Alcova Reservoir is southwest of Casper off WY-220, about 30 minutes from the city. Pathfinder Reservoir, Fremont Canyon and the historic Oregon Trail landmarks of Independence Rock and Devil’s Gate are all close by.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a Wyoming license is required.
- Don’t miss the tailwaters: the Gray Reef/Miracle Mile section below the dam is world-class trout water.
- Best seasons: summer for beaches and boating; year-round for the tailwater trout.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Alcova Reservoir?
Rainbow and brown trout, walleye and yellow perch in the reservoir; the tailwaters below the dam are a blue-ribbon trophy-trout fishery.
Is Alcova good for boating and swimming?
Yes – it’s the most popular recreation lake near Casper, with a marina, sandy beaches and warm water for boating, skiing, paddleboarding and swimming.
Where is Alcova Reservoir?
In Natrona County, central Wyoming, about 30 miles southwest of Casper off WY-220.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in Wyoming, or head back to the Wyoming Lakes Database.
