On Saturday, July 17, a kickoff event will take place for the Bighorn River Blueway Trail in Manderson and Basin. The project is a proposed river trail that starts in Thermopolis and ends in Lovell.
Christy Fleming, the chief interpreter with the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, said the idea is to help people realize what they can do on the river.
"From a personal perspective, I didn't know if you could actually float the river, or if there were rules," said Fleming. "And so I was hesitant for a long time. So this would take away some of that hesitation."
The trail offers opportunities for non-motorized water recreationalists as well as wildlife watching, fishing and camping. Fleming said the idea is not a new one.
“In the 90s, Game and Fish and the Bureau of Land Management got together. And they actually kind of started the work. And then it kind of disappeared for a little while. And we're really just reviving that,” she said.
The project could bring recreation and economic growth to the communities along the river like Worland, Greybull, Thermopolis, Basin, Manderson and Lovell. The event will be hosted by the Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative and will highlight the recreational activities for children and adults. There will be river paddle opportunities, as well as music and food.
The Bighorn River Blueway Trail is a collaboration between the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, the Bureau of Land Management. Wyoming State Parks, Wyoming Game and Fish, the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Office, and several of the towns that are along the river.
