The mountain town of Casper, Wyoming, will welcome the nation’s best collegiate athletes and spectators for the 2021 College National Finals Rodeo.
After a year of rodeo cancellations and halted travel, we couldn’t be more excited for the College National Finals Rodeo to return June 13—19, 2021, to the Ford Wyoming Center. More than 400 men and women from 100-plus universities will compete in events like saddle bronc riding, bare back riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, and much more at the “Rose Bowl” of rodeo. Although the rodeo might be the thing that gets you to Casper, Wyoming, there are plenty of things to do around town when you’re not in the stands or arena.
“CNFR and Casper go hand-in-hand,” said Brook Kaufman, CEO of Visit Casper. “It really is the best of the best in college rodeo and we’re so thrilled to have this event and all of its competitors return to Casper this June.”
Whether you’re in Casper this June for the rodeo — or want to make a trip sometime in the future — we’ve rounded up all the things you don’t want to miss.
Live Music
Unwind after a week of competition at the 2021 CNFR with free concerts from country artists Chancey Williams and Lucas Hoge. Wyoming native Chancey William will perform at David Street Station June 16 at 7:00 p.m., and “Get Lost” singer Lucas Hoge will follow the last CNFR performance on June 18 in the parking lot of the Ford Wyoming Center. If you’re visiting Casper another week, there’s a good shot you can catch live music from stars like Parker McCollum, Eli Young Band, and Easton Corbin at Gas Light Social.
Taste The West
Head downtown for a taste of the West at Backwards Distilling Company’s tasting room. The tasting room offers one-of-a-kind cocktails made with vodka, gin, rum, moonshine, and whiskey from the family-owned distillery. Kick your boots up and try the Brown Sugar Old Fashioned and Freakshow — or grab some drinks to go.
Experience The Old West
If you’re wanting a real-life cowboy experience, hit the Oregon Trail with Historic Trails West. From a two hour trek to a dutch oven cookout to a five day adventure, you can experience the old West firsthand — then return to an air conditioned hotel room.
Look The Part
If you want to look like a cowboy head to toe, visit Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters to shop for western clothing. The family-owned Western store has 55,000-square-feet worth of hats, boots, accessories, and authentic cowboy getup. The store has been in business for more than 100 years and has been passed down for three generations — you can’t get a more authentic experience than that!
Get Your Feet Wet
Visit the North Platte River and experience one of the best outdoor activities Casper has to offer — fly fishing. Whether you're a first-timer and want to hire a guide, or you’re an experienced fisher with your own equipment, you’ll be sure to have a great time with around 3,000 to 5,000 fish per mile swimming around.
Enjoy The View
You don’t want to miss visiting Casper Mountain before you head out of town. After all, the town was ranked one of the “20 Best Mountain Towns’’ in America by Men's Journal for a reason. You can camp out in an RV or tent, choose from more than 50 trails to walk, ski and snowboard during the winter months, or go for a scenic drive.
For more information about CNFR, visit CNFR.com. For more things to do in Casper, check out VisitCasper.com.
Photography: (All images) courtesy Visit Casper
