Our Community

The Central Wyoming College main campus is located in Riverton, a city of about 10,000 on the banks of the Wind River. The campus and community lie in the Wind River Valley, a large lowland area bounded by mountains on three sides. The area has a wide range of environmental zones from cold desert to alpine. Lakes and streams are abundant. Gannett Peak, Wyoming’s highest mountain, is in close proximity to where the Wind River Mountains adjoin the valley.

The valley has a rich cultural history. A large portion is occupied by the Wind River Indian Reservation, home of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. The rendezvous of the mountain men was held in the south portion in the early 1800s. Gold mining in the Wind River and Absaroka Mountains has now yielded to natural resource development. The abandoned Oregon, California and Mormon trails are nearby and even today can be traced for great distances.

Recreational opportunities are virtually unlimited. Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Hot Springs State Park and extensive forested lands are within easy driving distance. Outdoor activities include skiing, snowshoeing, ice-skating, hiking, backpacking, hunting, fishing, photography, horseback riding, golfing and swimming.