Background: I saw this route without an established time and decided it would be cool to explore Curt Gowdy State Park (WY).
Start Location: I started at the southeast entrance to the park, close to the Granite Point Campground, and I ran in the clockwise direction.
Trails: The trails were solid single track with a fair amount of rocks. At times, the trails were half track. The views of the reservoir were pretty, and there were cool rock formations. The route also included interesting gulch areas. It reminded me of Lory State Park in CO. Unfortunately, there was a bunch of cactus.
Effort: I ran this solo without any aid, and I felt pretty good for the first few miles, but miles 5, 6, and 7 were rough. Part of the canyons trail is quite technical, and my right quad barely held me upright as I bombed down a 20 foot section that became extremely steep.
Navigation: I did wind up making a few wrong turns, and I lost time backtracking. If I did not load the route to my watch, I would have gotten lost a lot more.
Gear: Hoka Speedgoats and Garmin Fenix 6
Nutrition and Hydration: None
Overall, I’m glad I saw this new area. Looking forward to seeing someone beat this time.