Fly Fishing the Miracle Mile on the North Platte River. Trent Tatum

      Miracle Mile (North Platte River, Central Wyoming)

      Location: Central Wyoming, 59 miles from Casper, and 50 miles from Rawlins. The closest airport is in Casper (Natrona County International Airport). There are no paved roads directly accessing the Mile. Travel is dependent upon the weather and season. It is essential to use good judgment when traveling to this part of Wyoming.

      The Miracle Mile section of the North Platte River is located below Kortes Reservoir and flows into Pathfinder Reservoir. The largest impoundment upstream of the Mile, Seminoe Reservoir and Dam, was completed in 1939—Kortes

      was added in 1951 to serve as an afterbay dam for power production. An inherent part of the Reclamation Act of 1902, these water projects were essential in providing sustainability to the arid lands of the American West. Due to its location and design, the Mile is one of the largest stretches of public water on the North Platte. The river is completely accessible through Bureau of Reclamation land.

      Despite its name, the Miracle Mile is substantially longer. This section of the North Platte fluctuates in length from about 5 to 8 miles, depending on the level of Pathfinder. Nestled between the Seminoe and Pedros Mountains, the Miracle Mile boasts a dynamic range of water—steep canyon walls, large boulders, and pocket water to classic riffle runs. Flows can range from 500-3,000 cfs during an average year, but can exceed 10,000 cfs in years with abundant snowpack. This

      section of the Platte is extremely important to hydroelectric production, therefore it can fluctuate on a daily and even hourly basis. Regardless of fluctuating flows, this fishery would not exist without the dams. The consistent water temperatures provided by the upstream reservoirs and the close proximity to Pathfinder make it an ideal tailwater.