UW, Laramie Rank No. 6 on ‘Top College Towns for Fly Fishing’ List

Laramie and the University of Wyoming regularly receive high national rankings as a top college town for hikers, winter sports enthusiasts and other outdoor activities.

Add another to the list: fly fishing.

The online magazine Flylords has ranked Laramie No. 6 on its list of the "Top U.S. College Towns for Fly Fishing," joining the trout fishing meccas of Bozeman and Missoula, Mont., Gunnison, Colo., and Boone, N.C., near the top of the list.

"Wyoming's wind is basically a hazing ritual -- if you can cast here, you can cast anywhere. But for those who brave the breeze, alpine cutthroats, big browns and solitude are your reward," the magazine states. "By graduation, you'll have a degree, bulletproof double-hauls and the skills needed to catch trout anywhere."

The magazine also notes the UW Fly Fishing Club, a recognized student organization. UW's Outdoor Program also organizes trips to the famous Laramie Plains Lakes, the Snowy Range's alpine lakes and nearby trout fishing streams.

In 2024, a website called TheTravel listed Laramie No. 1 on its list of the "10 Best College Town in America " because of, in part, outdoor recreation opportunities. In 2024, Outside magazine identified Laramie as "the perfect affordable mountain town," noting the cost of living; access to outdoor activities; food, art and culture; and the influence of UW, including its academic and other offerings.

Other rankings have included UW being named No. 3 on Backpacker Magazine's list of the best colleges in the country for hikers and No. 18 on a list of "Best Colleges for Winter Life."