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The river was important in the historical development of the western United States, in that several of the major westward migration trails, including the Oregon Trail and the Mormon Trail, followed its valley in western Nebraska and Wyoming. It also provided the route for the Pony Express across Nebraska and eastern Wyoming.
The North Platte rises in the North Park valley of north central Colorado, near the town of Walden, on the eastern slope of the Park Range. It flows northward into Wyoming, along the western side of the Medicine Bow Mountains. On the north end of the range it joined by the Medicine Bow River.
Near the town of Casper, it turns eastward, along the north reach of the Laramie Mountains, and emerges onto the Great Plains, flowing southeasternly across Wyoming, past the town of Douglas and the Fort Laramie National Historic Site, where it is joined by the Laramie River.
It crosses into Nebraska, flowing southeasterly past the town of Scottsbluff and joins the South Platte east of the city of North Platte, Nebraska.
The upper reaches of the river in Wyoming are popular for recreation rafting and fly fishing.
See List of Colorado rivers, List of Wyoming rivers, List of Nebraska rivers
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