To escape the heat of the summer or ski a few runs in the winter, head up Casper Mountain, being sure to stop at the pullouts to take in the view of the plains stretching north toward the Bighorn Mountains. The mountain rises 8,000 feet above sea level, and there are campgrounds, hiking trails (try Garden Creek Falls), ski tracks, groomed snowmobile tracks, and mountain-biking trails. Another popular destination for outdoor recreation is Muddy Mountain. Much of the public land here is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, 2987 Prospector Dr., Casper, WY 82604 (tel. 307/261-7600). The office has maps and other information available, and is open Monday through Friday from 7:45am to 4:30pm. Another good source for information, as well as equipment sales and rentals of cross-country skis and snowshoes, is Backcountry Mountain Works, 4120 S. Poplar St., at Sunrise Center (tel. 307/234-5330). At Mountain Sports, 543 S. Center St. (tel. 800/426-1136 or 307/266-1136), you'll find winter and summer outdoor equipment (including camping supplies), plus rentals of skis ($12 a day) in the winter and mountain bikes ($24 a day) year-round. The Ugly Bug Fly Shop, 240 S. Center St. (tel. 307/234-6905) is a great angler's resource, with advice, gear, and guides.

There are some great hiking opportunities on Casper Mountain, including the Braille Trail, which enables visually impaired visitors to enjoy the beauty of Beartrap Meadow, with interpretive Braille markers describing the area's ecology. The Casper Area Convention and Visitors Bureau can provide you with maps detailing this and other hiking trails.

Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park (tel. 307/577-5150) is a pleasant day-use park just 6 miles east of Casper off I-25, where you'll find huge old cottonwoods over the North Platte River. The park has hard-surfaced walking paths, a canoe- and raft-launch ramp, a swimming area, picnic tables, and a playground. There is also an accessible fishing pier, and excellent bird-watching opportunities for species including cormorants, yellow-billed cuckoos, golden and bald eagles, and numerous ducks. The park is open daily from 7am to 10pm; admission costs $4 per vehicle.