5 Casper Area Parks to Enjoy the Spring Season

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator is built for adventure. With tough features and rugged style, the Gladiator is the perfect vehicle to take off-road, haul your surfboards to the beach, or load up with supplies for a camping trip. Power and Capability The 2020 Jeep Gladiator is desert- and trail-rated and built tough to take on any driving condition, from smooth highways to off-road trails. Jeep gives the Gladiator the 3.6-liter V-6 engine capable of delivering up to 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a manual six-speed transmission, or you can upgrade to the optional eight-speed automatic. more With locking rear and front differentials, four-wheel drive with a 4-to-1 transfer case, electronic sway bar, and exceptional suspension with damper control, the Gladiator offers a comfortable ride on smooth roads and predictable handling in off-road situations. Its capabilities and performance don't stop there: it's rated for water-fording, tight maneuvering, and dynamic articulation for extreme terrains. Tough Exterior Features Take an adventure confidently knowing the Gladiator comes packed with the equipment you'll need when you steer the course off-road. Tow hooks, reinforced front and rear axles, and traction control instrumentation give you heavy-duty reliability on any terrain. The Gladiator takes its style from the Wrangler, with rugged paneling and the option to choose between the zipper-free soft top or the hardtop. You can plug in and keep your devices going with the Gladiator's weatherproof 115-volt power outlet in the bed. More options for the Gladiator include 17- and 18-inch aluminum or steel wheels, exterior LED lighting, and nine custom paint colors. Interior Tech and Comforts Step inside the Gladiator and feel at home immediately with comfort features and an infotainment suite for optimum connectivity. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Uconnect are all available for the Gladiator, and you can connect directly to your vehicle with the optional SiriusXM Guardian, which lets you control and check up on your Gladiator from anywhere with the app. The 8.4-inch touch screen with voice-activated navigation delivers entertainment function and direction control. The available Bluetooth speaker is weatherproof and rechargeable, so you can listen to your music or stream your favorite movies from anywhere. Ride in comfort with ultra-fine fabric seats for the Sport and Sport S trims and upgrade to leather trim accents on the Overland and above. Enjoy automatic dual-zone climate control and heated and ventilated front seats for maximum comfort. Safety and Security The Gladiator brings a lot to the table with its safety and security features for the 2020 model lineup. Standard safety features include the Gladiator's tire pressure monitoring system, keyless entry, and hands-free technology for voice calls. Available safety packages come with blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, forward collision alert, rear cross-traffic alert, park assist, and Jeep's park assist rear backup camera. The Gladiator also features a number of tow-haul assist systems, including trailer sway control and trailer tire pressure monitoring. With driver and passenger front and side-impact air bags and a reinforced steel chassis, the Jeep Gladiator will keep you safe and secure while you travel. Image via Jeep.com

The 2020 Dodge Challenger packs a ton of power under its sleek style. It retains its signature muscle-bound exterior from previous model years but adds some extras for 2020. With unique features and Dodge's signature Hemi implementation, the Challenger will turn heads wherever you drive. Custom Trims and Bold Features The 2020 Dodge Challenger is available in five main trim levels: the SXT, GT, R/T, R/T Scat Pack, and the SRT Hellcat. Each trim comes with an array of package options that you can customize for the vehicle, making it truly unique to your personal taste and style. You can also customize your Challenger with racing stripes and badging designs in a variety of colors. more The SRT Hellcat and SRT Hellcat Widebody combine the classic muscle car design with modern appeal and come available with the SRT Twin Racing Stripe and satin black hood and roof. Other custom build packages include customizable 18- and 20-inch wheel options, LED headlights and taillights, and three different hood scoop styles. Power and Grace The Challenger offers five distinct engine configurations for the 2020 model lineup. Dodge starts with the base PentaStar 3.6-liter V-6 engine, coupled with the standard eight-speed automatic. The SXT and the GT give you the option to choose between the standard rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive systems. Upgrade to the base Hemi 5.7-liter V-8, and you'll get up to 375 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. The 392 Hemi 6.4-liter V-8 boosts the power to 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. There are two Hellcat engines: the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 SRT Hellcat and the supercharged high-output 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 SRT Hellcat Redeye. The SRT Hellcat puts out a maximum of 717 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, and the Hellcat Redeye generates an astounding 797 horsepower and 707 pound-feet of torque. Optimum Safety and Security The Challenger's safety and security packages include many available features, and you can always choose to upgrade standard safety packages to any of the available optional packages depending on your Challenger trim. Starting with base and standard safety across all trims comes the Challenger's solid steel chassis, multistage front passenger and driver air bags. Available safety tech for the Challenger includes automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise controls, full-speed front-end collision warning, and the park assist system with a rearview backup camera. For added driving security, your Challenger has many weather-sensing functionalities, too. The available rain-sensing wipers automatically engage when it rains, and the Challenger's Rain Brake Support braking system helps you slow down safely on slippery roads. Front head restraints are there to reduce the risk of injury from rear collisions, and the Challenger's stability and traction control ensure your drives are always secure. Ultimately, the 2020 Dodge Challenger is the perfect vehicle for those who get excited about power, speed, and performance. The Challenger also brings many technology features to the table for the 2020 model year, including Dodge's available U-connect with Bluetooth capabilities. Connect your smartphone with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and enjoy everything the Challenger has to offer. Image Dodge.com

If you're visiting Casper in central Wyoming, you won't want to leave without at least exploring some of the most ruggedly beautiful nature in the West. Here are five easy day hikes near Casper where you can jog or walk the trails within an afternoon. 1. Squaw Creek Trail Squaw Creek Trail is about 2 miles southwest of Casper. It's a 3.5-mile hike from end to end for a round trip of 7 miles. It features biking and hiking trails with dog-friendly tracks. The park also houses a dog run where you can let your dog run leash-free. The park is accessible all year-round, weather permitting, and because of its easy inclines and panoramic views, it offers an easy day hike any time of year. more 2. Morad Park Loop Morad Park Loop is a short hiking trail just outside of Casper that circles around to the trailhead in just under a mile. The park is open year-round, and the trail runs right next to a section of the Platte River. You can walk your dog along the trail, and there's a picnic area to relax and enjoy the rugged landscape of Casper. Take your dog for a run in the off-leash dog area, or your family can get out on the trail on your bikes. 3. Fliprock Trail Fliprock Trail is part of Rotary Park and Casper Mountain and sits just south of Casper at the base of the mountain. Fliprock Trail is about 3 miles all the way around the loop, and it's a great trail for all different difficulty levels of hiking. The trail runs through the forest of Casper Mountain, and if you want to explore further, you can make your way to Garden Creek Falls, where you can enjoy the picturesque waterfalls or picnic in the many recreation areas. 4. Bridle Trail Split Rock Loop Bridle Trail is also a part of the Rotary Park trail system. The 5-mile trail features easy and moderate hiking spots with a 1,200-foot rise in elevation, which offers beautiful views of Garden Creek Falls. For more easy-going hiking, you can stay on the short end of the loop on the west side of the park. To hike the whole loop, plan for at least three to four hours. The trailhead is in Rotary Park, so plan for a picnic to make this an all-day event. 5. Muddy Mountain Loop Trail Muddy Mountain is another looped trail system that's situated on the southern side of Casper Mountain. The trail is about 3.5 miles around the loop and is perfect for every skill level of hiking. You can bring your mountain bike for some easy to moderate riding. Camp overnight at Muddy Mountain's camping area where your dog is welcome too, as long as you keep it on a leash. Many of these parks are local to the Casper area and part of the national and state park system. With so many easy day hikes around, you're sure to find some amazing spots for a relaxing stroll or invigorating run wherever you turn. Image via Pixabay.com