The Best Front Range Bird Hikes

Over 500 species of birds live in or visit Colorado and most can been seen along the Front Range.

• A wide variety of wildflower hikes along Colorado’s Front Range, from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins, including Rocky Mountain National Park • Includes detailed comments, route descriptions, driving directions, maps, difficulty ratings, and nearest landmark • Fits in your pocket or daypack and features color photos and maps throughout the book From the plains to the high mountains, Colorado is known for its magnificent displays of wildflowers. The Best Front Range Wildflower Hikes showcases 20 trails filled with native wildflower species across five life zones. Trail descriptions include habitats and interesting tidbits about the plants, along with a listing of native flora with both common and scientific names. This pack guide focuses on easily accessible hikes, as well as a variety of habitats and flora. The Best Front Range Wildflower Hikes will lead beginning wildflower enthusiasts, as well as veteran observers, to stunning wildflowers along Colorado’s mountain trails.

There are endless hiking options in Colorado, and the Front Range is one of the best areas to explore. Best Hikes Colorado’s Front Range highlights the top trails from Fort Collins down to Colorado Springs. The book includes a variety of hikes in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains for everyone from novice hikers to more experienced adventurers. Best Hikes Colorado’s Front Range offers 40 main hikes plus 8 bonus hikes ranging in altitude from 5,000 to 14,000 feet — all within driving distance of Fort Collins, Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs. Inside you’ll find: oWide variety of hikes oAt-a-glance difficulty ratings, trail contacts, fees and permits, local information, and much more oAccurate, easy-to-follow directions to the trailhead oDetailed trail descriptions, mile-by-mile directional cues, and GPS-compatible trail maps

Colorado's Front Range is one of the best birdwatching areas in North America. Within a span of 40 miles, elevations range from 5,000 to 14,000 feet, representing five distinct life zones. Birders can spend the morning watching grebes, pelicans and egrets in the South Platte Valley and, by afternoon, search for pipits and ptarmigan on the alpine tundra. This guide, designed primarily for beginning bird watchers and for those visiting our region, places emphasis on the natural habitats of the Front Range and on birding highlights that occur throughout the year. Chapter I describes the Front Range life zones while Chapter II guides birders through the seasons, ensuring exposure to a wide variety of species. Chapter III provides a checklist of Front Range birds, including a time and place for finding each species, and the book's Appendix lists regional conservation organizations that are working to protect our vital wildlife habitats. Book jacket.

* 70 hikes in Colorado's Front Range chosen for the beauty, variety, and the quality of the hike itself * A wide range of hikes, from easy to difficult * Complete trail descriptions, color photos, and maps The Front Range of the Colorado Rockies rises abruptly from the plains in a 150-mile stretch of foothills, rounded summits, and jagged peaks between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs. The hikes in this book were selected by members of four major groups of The Colorado Mountain Club in an occasionally contentious process. After some heated arguments, quiet horse trading, and uproarious laughter, members decided on their favorites-so these really are the best hikes in the Front Range. Each description starts with some basic information about the hike, followed by comments on the hike by the writer/photographer, directions to the trailhead, and a complete route description, including pictures from the route and a color map of the trail.

An easy-to-use guide to 50 of the best Front Range hikes for children * Kid-friendly trail ratings and symbols * Detailed directions and full-color easily readable maps * Sidebars on historical and educational information, as well as activities children can enjoy on the way home from each hike Colorado’s Front Range is a wonderful place to introduce children to the outdoors and hiking. From Fort Collins to Denver and Boulder and south to Colorado Springs, trails abound for kids who love spending time outside. This essential guide helps parents select age-and ability-appropriate trails at a glance with a handy rating system. Choose trails that are fun and just challenging enough for children between the ages of two and 16. From wheelchair accessible to more challenging trails, the 50 hikes that comprise this guidebook were selected for their variety, ease of access, unique natural beauty, educational opportunities, and proximity to some of the best known attractions along the Front Range, including the Platte River, Pikes Peak, Mount Evans, and Rocky Mountain National Park. Children may spot wild turkeys while exploring the Hornbek Homestead trail near Colorado Springs; enjoy trekking across the lands of an early settlement in the Bobcat Ridge Natural area near Fort Collins; or catch a glimpse of a bighorn sheep along the Waterton Canyon trail south of Denver.

Many of Colorado's finest hikes await within an hour's drive of the state's largest metropolis. The perfect packable guide for trekkers of all levels, this book brings together a diverse collection of the region's best hikes, from easy, mile-long jaunts to challenging Fourteener ascents. As a bonus, this book also reveals 16 routes never published before. Full-color photographs and maps beautifully illustrate this expertly written book, the most comprehensive guide to Denver-area hiking to date.

* 60 Colorado loop hikes accessible from metro areas including Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Boulder * Illustrated with topo maps, elevation profiles, and photos for each hike * Trailfinder chart lists hikes by factors including distance, hiking time, elevation gain, season, and highlights -- quiet wilderness, mountain meadow, great views, wildlife, etc. * Bonus listing of Colorado hikes that are great for winter snowshoeing Looking for a short, easy loop stroll, or a challenging loop trek? Do you want loops that offer solitude or loops that are kid-friendly? Best Loop Hikes Colorado includes loop hikes that involve overnight stays and trails that involve fourteeners to consider, too. And did you know that some loops double as great snowshoe trails in winter? You'll find all these and more in Best Loop Hikes Colorado. As you can tell, the operative word here is "loop." That's right: there's no need to bore yourself by retracing the same path. Your every step is shiny and new, all without tandem driving or dropping off a car at both ends of the trail. It's the holy grail of hiking! Guidebook regions include the Front Range, Central Mountains, Southwest Mountains, Western Slope and Canyonlands, Northern Mountains, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Denver is known the world over as the gateway to Colorado’s magnificent Rocky Mountains. Four national forests, a national grassland, scores of regional and city parks and preserves, and Rocky Mountain National Park offer hundreds of hiking and walking trails—all within one to three hours of downtown Denver. Base Camp Denver offers you 101 of the best of these great hiking destinations to choose from. Take a day to explore an alpine meadow, walk to a waterfall, hike through a forest, or stroll suburban parklands. Enjoy a spectacular day of spring wildflowers or fall foliage, and still be home by dinnertime. Scramble to the top of a mountain to enjoy a sunrise and still make it to work by eight. With Pete KJ as your guide and Denver as your base camp, the splendor of Colorado’s Front Range is yours to enjoy one day—or even just a few hours—at a time. History, geology, flora, and fauna for each hike Best hikes for each season, and where to enjoy spring wildflowers & fall foliage Ratings from 1 to 5 for trail conditions, difficulty, suitability for children, and more Detailed driving directions to trailheads and info about elevation, hiking time, parking, and restrooms Regional maps showing all trails in each chapter; route map for each hike Best hikes for dogs, kids, and teens Hikes that offer solitude ... or plenty of company! Hikes by interest: birdwatching, stargazing, wetlands, wildlife, and more How to prepare & what to take 101 great hikes to choose from! Best hikes for each season, and where to enjoy spring wildflowers & fall foliage Ratings from 1 to 5 for trail conditions, difficulty, suitability for children, and more Detailed driving directions to trailheads and info about elevation, hiking time, parking, and restrooms Regional maps showing all trails in each chapter; route map for each hike Best hikes for dogs, kids, and teens Hikes that offer solitude ... or plenty of company! Hikes by interest: birdwatching, stargazing, wetlands, wildlife, and more How to prepare & what to take 101 great hikes to choose from! -- Pete KJ