The Complete Guide To Colorados Wilderness Areas

Since the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964, Congress has designated 41 wilderness areas in Colorado, totaling some 3.4 million acres ranging from desert sagebrush to alpine crags. In addition, other undeveloped areas and national parklands have been proposed for wilderness status. In its newly revised second edition, The Complete Guide to Colorado's Wilderness Areas continues to serve as the foremost guide to these magnificent wild places.

Discover 69 wilderness areas--including seven new ones--showcasing everything from mountains to canyons, rushing rivers to desert landscapesA comprehensive guide to Colorado's wild areas Totally updated and revised Includes 74 maps and 90 photosMuch has changed in the landscape of Colorado's wilderness designations since the first edition of this book appeared in 1992. At the newly designated Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, visitors peer into the depths of this narrow canyon that drops 2,000 feet to the Gunnison River below--and some choose to follow rugged backcountry routes down to the inner canyon. A trail in Spanish Peaks Wilderness, established in 2000, leads up one of these twin sentinels that rise above the edge of the high plains. Nestled at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and standing up to 750 feet high, the dunes of the newly enlarged Great Sand Dunes National Monument and Preserve are the tallest in the Western Hemisphere. Other recent additions to Colorado's protected lands include the Castle Peak Wilderness Study Area, Bull Gulch Wilderness Study Area, San Luis Hills Wilderness Study Area, and Demaree Canyon Wilderness Area. Colorado is one of the nation's primary adventure-travel destinations, and both visitors and locals will find this book the most all-inclusive reference available to the state's wildness areas. From the state's high peaks to its spectacular canyons and deserts, Exploring Colorado's Wild Areas provides detailed information on seasons, flora and fauna, geology, history and activities.

Lace up your boots and head into Colorado's rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains to explore this spine of soaring peaks that stand more than a mile above the San Luis and Wet Mountain Valleys. Here you'll discover plunging creeks, gorges cut from chunky conglomerate, and valleys where elk, bighorn sheep, coyote, and cougar live. Climb Kit Carson Mountain, Crestone Needle, or Blanca Peak; hike Black Canyon or Wild Cherry Creek. Wander the Great Sand Dunes National Park, which has the tallest dunes in North America. Local hiker and outdoor writer Lee Hart will introduce you to these trails and many more. Inside you'll find: up-to-date trail information; accurate directions to wilderness trails; difficulty ratings; topographic trail maps; zero-impact tips. Whether you are planning a day hike or an extended backpacking trip, you'll find trails suited to every ability and interest in one of the most beautiful regions of Colorado.

Colorado's largest wilderness is a special mix of high alpine peaks, wildflowers, wildlife, and lakes. Written for everyone from beginners to experts, the author describes 36 trails and/or recommended trips, ranging from easy day hikes to long backpacking trips. In addition to trail descriptions, there are all-important chapters on safety, trail etiquette, weather, backcountry essentials, hiking with children, wilderness ethics, and natural history.

A guide to 48 of Colorado's most spectacular canyon country locations, including 39 Colorado BLM Wilderness Study Areas. Awe-inspiring, high- quality color photos illustrate each entry. Entries give information on day hikes, loop hikes, destination hikes, and shuttle hikes, with directions, difficulty ratings, and descriptions of scenic areas. Most areas described do not contain marked and maintained trials. This second edition features more photos, two additional wilderness areas, topographical maps, and a special highlighted hikes feature. Pearson has been active in Colorado wilderness issues with the Sierra Club and the Colorado Environmental Coalition for 20 years; photographer John Fielder's work has been featured in some 30 exhibit-format books and guidebooks. c. Book News Inc.

!! ALL NEW CAMPGROUND GUIDE COMING IN SPRING 2010 !!

This top-selling guide is the ultimate for any angler looking for new fishing spots in Colorado. The book is packed with extensive information on where to fish within Colorado's national forests, national recreation areas, state parks, and state trust lands. It includes directions to lakes and streams, detailed maps, information about governing agencies, kinds of fish you will find, and insightful comments.

Completely revised guide to the extraordinary Colorado Trail that stretches from Denver to Durango.

A guide to day hiking and backpacking in the Uncompahgre Wilderness in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.

* The only Colorado Trail guide available for thru-hikers, day hikers, mountain bikers, trail runners, XC skiers, and horse people * 120 color pictures, 28 segment maps, elevation profiles, integrated GPS waypoints, town maps, and mountain bike detours of Wilderness areas * More than 50,000 copies sold The Colorado Trail (CT) is the premier scenic long trail in North America. It winds its way through endless fields of wildflowers to wind-swept mountain passes, from wild mountain rivers and streams to quiet trails through old growth forests. The CT crosses eight mountain ranges, seven National Forests, six Wilderness Areas, and five river systems. Starting near Denver at 5,500 feet and ending near Durango at 7,000 feet, the CT gains and loses almost 76,000 feet in elevation over 468 miles. This eighth edition of the official CT guide has all the information a thru-hiker needs to plan and complete his or her trek. New to this edition are updated GPS waypoints, maps, and rewritten descriptions for the 28 segments, as well as new photographs of spots along the segments. Each segment provides distance, elevation gain, and an overview; a list of trailhead and access points; maps needed; a list of supply points; services and accommodations; detailed trail descriptions; a map; and an elevation gain and loss chart. Additional town maps and mountain bike detour maps (around Wilderness Areas) have been added where applicable. An extensive introduction includes information on planning, supplying, safety, mountain biking, regulations, and backcountry ethics--plus chapters on Colorado Trail heritage, natural history, and geology. At the back of the book you will find a graphic summary of the trail, equipment list, ranger districts with contact information, bibliography, and index.