Exploring Colorado's Wild Areas: A Guide for Hikers, Backpackers, Climbers, Xc Skiers, & Paddlers

This comprehensive guidebook directs you to 66 Colorado wilderness areas, national parks, wildlife refuges, and nature preserves. Includes information on recreational pursuits, climate, flora and fauna, geology, and human history. 70 photographs. 70 maps.

Everyone's heard of Rocky Mountain National Park--its too-many-to-count 10,000-foot-plus peaks, its myriad hikes to lakes, waterfalls, and vistas--but did you know Colorado boasts a total of 39 wilderness areas, four national monuments, and a second national park (Mesa Verde)? Did you know that along with the bones of Allosaurus and Stegosaurus, Dinosaur National Monument boasts a geographically varied and awe-inspiring backcountry?

Conveniently divided into four sections (the northern, central, and southern mountains, along with the plateau region), this guidebook provides essential information for making the most of your trip to Colorado's varied landscape. For each area, the author provides brief synopses about the area (location, size, terrain, elevation, etc.) along with information on seasonal variations, flora and fauna, history, and outdoor activities. Detailed maps and a healthy array of photographs round out the overall high quality of this handy guide.

Whether you're a hiker, backpacker, climber, skier, or paddler, this is a book you'll surely want to consult for your next adventure in the wilds of Colorado.