The Front Range, the Central Mountains, the San Juans, and the Western Canyons

This all-new guide to hiking Colorado's trails includes the Eastern Plains, the Front Range, the Northern and Central Mountains, the San Luis Valley, the Southern and Southwestern Mountains, and Canyon Country.

Few states offer so many vastly different landscapes within such a short distance of each other. Colorado's vast, empty Eastern plains run up hard against crowded metropolitan areas on the plains below the Front Range. These low-lying cities are set snugly against a massive rise in topography--the Rocky Mountains--where the average altitude ranges from 5,000 feet to as high as 14,000 feet within a few miles. On the western side of the mountains, the land drops down into a labyrinth of sandstone canyons and sprawling, desert mesas.

Colorado provides unparalleled hiking opportunities, with 54 peaks over 14,000 feet offering sweeping vistas, rocky summits, and alpine tundra. Outdoor writer and photographer Cameron Burns has selected 50 of the best hikes for this all-new guide. Some climb high peaks, such as the Twin Lakes Trail up Mount Elbert; some visit secluded alpine lakes; some, like Petroglyph Point, lead you archeological treasures; while others, like the Great Dune hike at Sand Dunes National Monument, are classic travel destinations.

The hikes range in length from 1 to 15 miles. Each hike description includes a topographic map, mile-by-mile directions, and information on distance, difficulty, terrain, and hiking time. An overview chart makes it easy to pick a hike for every ability.

$17.95 (Can. $27.00)
0-88150-556-0
May 2003
6 x 9, 272 pages, paperback, 50 black and white illustrations, 51 maps, index