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.
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
What could be better than a walk through Colorado's mountains, woods, or valleys? How about a history hike? Hikers and historians Ben Fogelberg and Steve Grinstead take you there, and then take you beyond-sharing vignettes of days past to enhance these 50 walks to historic places in and around Rocky Mountain National Park, Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, La Junta, and Trinidad. View gold and silver mines in their lofty mountain perches, visit old homesteads, walk to the site of a coal-mining tragedy, explore the burn zone of the Hayman Fire, descend a canyon to discover rock art and dinosaur tracks, even climb to remnants of a crashed B-17 bomber! From mile-long strolls to crossing the flanks of fourteeners, Walking Into Colorado's Past has fun and fascinating history hikes for all ages.
Profiles of 55 great hikes along the Rocky Mountain front, from Fort Collins south to Colorado Springs. Experts and novice hikers alike will find overnights and day hikes with spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, wildflowers, and fascinating landscapes
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.
Here are forty of the best hikes within an hour’s drive of the Denver-Boulder area—from open prairies in the plains and old ranches in the foothills to crystal clear mountain streams and lakes. Whether you’re in the mood for an easy nature walk, a day-long hike, or an overnighter, this guide offers plenty to choose from: • Devil’s Backbone Loops • Trails for Dinosaur Lovers • Cheyenne Mountain State Park • Hall Ranch • Eldorado Canyon State Park • Spruce Mountain Loop • Twin Sisters Peak • Ouzel Falls and Lake Each hike features full-color photos; a brief route description; thorough directions to the trailhead and beyond (GPS coordinates included); a detailed, accurate trail map; and at-a-glance information on distance and difficulty level, hiking time, canine compatibility, and fees and permits. Inside you’ll also find Green Tips and sidebars on local lore, points of interest, tips for hiking in bear country, and the area’s incredible array of wildlife.
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
Best Easy Day Hikes Denver includes detailed maps and concise descriptions for nineteen easy-to-follow hikes in the foothills of the Front Range in and around Denver, Colorado. Explore the red-rock towers of Roxborough State Park and Red Rocks Park, walk along the broad, peaceful shores of the South Platte River, or hike to the stone ruins of the Walker House atop Mount Falcon. Look inside for: • Casual hikes to longer adventures • Hikes for everyone, including families • Mile-by-mile directions and clear trail maps • Trail Finder for best hikes for views, lake and river lovers, children, and history lovers • GPS coordinates
"Within Denver's C-470 loop, numerous trails and neighborhoods invite exploration. Includees 30 hikes throughout the urban core, including Golden, Aurora, Westminster, Arvada, Littleton, and Thornton. Special coverage of the 9 Creeks Loop, a 41-mile urban hike on Denver's best trails." -- Back cover.
