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.

* Guidebook to hiking, biking, or climbing in the stunning Sangre de Cristo Mountains. * Details unlimited recreational opportunities for the park's 225,000 annual visitors * 210 color photographs and 40 color maps * Color-coded tabs and activity symbols for quick reference Nowhere else in North America do alpine tundra, tall forests of evergreen and aspen, and massive desert dunes meet so dramatically as in our nation's newest crown jewel. This book is the essential guide to one of the nation's newest national parks. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve earned this status in 2003, and became an instant treasure both for Coloradans and vacationers everywhere.

This guide is a comprehensive guide for all the peaks over 13,000' in the Colorado Sangre de Cristo Mountains. With varying ascents from hikes, scrambles, snow climbs, and technical routes, there are plenty of options for anyone who wishes to seek alpine adventure.

On January 1 of 2016, Stefanie Payne, a creative professional working at NASA Headquarters, and Jonathan Irish, a photographer with National Geographic, left their lives in Washington, D.C. and hit the open road on an expedition to explore and document all 59 of America's national parks during the centennial celebration of the U.S. National Park Service - 59 parks in 52 weeks - the Greatest American Road Trip. Captured in more than 300,000 digital photographs, written stories, and videos shared by the national and international media, their project resulted in an incredible view of America's National Park System seen in its 100th year. 'A Year in the National Parks, The Greatest American Road Trip' is a gorgeous visual journey through our cherished public lands, detailing a rich tapestry of what makes each park special, as seen along an epic journey to visit them all within one special celebratory year.

"Experienced outdoor enthusiasts and those lacing-up their boots for their first time: prepare to hike the diverse American landscape. Whether aiming to conquer epic expeditions, or simply complete a day hike to recharge, paths of every size await the intrepid wayfarer in Wanderlust USA, a book that serves as a blueprint for adventurous souls in search of new summits."--Amazon.com

Lace up your boots and sample fifty of the finest trails Colorado has to offer. This hiker's paradise offers not only rugged peaks and crystal clear alpine lakes, but also historic ruins and magnificent canyons. View the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park, journey to Colorado's highest point at the top of Mount Elbert, hike beneath immense sandstone cliffs in Devils Canyon, or step back in time to North America's largest dinosaur track site. Veteran hiker, Master of Leave No Trace, and outdoor writer Maryann Gaug will introduce you to these trails and more. Inside you'll find: detailed shaded relief maps, GPS waypoint coordinates for each hike, accurate route profiles showing the ups and downs of each hike, tips on equipment, trip planning, and hiking with dogs and children, accurate directions, difficulty ratings, trail contacts, and more. Whether you are a day-tripper or long-distance hiker, old hand or novice, come explore the wonders of our nation's highest state -- on foot!

Explore the traces of the rise and fall of Colorado's mountains, volcanic eruptions, shifting seas, wind-blown deserts, and dinosaur haunts. This new destination guide offers understanding of the many unique and spectacular geologic formations of Colorado. 8-page color photo insert. 80 b&w photos. 14 maps.