Hiking Colorado's Geology


Book Description

* 50 hikes reveal Colorado's geologic history and diversity * Trailside Geology section offers advice for practical study on the trail Erupting volcanoes, shifting seas, the icy embrace of giant glaciers, haunts of the dinosaurs: it's all here in Hiking Colorado's Geology. In 50 hikes, you'll see first-hand evidence of the most dramatic geologic events that created and continue to shape the terrain of this beautiful state. You'll benefit, too, from the authors' long experience as guides and lecturers, sharing their passion for the natural world. The guide is easy to use, with each hike headlined with the geologic features profiled. You'll also find an introductory section on geologic principles you'll see on the trail.




Hiking Colorado's Geology


Book Description

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.




Hiking the Southwest's Geology


Book Description

Hiking the Southwest's Geology: Four Corners Region takes curious hikers on a journey through time that explores the Colorado Plateau-an immense land of canyons, mesas, and isolated mountain ranges in the American Southwest. Hopkins' stunning color photography brings the Four Corners Region to life in dazzling detail.




Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau


Book Description

Imagine seeing the varied landscapes of the earth as they used to look throughout hundreds of millions of years of earth history. Tropical seas lap on the shores of an Arizona beach. Immense sand dunes shift and swirl in Sahara-like deserts in Utah and New Mexico. Ancient rivers spill from a mountain range in Colorado that was a precursor to the modern Rockies. Such flights of geologic fancy are now tangible through the thought-provoking and beautiful paleogeographic maps, reminiscent of the maps in world atlases we all paged through as children, of Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau.Ron Blakey of Northern Arizona University is one of the world's foremost authorities on the geologic history of the Colorado Plateau. For more than fifteen years, he has meticulously created maps that show how numerous past landscapes gave rise to the region's stunning geologic formations. Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau is the first book to showcase Blakey's remarkable work. His maps are accompanied by text by Wayne Ranney, geologist and award-winning author of Carving Grand Canyon. Ranney takes readers on a fascinating tour of the many landscapes depicted in the maps, and Blakey and Ranney's fruitful collaboration brings the past alive like never before.Features: More than 70 state-of-the-art paleogeographic maps of the region and of the world, developed over many years of geologic research Detailed yet accessible text that covers the geology of the plateau in a way nongeologists can appreciate More than 100 full-color photographs, diagrams, and illustrations A detailed guide of where to go to see the spectacular rocks of the region







Hiking Colorado's Western Slope


Book Description

On Colorado’s Western Slope, stunning geological features and awe-inspiring scenery create a unique hiking experience unlike any other. This revised edition of Hiking Colorado’s Western Slope provides concise descriptions and detailed maps for over 50 of the state’s finest trails west of the Great Divide. Veteran hiker and author of Best Easy Day Hikes: Grand Junction and Fruita, Bill Haggerty, recommends his favorite routes—from short day walks to backcountry treks through the Western Slope’s spectacular landscape, including hikes near Aspen, Vail, the Flat Tops Wilderness, Steamboat Springs, Crested Butte and Gunnison, Ouray, Telluride, Grand Junction, and more. Inside you'll find Hikes suited to every ability GPS-compatible trail maps and route profiles Mile-by-mile directional cues Difficulty ratings, average hiking times, best hiking seasons, and more




The Colorado Trail


Book Description

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







Base Camp Denver: 101 Hikes in Colorado's Front Range


Book Description

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




Colorado Rocks!


Book Description

"To discover the geologic novelties of the Centennial State, all that is required is a good map, a sense of adventure, and Colorado Rocks, a guide to 50 of the most compelling geologic sites in Colorado. The well-chosen destinations span the state's geologic history from Precambrian rocks of the Black Canyon to the modern shifting landscape of the Great Sand Dunes. Many of these sites are on every geologist's bucket list. The Great Unconformity, a famous geologic feature tucked away in remote locations in other western states, pops up at seven sites and in many cases is not even the site's main focus. The K-Pg boundary that marks the asteroid impact that ended the reign of the dinosaurs is also here, as are insects exquisitely preserved at Florissant Fossil Beds, the pure white marble used in the Lincoln Memorial, mysterious Unaweep Canyon that lacks a river, and colorful mounds of silicious sinter at Pagosa Springs. Rocks are more readily accessible in Colorado than anywhere else in North America because some of the continent's biggest rivers-the Colorado, Rio Grande, Arkansas, and Platte-claim the towering peaks as their headwaters and cut deep canyons through the ancient rocks. In the 1800s prospectors found an abundance of precious metals in the mountains. Their camps soon became towns, and narrow wagon roads became major highways that now permit easy access to Colorado's fascinating geology. With beautiful photographs and informative figures and maps, this guidebook will help you select a destination and head for the door"--