A FalconGuide to Dinosaur National Monument, 2nd (Exploring Series) [Paperback]

Bert Gildart (Author), Jane Gildart (Author)

Book Description

Series: Exploring Series | Publication Date: June 1, 2005

Fully revised, A FalconGuide to Dinosaur National Monument shows outdoor enthusiasts where to go and what to do to get the most out of their time at Dinosaur National Monument.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

For more than twenty-five years, FalconGuide® has set the standard for outdoor recreation guidebooks. Written by top outdoors experts and enthusiasts, each guide invites you to experience the endless adventure and rugged beauty of the great outdoors.
Dinosaur National Monument on the Utah-Colorado border offers an awesome collection of dinosaur fossils, strikingly beautiful canyons, mysterious prehistoric rock art, and geological formations that span millions of years. Use A FalconGuide® to Dinosaur National Monument to explore the park's 330 square miles and discover the best scenic vistas and wilderness experiences in this remarkable and ancient landscape.

Look inside to find:
comprehensive information about Douglass Dinosaur Quarry
facts about the area's history, flora and fauna, and weather
detailed maps, trail descriptions, driving tours, and nature hikes
options for running the Green River and the Yampa River
lists of monument contacts, commercial raft companies, and shuttle services

About the Author

Bert and Jane Gildart are hikers, writers, and photographers specializing in outdoor recreation. They live in Bigfork, Montana.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Falcon; 2nd edition (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762736496
• ISBN-13: 978-0762736492
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #205,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Travel > United States > States > Utah
  • #19 in Books > Travel > United States > States > Colorado

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative but only marginally inspiring, October 4, 2009

By 

D Swaney (Big Lake, AK USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A FalconGuide to Dinosaur National Monument, 2nd (Exploring Series) (Paperback)

First, it's important to say that I'd recommend this book to anyone planning a trip to Dinosaur National Monument, especially for those wanting to make the most of the limited trail system and the more difficult and logistically-fraught river trips. However, Dinosaur is an incredible corner of the planet and the hollow writing in this book does little to inspire prospective visitors. It's almost as if the authors, who clearly know the area well, lack any sort of spiritual connection with the place. In short, for nuts and bolts information, it's great, but don't rely on it for inspiration.

4.0 out of 5 stars A useful introduction to Dinosaur NM, February 24, 2011

By 

Arthur Digbee (Indianapolis, IN, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A FalconGuide to Dinosaur National Monument, 2nd (Exploring Series) (Paperback)

First, some background. I've been to Dinosaur twice, first as a kid and then as an adult with tween kids. We spent most of two days there, on the auto tours, nature walks, and short hikes along the southern part of the park. I'd like to get back and visit the less-accessible regions, as well as heading off into the backcountry.

The book consists of several parts: a brief overview and some tips on desert hiking, an introduction to the fossil quarry and the region's many pieces of rock art, a guide to driving tours in both the mostly-paved frontcountry and the mostly-unpaved remoter areas, guides to the nature hikes and hiking trails, and information about running the rivers.

I can confirm that the information is accurate for the frontcountry drives, nature walks, and hikes. As a result, I would be comfortable using this book to plan auto trips to the more remote areas, and taking the marked trails. The writing is not inspirational, but it is informative, and it will get you around. Unless you plan to stay only in the frontcountry, you'll also want the Trails Illustrated Map #220, which the Gildarts also recommend.

The book isn't much help for my off-trail backcountry planning. I know of some web resources to help there. If you are looking for advice on exploring trail-less canyons and washes this is not the book for you, aside from general background information.

The last section is a bit unusual in such guide books. Rather than being a "guide," it consists of their stories of running the Green and Yampa rivers. This makes the book more personal, confronting their own fears over some rapids, and so forth. It also has the effect of making the section seem less "authoritative." Given how much river levels can change, the Gildarts made a reasonable choice here - - their trip was unique, and yours will be, too.