Customer Reviews

Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails, 2nd Edition

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I wasn't sure whether to order volume 1 or 2. I found this info:
Vol 1: "covers spectacular areas south of Interstate 70 including Ouray, Silverton, Telluride, Crested Butte, Aspen, Buena Vista, Vail, Leadville, Breckenridge, Idaho Springs, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Pikes Peak Region, Sangre De Cristo Mountains and Great Sand Dunes National Park."
Vol 2:"this book covers trails in Northern Colorado. Many trails are near Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins.Other trails are near Steamboat Springs, Grand Junction, Loveland, Nederland, Grand Lake, Winter Park, Central City, Rollinsville and Battlement Mesa."
I ordered volume 1 and we love it.

I've lived in Colorado since 1989 and have spent an unbelievable amount of time in the mountains here. I purchased the first edition of this book at a little gift shop at the top of Monarch Pass, gave it a permanent home in my Jeep, and I haven't looked back since. It's a fairly pricey book, but given the accuracy of the information contained within, not to mention the time and effort it takes to amass that information, it's worth every penny and then some. Mr. Wells has driven every trail personally, and the maps, presumably created from a fusion of USGS maps and personal observation are very clear and useful.

Apart from the individual trail guides, which are laid out cleverly using Colorado's ski slope difficulty symbols (green circle for easy, blue square for moderate, black diamond for difficult), there is a lucid and very in-depth introduction as well. This isn't a couple of hastily written paragraphs admonishing you to use caution and get out there and have fun, but rather a nearly 20-page essay on how to be a safe, conscientious, and well-informed backroad and trail driver. It's very useful and relevant information, thoughtfully and intelligently presented.

Bottom line: If you plan to explore Colorado's wonderful backroads and trails, buy this book, period. Give me this book, my GPS, camping supplies, food and drink, and my camera, and I could happily wander the Colorado Rockies in my Jeep for weeks!

While planning a ghosttowning trip through parts of the Rockies west of Denver recently, I cam across Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails. I thought it might be helpful and was right. I probably drove six of the trails in the book, but all were exactly as the author described them. I own a 2000 Honda Passport, and found that I could handle most of the moderate trails pretty easily, but I don't think I would attempt of the books more difficult routes. The trails are ranked by their difficulty, and again, I thought the author was correct with his rankings. The book also contains tons of helpful advice for first-timers, and great reminders and tips for proficient to advanced drivers. Why you need this book: it is the single best source for all the information it has. But, if you buy it, pick up the Delorme's Colorado map book as well. Colorado Atlas and Gazetteer Essential, and more detailed than this book when it comes to the trails. Used together, and maybe a decent GPS and you have everything you need to plan your next off road adventure.

Charles Wells books are all top-notch, and this one is certainly no exception. Charles starts out with a description of the trail, along with the type of scenery and challenges you might encounter, historic notes if worth, directions, GPS waypoints, and even availability of services such as food, fuel and camping for every trail. There is no finer author or series of trail guides available for the states covered by Mr. Well's books. My only wish is that I wish he would travel further East.

Note that there is a separate book for Northern Colorado, so check to see which one is appropriate for the part of Colorado you want to wheel.

I bought this as a gift, but wound up reading quite a bit of it. Very informative and easy to follow.

Charles Wells put together a excellent reference book for those who want to explore the mountains of Southwest Colorado. Great pictures and descriptions of the best views of Colorado. Just perfect.

My husband says this is a very good guide and to give it 5 stars.

I recently purchased this book because I was going on vacation to Breckenridge, Colorado and could not find any decent trail maps on the web. The maps,mileage, and trail difficulty descriptions were accurate. I am looking forward to more excursions using this book as a guide.

A must have book if you are planning to 4-wheel or jeep these trails. Very helpful GPS waypoints included that can be used with your GPS to mark & find highlights along the trails.

This book is the best trail guide that I have been able to find. I use an ATV as most of the trails are open for ATV's. The descriptions of the trails and directions to navigate the trail have been excellent. The distances to the turn points have been accurate. Mr. Wells is now writing books especially for ATVs and I can't wait.