Paddling Colorado: A Guide to the State's Best Paddling Routes (Paddling Series) [Paperback]

Dunbar Hardy (Author)

Book Description

Series: Paddling Series | Publication Date: May 19, 2009

Paddling Colorado describes thirty-four trips in a remarkable variety of settings—from downtown Denver to the remote canyons of the Dolores River.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Colorado may be a skier’s paradise, but once the snow melts, it makes an abrupt transition into an exciting home for paddlers. Countless lakes and reservoirs offer flatwater paddling with mountain views in every direction. And there are stretches of river perfect for everyone: learning-appropriate sections for beginners, quality areas sure to thrill intermediates, and, yes, some of the most challenging whitewater anywhere on earth. Paddling Colorado describes thirty-four trips in a remarkable variety of settings—from downtown Denver to the remote canyons of the Dolores River. Offering whatever style of paddling you most enjoy, this guide shows the way to the best paddling opportunities in the state.

 

Look inside to find:

• Detailed river descriptions
• Maps showing access points and river miles
• Level of difficulty, optimal flows, rapids, and other hazards
• Who to call for up-to-the-minute information on floating conditions

About the Author

Dunbar Hardy, whose articles and photographs have appeared in National Geographic Adventure, Outside, and Canoe and Kayak, is recognized as one of the most experienced and accomplished expedition paddlers/leaders in the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Falcon; First edition (May 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762745207
• ISBN-13: 978-0762745203
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #559,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The guide book for the rest of us...., November 27, 2009

By 

George Marsden "Master of the Moderate" (Los Alamos, NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Paddling Colorado: A Guide to the State's Best Paddling Routes (Paddling Series) (Paperback)

This book looks to be a good choice for those of us looking for rivers in Colorado with Class 1 - 3 ratings. Most of the other current guidebooks are focused on Class 3 - 5, which rules out most of us casual boaters. The information on rivers I am familiar with seems accurate and I have found a bunch of runs I want to try out next spring and summer.

On thing that appears to have been omitted in some of the description is contact info for land management agencies when a permit is required. This can probably be found pretty easily online, but it is still an oversight.

The section on lakes looks good for canoeing/kayaking but it's small size really emphasizes that paddling an CO is all about the rivers.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre and incomplete information, April 27, 2010

By 

J. Cain "rocknerd" (Western CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Paddling Colorado: A Guide to the State's Best Paddling Routes (Paddling Series) (Paperback)

I bought this book to provide me with ideas for local float trips. I've been a river guide in Colorado for more than 20 years, and found the information on runs that I knew quite slim, and commonly misleading (eg: to say the Granite Gorge of the Arkansas is a class II-III run is going to get someone hurt! III-IV is more appropriate, and no mention of the mandatory portage at the diversion dam!).
In addition, there is no information what-so-ever about runs harder than class III (e.g.: on the Arkansas: Numbers, Royal Gorge, Pine Creek are not in the book).
Several of our local runs on the Uncompaghre are not even in the book, but floating Chatfield reservoir is.
Overall, this book is probably ok for inexperienced canoeists, mostly because they'll probably never find the put in with the directions provided. but don't trust the grades that are given.