Hiking Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Wilderness (Hiking Guide Series) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This hiking guide to the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness offers more than 70 hikes to explore the length of the range. Additional information on geology, history, and wildlife round out this superb guidebook.

From the Back Cover

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; or just wander the Great Sand Dunes National Monument. Local hiker and outdoor writer Jason Moore 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 Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Wilderness.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Falcon; 1st edition (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762711086
• ISBN-13: 978-0762711086
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #828,733 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Average Guide Book, April 27, 2006

By	Richard Eltzroth (Cotopaxi, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having been on a number of these trails in the Colorado Sangre de Cristo Mountains, I can compare my actual field experiences with the book. The trailhead locations as well as the key points along the trails and the trail lengths are fairly accurate. The included maps are fair. Trail descriptions are brief but usually acceptable.

One major omission is that most of the trails in the Sangre de Cristos are in a continual state of major deterioration due to the fact that the Forest Service refuses to do any significant trail maintenance. The trails that are designated as acceptable for motorized vehicles (those not in the actual Wilderness designated areas) are extremely rough and dangerous with boulders, major ruts, debris, and reverse cross slopes. People have actually been killed on these unmaintained disasters (Hayden Pass). Even the much described Rainbow Trail, which is supposedly acceptable for ATVs, is basically a mess (its too narrow for most ATVs and covered with large loose rocks).

So be aware that what the author saw when he was on these trails several years ago may not be necessarily as passable as it is when you attempt the same trail due to the continued deterioration.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, thorough book, September 15, 2009

By	cowgirl in Colorado "Pam" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

I was familiar with the book through a friend. Very complete, thorough in it's descriptions.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Where's the FUN?, September 19, 2003

By A Customer

While I was happy to have a book listing numerous hikes in an often-overlooked area of Colorado, this guide is rather sparse in its descriptions of each hike. "Walk this far, turn east, walk that far..."
I just discovered a new guidebook for the Great Sand Dunes (and surrounding hikes in the Sangres) by C & D Winger. It has fewer hikes listed than in Moore's book, but the details, color photos, maps, and level of enthusiasm for what you'll see on each hike makes me much more likely to try out the hikes. I'm doing this for the FUN, after all!