The Essential Guide to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (Jewels of the Rockies) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "A long with the National Park Service and Sandy, the Great Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle, the authors wish to welcome you to the Great Sand..." (more)
Key Phrases: crestone conglomerate, escape dunes, great sand dunes tiger beetle, Sand Creek, San Luis Valley, Medano Creek (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

[This guide] should be the first place you...to plan your trip. -- Friends of the Dunes Newsletter

Product Description

Nowhere else in North America do alpine tundra, tall forests of evergreen and aspen, and massive desert dunes meet so dramatically as in our nation's newest crown jewel. This book is your essential guide to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Camping, wildlife viewing, hiking, backpacking, climbing, mountain biking, dunes snowboarding--the recreational opportunities at "The Dunes" are endless. Slides down the highest sand dunes on the continent, backpack to a pristine high-country lake or climb one of Colorado's legendary 14,000-foot peaks. Soak in a hot springs pool beneath the stars, tour a working bison ranch or experience an alligator farm!

*Color-coded tabs and activity symbols make it quick and easy for you to find the information you need.

*Detailed trail and route descriptions for over 30 hikes, plus info for bikers, mountain climbers, equestrians, and 4WD enthusiasts.

*Packed with over 40 maps, information charts and hundreds of stunning photos--all in full-color.

*Enjoy complete park planning information, including facilities, camping, lodging, and safety and equipment tips.

*Dozens of close-by activities and fun attractions that will interest anyone, plus fascinating natural and cultural history.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: Colorado Mountain Club Press (July 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097244131X
• ISBN-13: 978-0972441315
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,304 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Books > Travel > United States > States > Colorado > Rocky Mountain National Park
  #4 in	Books > Travel > Guidebook Series > Essential
  #84 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Hiking & Camping > Camping

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Evaluation of the Great Sand Dunes National Park guide book, August 11, 2003

By	Bud Norlin (Wichita, Kansas) - See all my reviews

The Essential Guide to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is absolutely the best I have ever seen. It is extremely well organized and very informative. The authors did an outstanding job of providing area history along with available facilities and activities. They also included detailed maps, safety considerations and overviews of the various ecosystems. The photography is inspirational throughout each section of the book. I found it to be very entertaining and easy to read.

Sincerely,
Bud Norlin

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wingers have a Winner!, August 18, 2003

By	Dave Covill (Evergreen, CO United States) - See all my reviews

Charlie & Diane have surprised the hiking public once again with their great new guide to the Sand Dunes. Soon to be declared a National Park, this full color book is set up in easy to understand color-coded sections, a first that I have seen. It is focused on a small area, so understandably goes into great detail, something many guidebooks can not do as they pretend to cover a huge aray of peaks, or trails, or entire state or regional hiking concepts. If you like getting every last bit of info on a cool place like Sand Dunes, well, this is your book. You will probably wake up with some grit in your teeth, but that's OK, sand is the name of the game here.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (GSDNP&P), August 9, 2003

By	Burton Falk (Palm Desert, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having read and reviewed many a guidebook, I can say without hesitation that GSDNP&P is one of the best I've yet to come across. Indeed, its closest competition may come from the Wingers' HIGHPOINT ADVENTURES, a guide to climbing (or, in some cases, driving up) the summits of the fifty States.

Charlie and Diane Winger must have enjoyed researching and writing this book--that's obvious as its so much fun to read. Covering vitually every conceivable aspect of the National Mounument (which is expected to become a National Park shortly)--natural and cultural history, park facilities, hiking, climbing, biking, fishing--there's never a dull moment, with maps, insets and photos galore.

Although I haven't been to the Park personally, after reading the Winger's paean to the area, I'm planning to do so as soon as possible.