Best Hikes Near Denver and Boulder

Here are forty of the best hikes within an hour 's drive of the Denver-Boulder area-from open grasslands in the plains and old ranches in the foothills to crystal-clear mountain streams and lakes. whether you are in the mood for an easy nature walk, a daylong hike or an overnighter, this guide offers plenty to choose from. 

Includes full color photos and maps, comprehensive route descriptions, at a glance information on distance, difficulty level, hiking time, fees, permits and canine compatibility. 

Best Loop Hikes Colorado

by Steve Johnson and David Weinstein

60 loop hikes accessible from metro areas including Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Boulder. Includes topo maps and photos. Degree of difficulty and directions to trail heads. Get out and explore!

Best Wildflower Hikes Colorado 

by Chris Kassar

Best Wildflower Hikes Colorado is your guide for exploring the wildflowers the state has to offer. Informative and fun, this guide includes detailed hike descriptions, maps, and color photos of some of the state's most scenic wildflower hikes. Encompassing state and national parks, forests, monuments and wilderness areas, this guide leads hikers to remote corners to view spectacular wildflowers. 

Colorado Waterfall Hikes

by Sandy Heise

Colorado has thousands of stunning waterfalls, many of all skill levels. Some are quite close to the trailhead while others require a full day of hiking. Colorado Waterfall Hikes guides you on fifty of the best hikes for experiencing the beauty of cascading water and lush habitats. In addition to the wonderful falls, you will see an abundance of birds, mammals, and wildflowers. Detailed descriptions get you to the trailhead, provide insight into the area, and help you find your way.

Hiking Colorado's Front Range

by Bob D'Antonio

Lace up your boots and sample sixty of the finest trails that the northern foothills have to offer. Situated between low-lying plains and towering mountain peaks, the front range provides varied scenery and terrain. Choose from easy day hikes around Boulder, exhilarating summit ascents near Denver, wild-country explorations near Fort Collins, picnic outings near Estes Park, and excursions with the kids around Colorado Springs. 

Road Biking Colorado

by Robert Hurst

Who says you have to travel far from home to go on a great ride? Road Biking Colorado features forty of the state's best road biking routes, from the foothills of Boulder to the red cliffs of Grand Junction. Complete with GPS coordinates, detailed mile-by-mile directions, history, and intimate details of what you'll see along the way, this guide is perfect for the recreational rider. Also included are color maps and photos, safety tips and notes on local attractions.

Roadside Geology of Colorado Third Edition 

by Felicie Williams and Halka Chronic

The third edition of this popular guide is now even better-it's full color. Colorado's multihued rocks- from white and red sandstones to green shales and pink granite's- are vividly splashed across the pages in stunning color photographs. Detailed color maps and diagrams clearly distill the state's complex bedrock geology. Updated text information about new discoveries, such as the mastodons and other Pleistocene fossils found at Snowmass, and new parks, such as Chimney Rock National Monument. Roadside Geology of Colorado us a must-have for any Colorado rock enthusiast! 

The Periodic Table of Wine

by Sarah Rowlands

The Periodic Table of Wine is a fun, concise, and creatively geeky approach to wine appreciation. Instead of elements like hydrogen and helium populating a traditional chart, you'll find Riesling, Shiraz, and 125 other wines. Organized by their essential color, aroma, and flavor properties, from white to rose to red, and including sparkling, fortified, and a sweet wines, too the "elements" are arranged to offer an overview of how different styles of the world's wines relate to one another. If you like one wine in the table, you can discover other options situated around it that you will probably also enjoy. 

In addition to the expert logic of the organization, the book includes substantial descriptions and backgrounds of each wine, and frequently, food pairing suggestions. The result is an engaging pocket guide that makes navigating wine lists and store shelves hassle-free and easy for anyone.