Best Summit Hikes in Colorado: The Only Guide You'll Ever Need―50 Classic Routes and 90+ Summits

Not that James Dziezynski's book needs another five star review, but I can't resist.Two things make this book a standout:1) The complete description of each hike, with detailed maps, way points, and often, pictures. His ratings are clear, and his multi-point classifications (distance, difficulty, class, etc. - all fully explained) really tell the whole story. After reading a hike description here, you'll have as good an idea of what you are getting into as you can without having walked the trail yourself. And best of all Dziezynski makes sure you can find the trailhead (don't laugh, you'd be surprised how difficult it can sometimes be). His descriptions should be a model for all trail guide writers.2) The choice of hikes is interesting, eclectic, and makes you want to explore areas in Colorado you may not have been before. I've lived in the state off and on for over 20 years, and I'd read a hike description here, scratch my head, and take out my map ('Colorado Road & Recreation Atlas' from Benchmark Maps - an excellent companion to this or any Colorado hiking guide) to figure out just where here is talking about. Better still: its one thing to read a hike description that makes you want to get your boots on; its another to inspire you to find more in the area. Dziezynski does both, admirably.Quibbles?Sure, if you insist. There is a bit of a Front Range bias in his choices (but hey, that's where most folks live). And this is a book for people who have put a few miles on. The self-identified easiest hike here is Hahns Peak (rising to 10,839' from the trailhead, taking up to 4 hours). Even some of middle level hikes are beyond my abilities (but they sure are fun to read).Don't put too much stock in these halfhearted jibes. If you are only going to buy one basic hiking guide to Colorado, this should be a top contender.And Mr. Dziezynski, its been almost five years, this book needs a sequel.

This book is awesome. I'm glad that this book doesn't buy into the arbitrary 14er (14,000+ feet peaks) craze but at the same time includes 14ers if they are worthy based on the merits of the route. Every hike that I have done in this book has been beautiful and in some way unique. I think I've done around ten so far. I didn't want to write a review because I'm selfish and wanted to keep the hikes less crowded but that is mean so I'm writing one anyway:) I made videos of two of the hikes. One hike I summitted and the other one I only made half way due to the weather. Thanks a lot, James! Links for the video are under the comments.

I purchased this guide a year ago. I found it extremely helpful, largely because it includes GPS waypoints and accurate maps. Another thing I like about the book is the peaks it recommends aren't simply the 14ers. It recommended others for their beauty or features. For example, I followed the book's recommendation to check out Bison Peak, a 12,000-foot-plus peak in the Lost Creek Wilderness that was topped with very unusual rock formations we explored for hours. It didn't have the crowds that I've found on the 14ers. I plan to check out more Colorado Peaks in 2012.

Have used this book for scouting and our family for a couple of years now. Everything is accurate and great pictures too. I just hope the book gets an update in a couple of years. Two campsites were closed last year that I wanted to visit and was not noted in the book since it is a coupe of years old. Still one of the best I have ever found!

I really enjoyed the style of writing and reading the descriptions of all the summit hikes. I'll probably only get a chance to do 1 or 2 in my lifetime, seeing how I live in Florida. I am going to Colorado soon and wanted to immerse myself in as much knowledge of the state and hiking as I could. My only complaint is that I think that the author should have left out the hikes on the mountains that are revered by the Navajo people. They really don't want us all to be climbing all over their sacred places. There are plenty of other places that could have been substituted for these sacred mountains.