The Essential Guide to Great Sand Dunes
National Park and Preserve
By Charlie and Diane Winger
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. Slide 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!
"Medano and Sand Creeks' journeys
through so many of North America's ecosystems
- tundra, subalpine evergreen and aspen
forest, ponderosa pine groves, pinyon-juniper
woodlands, cottowood riparian areas, dunes,
grasslands and wetlands - now take place
within an area managed by the National Park
Service, protected for all future generations
to enjoy and study. At Great Sand Dunes,
the opportunity to see wildlife from these
starkly contrasting ecosystems - sometimes
in a single view - is yet another reason
why this unique park is one of national
and international significance."
- National Park Service
The goal with this guide has been to provide
a definitive resource that any visitor to
the Park and Preserve can use. Whether you
are a hiker, climber, backpacker, equestrian,
mountain biker, camper, photographer, 4WD
enthusiast, bird watcher, or dunes snowboarder,
you'll find the information you need in
this guide to pursue your adventures in
the Park and Preserve. Even if you need
to limit your explorations to just a stop
at the Visitor Center, our chapters on the
fascinating natural and human history of
this unique place will help you understand
why our nation has chosen to protect it
as one of our crown jewels. And beyond the
boundaries of the Park and Preserve are
other opportunities to experience the magic
of this special corner of the Colorado Rockies.
Use this guide to explore the rich heritage
and culture of the San Luis Valley or to
climb to the heights of the Sangre de Cristo
Mountains for an eagle's eye view of this
recreational paradise.
- 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.
- Recommended by Friends of the Dunes, the
all-volunteer stewards of the Great Sand
Dunes.
- With a Foreword from the National Park
Service.
The Wingers live within 50 miles of the
Great Sand Dunes near Beulah, Colorado and
are the authors of "Highpoint Adventures:
The Complete Guide to the 50 State Highpoints"
(Colorado Mountain Club Press: 2002). Charlie
Winger began hiking and climbing in the
mid-seventies when he moved to Colorado
and has developed strong mountaineering
skills. Diane Winger hikes and rock climbs
extensively in Colorado, although her favorite
outdoor activity is trekking.
240 pages, 6" x 9", 40 color
maps, 210 full-color photos, paperbound,
$19.95, ISBN 0-9724413-1-X
|
