Best Summit Hikes in Colorado - 3rd Edition by James Dziezynski (Paperback)

About the Book

"Now in full color, this guide to the Rocky Mountains covers all of Colorado's major ranges, including the Front, Sangre de Cristo, Sawatch, San Juan, and Mosquito & Ten Mile ranges. It includes some of the most famous peaks (Longs), some of the toughest (Storm King), and some of the most remote (Lone Cone). You'll climb the highest mountain in the state; visit the ruins of a town flattened by an avalanche; hunt for fossilized seashells more than two miles above sea level; and enjoy countless scrambles, ridge walks, and traverses through Colorado's stunning alpine scenery"--

Book Synopsis

Summit Colorado mountains by hiking to the peaks!

In the Rocky Mountains, hikers can experience the adrenaline rush of a mountain climber! Let James Dziezynski guide you along 55 of Colorado's top summit hikes. Conquer some of the most famous peaks (Longs), some of the toughest (Storm King), and some of the most remote (Lone Cone). The expert author leads you to countless breathtaking views, and his spirited descriptions reveal why each trip ranks among the very best.

Now in full color, this inspiring guide covers all of Colorado's major ranges, including Front, Sangre de Cristo, Sawatch, San Juan, Mosquito, and Tenmile. You'll stand atop the highest mountain in the state; visit the ruins of a town flattened by an avalanche; hunt for fossilized seashells more than two miles above sea level; and enjoy countless scrambles, ridge walks, and traverses through Colorado's stunning alpine scenery.

Each hike includes:

• Topographic map with GPS waypoints and elevation profile


• Difficulty and class ratings tailored to Colorado's unique terrain


• Optional routes for further exploration


• Fascinating trivia and history

"There is so much of Colorado that is still wild and lonely, and James Dziezynski takes you there in this book. And because he has spent so much time figuring these trips out from a logistical standpoint, it's an easy guidebook to follow. You have a guide whose passion for the high peaks makes the climb up even more enjoyable."
-Doug Schnitzspahn, Elevation Outdoors

Review Quotes

"Best Summit Hikes in Colorado details non-technical scrambles up 14ers in every Colorado mountain range. Each route Dziezynski selected sets itself apart with notable features, including the site of a ghost town, a waterfall, an airplane wreck, a great meadow for wildflowers or wildlife spotting."

-Boulder Weekly

"This great book covers some of Colorado's unsung hikes. I appreciate the lively detail and stories about natural and human history. I'd even read it sitting in my armchair!"

--Susan LeFever, former director, Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter

"There is so much of Colorado that is still wild and lonely, and James Dziezynski takes you there in this book. And because he has spent so much time figuring these trips out from a logistical standpoint, it's an easy guidebook to follow. You have a guide whose passion for the high peaks makes the climb up even more enjoyable."

--Doug Schnitzspahn, Elevation Outdoors

About the Author

James Dziezynski is the author of several Colorado mountain hiking guidebooks. He is currently an editor at Outside Inc., where he works on publications such as Outside, Backpacker, and Trail Runner. He is a graduate of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he studied literature and philosophy, and is also a graduate of NOLS. James lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife, Sheila.