Canyon Country

* More than 100 hikes included * Includes lesser-visited Dinosaur National Monument, Salinas National Monument, Snow Canyon State Park, and northern San Rafael Swel, as well as the major parks and wilderness areas * Includes trips in more recently designated national monuments and wilderness areas such as Grand Staircase-Escalante, Canyons of the Ancients, Black Ridge Canyons, and more Hiking the Southwest Canyon Country will take you from the Colorado Plateau to the Grand Canyon to the banks of the Rio Grande. Perfect for hikers off all levels, this guidebook features trips that highlight the dramatic scenery of the Four Corners Region, from waterfalls and natural bridges to slot canyons. Each itinerary offers options such as day hikes, backpacking trips, scenic drives, raft trips, and visits to archaeological sites. You'll find a "Best Places Adventure Chart" that compares features of hikes such as rock art, arches, and serene rivers.

Ten thousand years ago, the California condor's shadowraced across the rock faces of canyon walls throughout theSouthwest, but, over time, the majestic condor disappearedfrom this land--seemingly forever. Last seen in northernArizona in 1924, the California condor was on the brink ofextinction. In the early 1980s, scientists documented onlytwenty-two condors remaining in the wild, all in California.Thanks to a successful captive-breeding program, theirnumbers have increased dramatically, and dozens now flyfree over northern Arizona and southern Utah. Sophie A. H. Osborn's groundbreaking book, Condors inCanyon Country, tells the tragic but ultimately triumphantstory of the condors of the Grand Canyon region. A naturalstoryteller, Osborn has written an in-depth, highly personalnarrative that brings you along as the author and othercondor biologists struggle to ensure the survival of thespecies. The book's kaleidoscopic photographs of thesehuge birds flying free over the Southwest are nearly asbreathtaking as seeing California condors live. The onlybook of its kind, Condors in Canyon Country is a must-readfor anyone passionate about endangered species and whathumankind can do to save them.

This vast rock desert in southeastern Utah showcases deep, colorful canyons, majestic natural monuments pictured in western movies, a fantasy land of towering pinnacles and slot canyons, rock arches and bridges, and breathtaking vistas atop mesas. Much can be seen by car, and more of this endlessly intriguing country is accessible by foot, mountain bike, four-wheel-drive vehicle, or watercraft. You do not have to be a geologist to enjoy or interpret the scenery, for the rocks easily divulge their stories of forming in seas or on land, in deserts or in deltas, in rivers or along beaches. What a fascinating heritage: dinosaurs once sauntered through lush lowlands leaving huge footprints in mud that has now turned to rock, vast sand dunes that drifted across the area are preserved as large sweeping lines in sandstone walls, and oceans that once covered this region left fossilized corals and seashells embedded in limestone. This guide introduces you to the rocks’ stories, to enhance your travels and your appreciation of the region. Along designated scenic byways, which are portrayed at the end of this pamphlet, look for the specific features described here and learn what their journey has been as you make yours. During your visit, tread lightly on this delicate land so that the pristine and unique landscape remains unchanged. Desert soils are extremely fragile; minimize your impact by staying on roads or marked trails.

Visit pueblo ruins, admire striking arches, stroll through impressive river canyons, soak in rock art, take a backpacking trip, and more. From national parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Petrified Forest, Capitol Reef) to national monuments (Natural Bridges, Canyon de Chelly, Bandelier, El Morro, Colorado, Dinosaur, and Bears Ears) to several state parks and more--the Four Corners region offers endless opportunities for explorers. Hiking Southwest Canyon Country has been helping visitors and locals plan for nearly thirty years! Beyond details on hikes and sights, author Sandra Hinchman shares helpful background on geology, climate, flora and fauna, Native cultures, and much more. For many hikes, notable nearby destinations offer even more choices for expanding your itinerary.

This full-color guide covers 90 trails in southern Utah's spectacular canyon country that epitomize the "wonder of wilderness." The authors hiked more than 1600 miles through Zion, Bryce, Escalante-Grand Staircase, Glen Canyon, Grand Gulch, Cedar Mesa, Canyonlands, Moab, Arches, Capitol Reef, and the San Rafael Swell in order to compile their list of 90 WOW hikes. Coverage ranges from short dayhikes to multi-day backpacking adventures. The book describes precisely where to find the redrock cliffs, slick-rock domes, soaring arches, and ancient ruins that make southern Utah unique. And it does so in a refreshing style--honest, literate, entertaining, and inspiring.

Published in cooperation with Canyonlands Natural History Association, this comprehensive and beautifully illustrated trailside reference describes more than 270 plants and animals plus geology of an area that includes nine national parks and monuments in the Southwest. A Naturalist's Guide to Canyon Country is the essential tool for exploring the northern Colorado Plateau, that vast province that encompasses eastern Utah, far western Colorado, and sections of northern Arizona and New Mexico. With this fully updated and revised guide in hand, you will gain a sympathetic understanding of the desert ecosystems that make up the region.

Includes information on protected rock art sites in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. Gives information on these special rock art areas: Albuquerque and Santa Fe Area; Arches National Park; Bandelier National Monument Area; Canyon de Chelly National Monument; Canyonlands National Park--Maze Area; Canyonlands National Park--Needles Area; Capitol Reef National Park;Central Utah Area; Chaco Canyon Area; Desolation-Gray Canyon of the Green River; Grand Canyon National Park; Grand Gulch Primitive Area;Hovenweep National Monument; Indian Creek Canyon; Moab Area; Petrified Forest National Park; San Juan River Gorge; Three Rivers Area; Uintah Basin Area; West-Central Colorado Area; Zuñi-Cibola Area; miscellaneous areas; and Anasazi celestial rock art.