Review by Ed Quillen
Recreation – September 1997 – Colorado Central Magazine
Exploring Colorado State Parks
Second Edition
by Martin G. Kleinsorge
Published in 1997 by University Press of Colorado
ISBN 0870814427
Colorado’s state parks demonstrate the state’s devotion to outdoor recreation. The state is about one-third federal land, open to all for outdoor fun, and yet Coloradans willingly support, primarily through the state lottery, parks for more outdoor recreation.
Most state parks are along the Front Range, which stands to reason, since that’s where the most people live and where public land gets the most recreational pressure.
Even so, there are many hereabouts: the long and winding Arkansas Headwaters with its rafting, kayaking, and fishing, of course, but also San Luis Lakes with water sports and wildlife viewing, Mueller with hiking and wildlife, and Spinney and Elevenmile reservoirs with fishing and boating.
Each of the 38 state parks, arranged in alphabetical order, gets a chapter with some brief natural and human history, maps and photos as appropriate, and an explanation of its facilities (such as the number of campsites and their accommodations for tents and RVs) and activities — i.e., fishing, swimming, hiking, etc.
Given that most of Colorado is a desert, it should be no surprise that most state parks focus on water, with the state often acquiring recreation rights from the water’s owners. There are exceptions to this trend, such as sand dunes in North Park that are open to dune-buggies, the steep walls of Eldorado Canyon that attract technical climbers, and even an airport for model airplanes at Cherry Creek.
I found a few minor mishaps in the history — Leadville’s ancestor was Oro City, not Ore City, and Salida’s old tenderloin is Sackett Avenue, not Sackett Street — but overall, the lore seemed solid.
The writing flows well, the book is attractive, and appears to be well-made, so it can withstand the rigors of travel.
Only one enhancement seemed in order — an index by activity, so that a reader looking for warm-water fishing or a swimming hole could locate the appropriate parks without having to thumb through the entire book.
Thumbing through this book is a pleasure, though, so that’s not much of an annoyance.
–Ed Quillen