Book excerpt: The Lost Creek Wilderness allows hikers to quickly escape into incredible scenery.Colorado's Lost Creek Wilderness is the federally-designated Wilderness Area closest to Colorado Springs and is just 60 miles southwest of Denver. Home to soaring granite domes, disappearing rivers, rare granite arches, and high mountain parks full of moose, sheep, and bear, the Lost Creek Wilderness is a hiker's refuge close to home. Pair the scenery with a significantly longer hiking season than most of Colorado, given its lower elevation, and the Lost Creek Wilderness is the Front Range's year-round escape.Routes described range from mellow hikes through the ruins of backcountry timber camps to above-treeline explorations of the unique granite spires and boulder caves found throughout the area. Choose your hike based on what you want to see or how far you want to travel. Each hike lists elevation gain, roundtrip distance, trail highlights, hiking time, and suggestions for expanding your adventure.20 of the best trails in their areas- Detailed maps and driving directions to trailheads- Hike descriptions, including distance, elevation, hiking times- Guidance on which trails to link up- Trails for hikers of all abilities- Full color- Easy to carry, fits in a pocket