Day Hikes Around San Luis Obispo


Book Description

Guide to 156 easy to moderately strenuous day hikes around San Luis Obispo County, ranging from bluff trails along the Pacific coastline to creekside canyon walks in the Santa Lucia Mountains, from city paths to wilderness retreats.




Day Hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains


Book Description

Residents and travelers will find this comprehensive guide essential to locating an amazing number of hiking trails throughout the 50-mile-long Santa Monica Mountains. The range parallels the coastline in southern California, dividing the Pacific coast from the interior valleys. Included are 138 day hikes, with an additional section of 13 hikes that traverses the full length of the 68-mile Backbone Trail. 496 pages with clear trail descriptions, ample maps, index. All hiking levels.




101 Hikes in Northern California


Book Description

101 Hikes in Northern California by Matt Heid benefits readers by narrowing down the multitude of options for hiking in Northern California to the very best of the best adventures. It is distinct from other similar guidebooks in that it covers the northern two-thirds of the state, including nearly the entirety of the Sierra Nevadas south to Kings Canyon National Park, and the entire Big Sur region along the coast south to Silver Peak Wilderness. It also provides significant geographic diversity: hikes are spread out across the entire region. No matter where you are in northern California, you can find a hike in the book within a short drive. The guide is unique in the amount of natural history information it provides, especially the geologic stories of the featured destinations. It provides not just the essential directions for completing a hike, it enhances the experience by telling the story of how the landscape came to be the way it is.




Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail


Book Description

First and only comprehensive guide to the entire Oregon Coast Trail Experienced, passionate author is the authority on the OCT Perennial interest in long-distance trails From vast beaches and lush forests to windswept bluffs and dramatic sea stacks, the stunning wild coast of Oregon is emerging as the next great long-distance hiking experience. The OCT includes 200-plus miles of publicly accessible beaches, as well as established trails through city, county, and state parks and national forest lands. Breaking the trail into five major sections, each with an elevation profile, Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail provides detailed descriptions of 34 route legs with mileage, maps, resupply options, itineraries, hazards, camping or lodging options, and more. Introductory chapters advise on when to start, what to bring, and what to expect, while sidebars throughout share trail history, flora and fauna, and worthy side trips. The OCT is a truly singular experience with unique challenges such as finding campsites in some areas and navigating coastal tides, weather, and river mouth crossings. This guide synthesizes everything hikers need to know to plan and enjoy a successful adventure.




100 Hikes in California's Central Sierra and Coast Range, 2nd Ed.


Book Description

From hot springs hikes to journeys among the mighty Sequoias, there's something here for everyone! Routes range from short day hikes to overnight backpacking trips, with difficulty levels (moderate to challenging) clearly labeled. Book jacket.




Day Hikes on the California Central Coast


Book Description

This day hiking guide is the perfect companion for travelers along the well-known stretch of California coastline between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It includes how and where to access coastal beaches, tidepools, lighthouses, off-shore rock formations, and wildlife sites; panoramic overlooks along the adjacent mountain ranges; and urban strolls through several communities. Spectacular scenery and a range of hikes for every level of experience.




Walkabout Northern California


Book Description

Europe is renowned for romantic inn-to-inn vacation opportunities on paths worn by centuries of travelers. Modern-day trekkers can hike the Alps or Southern France, explore the British Isles at three miles an hour, or pilgrimage through Northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela, stopping each night at a hostel or inn. Now adventurers in California are creating a new tradition of multi-day treks from inn to inn in the U.S. Walkabout Northern California: Hiking Inn to Inndescribes twelve walks (or “walkabouts”) along the wild Pacific Coast, through the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains, in the Cascades and through the parklands around the San Francisco Bay. Each walkabout, organized by individual chapters, contains all the information to create a memorable and invigorating vacation, with a sketch map, recommendations for optional maps, mile-by-mile details of the route, and logistical tips on places to stay and eat. Many trips contain variations for different lengths of time and budgets. With a light daypack and a few reservations, hikers can travel for days on California's breathtaking coastline or in mountain ranges. Each day on a walkabout ends with a comfortable bed, a glass of wine, a good meal and maybe even a hot tub. Some of the hikes can take a week, but many can be enjoyed in a weekend. Some are challenging, but the majority are perfect for the casual hiker. The accommodations for the walkabouts include a B&B perched on the cliffs above the Pacific, a resort on the shore of a Sierra lake, a historic hotel in a coastal village, a hostel in a national park, and a retreat center that soothes the soul.




Walkabout Northern California


Book Description

Plan and Enjoy Self-Guided Inn-to-Inn Hikes Leave the car behind, and go on a multiday hiking adventure in Northern California. Cross the Sierra in the footsteps of pioneers, staying in cabins beside clear mountain lakes. Take a romantic stroll along the beautiful Mendocino Coast, and sample gourmet cuisine at inns overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Explore the hydrothermal landscapes in Lassen Volcanic National Park, where you can relax with a muscle-soothing soak in hot springs. Walkabout Northern California gives you the information you need to create a wilderness vacation that lets you end each day with a comfortable bed, a great meal, and perhaps even a hot tub. This fully updated, full-color edition describes 14 walks (or walkabouts) in the wilds of Northern California: along the Pacific Coast, through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in the Cascades, and around the parklands of the San Francisco Bay. Each entry includes all the necessary details to create a memorable and invigorating vacation—with a map, mile-by-mile details of the route, logistical tips on places to stay and eat, and inspirational ideas to simplify your travel and reconnect with nature’s rhythm. Some hikes can take a week, but many can be enjoyed in a weekend. Some are challenging, but many are perfect for the casual hiker. With a light day pack and a few reservations, you can travel for days along California’s breathtaking coastline or over its vast mountain ranges. Follow author Tom Courtney on a northern California walkabout, so you can create a human-powered vacation in wilderness and in comfort.




Day Hikes Around Big Sur


Book Description

Big Sur is an awesome stretch of spectacular coastline in Central California. The Santa Lucia Mountains quickly rise over 5,000 feet from the ocean. This magnificent landscape begins near Carmel at Point Lobos State Reserve and extends 75 miles south to Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County, just south of the Monterey County line. The steep coastal mountain range and rugged shoreline isolate the Big Sur country, which maintains an unspoiled, rustic charm and relaxed, leisurely pace.This completely revised and updated edition of Day Hikes Around Big Sur includes 99 great day hikes along the coast and throughout the interior mountains. Hikes, which take from one hour to all day, range from easy beach strolls to strenuous mountain climbs with panoramic coastal vistas. The diverse terrain is a hiker's paradise with a well-designed trail system of more than 300 miles. The network of trails venture into the beautiful canyons and across the slopes and peaks, offering unparalleled views of the mountains merging with the coastline. Along Highway 1 are endless views of the scalloped coastline and the deep blue Pacific. Awe-inspiring bridges span numerous creeks and deep canyons. Highlights along the miles of trails include isolated beaches, eroded coves with tide pools, rugged marine terraces, redwood and Monterey cypress groves, shady canyons, waterfalls dropping into mossy glens, lighthouses, and vertical cliffs with crested ridges.Statistics, accurate driving and hiking directions, and numerous maps make these hiking adventures stress free. Dog admission information is included. Most trails can be accessed from Carmel Valley Road or Highway 1, including many beach access points.Companion guides include Day Hikes Around Monterey and Carmel and Day Hikes On the California Central Coast.