Take a Hike: San Diego County


Book Description

Few places on the planet can boast the diversity of natural landscape found in San Diego County. From the enormous Anza-Borrego desert to the Peninsular Range of mountains to the coastal wetlands of the Pacific Ocean, the breadth of San Diego Countys environment is truly remarkable. Priscilla Lister, seasoned journalist, former newspaper columnist and avid hiker, guides others down 260 trails that offer beautiful scenery, physical challenges and an up-close experience with natural flora and fauna. Youll find trail directions as well as historical tales about the natives and pioneers who once hiked the region. She also identifies trees, wildflowers and birds youll find on every trail. Included with each entry are driving directions, mileage and difficulty of each hike, whether dogs or horses are allowed and information on how to download trail maps. Take a Hike: San Diego County is a comprehensive hiking guidebook that shares advice, tips, and tools that will entice exploration of one of Americas most diverse and beautiful regions.




Coast to Cactus


Book Description

Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors is much more than a hiking guide. Written by the San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers, it is the new bible for really getting to know and appreciate the countys biodiversity while exploring firsthand. The guide has 250 hikes, each with its own map and photograph, hike description with mileage, elevation gain/loss, difficulty rating, directions to the trailhead with GPS, trail use, special features, and type of habitat(s) found on each hike. Each hike has a focus on a species or natural/cultural history feature associated with that hike.




Backpacker Long Trails


Book Description

WINNER OF THE 2017 NATIONAL OUTDOOR BOOK AWARDS (INSTRUCTIONAL CATEGORY) Make the Dream of a Long Distance Thru-Hike a Reality Have you been dreaming of the summer when you can hike the Appalachian Trail? Or marvel at the snow-capped peaks along the Pacific Crest Trail? Or simply section hike the Continental Divide Trail? In Backpacker’s Long Trails, Liz “Snorkel” Thomas, former women’s speed record holder for the AT and veteran of twenty long trails, gives you the tools to make this dream a reality. Included is trail-proven advice on selecting gear, stocking resupplies, and planning your budget and schedule, complete with gorgeous photographs of life on the trail. Along the way, enjoy sneak peeks into not only the Triple Crown trails, but also lesser-known long trails throughout North America.




Afoot and Afield in San Diego County


Book Description

Our bestselling guidebook explores San Diego County with its wealth of natural scenery - unspoiled coastal canyons, pine-crested mountains, and spectacular desert landscapes. 220 hiking trips are organized by geographical areas, with detailed maps.




Day and Section Hikes Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California


Book Description

The Pacific Crest Trail was designated as one of the first National Scenic Trails way back in 1968. As it traverses the “high road” from Mexico to Canada, incredible views are not only commonplace but also uniquely diverse, because the trail connects six of North America’s seven eco-zones. The PCT’s familiar, well-worn path is a special place for hikers from all walks of life on walks of all lengths and for all reasons. Instead of guiding you through the arduous task of hiking the entire PCT, the goal of this book is to help you plan trips that incorporate hiking on the PCT in Southern California, whether you have just an afternoon to spare or you want to escape for the entire weekend. Carefully edited maps and elevation graphs generated with GPS data collected by the author on the trail will help make your trip a success. This cargo-pocket guide offers author-tested advice to help you make the most of your time away from civilization, however long (or short) that stretch may be.




Afoot and Afield: Orange County


Book Description

This completely updated and expanded new edition in the Afoot and Afield series is the classic guide to the hiking opportunities throughout Southern California’s Orange County. Featuring more than 100 trips from serene summits to sparkling beaches, Afoot and Afield Orange County covers the Laguna Coast, Newport Beach, Crystal Cove State Park, the Chino Hills, Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, the Santa Ana Mountains, and more. Trips ranging from short strolls to rigorous daylong treks are all within a short car trip of the Southland’s cities. Every trip was re-hiked by coauthor David Money Harris for this updated edition.




San Bernardino Mountain Trails


Book Description

Discover the best of San Bernardino National Forest with this authoritative guide to 100 unforgettable hikes. Southern California’s highest and most rugged mountains are in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto ranges, in a unique region where wildly varied naturescapes—desert cactus and pine trees, snowcapped peaks and palm oases—are found in close proximity. With the Pacific Crest Trail weaving its way through the mountains and desert, there are endless opportunities to explore Southern California trails. After more than 50 years in print, San Bernardino Mountain Trails remains the bible for Southern California hikers. This updated guide by veteran hiker and author David Money Harris contains new trips, as well as old favorites. This edition brings John Robinson’s classic guide up to date with the latest trail conditions. Eight old trails, especially in areas that have become overgrown after fire damage, have been replaced with recently built or more heavily used trails. Inside you’ll find: 100 hikes that traverse San Bernardino National Forest, the Santa Rosa Mountains, and the San Jacinto Mountains Details about each hike’s features and a description of the trail At-a-glance information about length, difficulty, and more “Overview of Hikes” chart that shows which trips are best suited for kids, dogs, mountain biking, and backpacking San Bernardino Mountain Trails is noted for its comprehensive coverage of the San Bernardino, San Jacinto, and Santa Rosa mountains and its meticulously researched history of the ranges. Get to know the area before you explore it, and find the best trips for your skill level and interests.




Best Hikes with Dogs: Central California


Book Description

* Guidebook to 55 dog-friendly hikes in California's Central Coast, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, and the Sierra Nevada* Tips on trail etiquette, trip preparations, finding appropriate routes for your dog, reducing environmental impacts, and more* Most up-to-date info on leash laws and regulationsCentral California has it all - gorgeous coastal parkland, mountainous wilderness areas, and everything in between. Hiking with your dog in Central California has never been easier for residents and visitors alike. This guide includes dog-friendly trails between Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo, stretching across the Central Valley eastward to Lee Vining and southward to Lone Pine. These trails are not only legal for canine hikers, but also welcoming and safe. Additionally, this guide presents information on hiking responsibly with your dog: what to do when you encounter other hikers, tips on minimizing negative impacts, and skills for preparing your dog for a hike in the varied terrainof Central California.




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.