Book Description
Introducing next-generation trail guides for the Northwest. We asked hikers what they want in a trail guide today and this is what theysaid: more day hikes, with options for extending the trip; hike selectionconveniently arranged by highway and travel corridors; more hikes close tourban centers; more year-round hikes at low elevation; clear drivingdirections; a portable size; and more use of color.

To meet the needs of the modern hiker, The Mountaineers Booksintroduces its new Day Hiking guidebook series, written by Northwestresidents with impressive hiking resumes. These guides provide accurateinformation in attractive, high-quality packaging and are infused with theenvironmental ethic that distinguishes The Mountaineers Books from otheroutdoor publishers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A great start to the new series!
I picked up this book yesterday at the mountaineers bookstore after patiently waiting for it for weeks and I'm happy to say the wait was most definitely worth the wait.

This title is a great revision of the classic '100 hikes' series perfectly geared for the modern hiker.The text is much more concise and direct with much clearer maps and directions.Gone are the Harvey Manning style trail reviews that often turned into personal meditations where meaning and fact had to be gleaned with much care.As is evident by the title, the focus is also entirely on Day Hiking, with a scant minority of the hikes exceeding 10 miles round trip.This is in sharp contrast to the classic hikes series in which most volumes were heavily slanted toward multi-day backpacking treks. This probably bodes well for the old series staying in print as it will still have a definitive niche.There is also a much greater emphasis given to year round hikes with many low elevation destinations included in the whopping 125 hikes listed in the book.

My one complaint would be that the snazzy 'hike overview chart' at the beginning of the book misses out on a few helpful details that would make finding a desirable hike quickly easier, specifically these details would be elevation gain, specific months accessible and the subjective star rating of the hike's overall quality that.All these details are of course available for each hike in the meat of the book. What is included in the overview chart are things such as whether or not the hike is accessible year round, what scenic features each possesses, and subjective difficulty level on a 1-6 scale.Amusingly only one hike rates a 6 for difficulty which translates to "beyond strenuous".

Overall a great launch to a new series.I'm highly looking forward to the Snoqualmie & South Cascades editions (both written by a different author) and hopefully many more to come after that!

Exceeds Expectations!
I have been patiently waiting for this book to release ever since Father's Day of 2006. I met author Craig Romano on the trail and he featured individual pictures of me and my dad in two areas of this guide. At first, I wanted to pick up the book for its sentimental value but as I began to look through the pages I realized that there were a plothora of trails to chose from. I came across trails I have never seen written up in any guide book including the Theler Wetlands in Belfair, Twanoh State Park near Union and Penrose Point State Park. The driving directions and trail descriptions are highly accurate and there is a quick breakdown of each hike outlining the difficulty, open seasons, corresponding maps and accessibility. Each hike has been meticulously researched and it is evident that a great amount of time and effort went in to making this book as accurate and descriptive as possible. Out of all of the Olympic Peninsula trail guides I have read, this is quite possibly the best out there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Great travel resource
This book is a great resource tool. A fairly inclusive area guide with historical, geological and physical details. More than adequate for most visitors to choose an advanced plan of daily activities. It is not attempting to be a USGS map nor a hikers bible. It is a fairly descriptive summary of things to see, do and where they are.

I purchased this book for helping us plan a 5 day stay in Stove Pipe Wells. Well worth the money spent.

Need more stars for this guide.
A rare guide that is so complete i can stop looking further.I don't know how he has covered so much ground in one lifetime.Digonnet's love of Death Valley shines through. A pleasure to read but heavy for the backpack...i am ordering a fresh copy cuz the old one is beat up and has many pages torn out.Also, take care to assess your idea of strenuous against his to avoid finding yourself in over your head.

Excellent guide to many hikes
Be aware that Digonnet omits a few common destinations in this book.But it's by far the best guide to the huge number of hikes that he does include.Rely on this book for the majority of your destinations, but get another guide to fill in the gaps.Also keep in mind that areas described as "easy scrambles" for someone with a technical climbing background like Digonnet may be more difficult for flat-ground hikers.

Hiking Death Valley: A Guide to Its Natural Wonders & Mining Past
This is a really good comprehensive guide that doesn't give away too many secrets. All the standard destinations are well covered, plus many out in the sticks, but it leaves plenty for you to discover on your own. Will definitely stay in my library, get loaned to friends, get destroyed or lost...all signs of a worthwhile guide.

A beyond exceptional hiking guide
I have been visiting Death Valley for 35 years, and I have been there more times than I can remember.This includes many back-country and dirt road trips thoughout the region.I love the place.I have also been an avid hiker, backpacker, mountain climber and general wilderness enthuthiast for 40 years.

I got this book a few years ago, and it was a revelation of new opportunities and information about Death Valley backcountry.It was also one of the best hiking guides I have ever read.I cannot recommend it higher for someone interested in taking their exploration of Death Valley to a new level.It also has enough easy hikes that someone interested in dipping their toe into the world of desert wilderness exploration can still get a good taste of it, and also know that the particular hike will not expose them to dangers beyond their skill level.

It is not an ideal guide for a beginner, nor is it sufficient in and of itself to enjoy Death Valley.You would need a good overall map of the park -- the NPS topo map of the whole park is ideal for that purpose.You should also have some familiarity with the rigors of exploring desert wilderness -- the book seems to assume that the reader already has some of this background, though it does have a useful discussion of this subject.But for the enthuthiast who alrady has this info or is already familiar with it, the book is incredible.

If you are a neophyte, don't be intimidated and not buy this book.It will serve as a wonderful portal to a world that you have heard about -- just be careful since desert wilderness exploration can be daunting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Good, but...
The text for the descriptions of the hikes is fantastic.The directions are generally good, although the directions to a lot of the Sabino Canyon hikes is a little lacking.

What really irritates me about this book is the trail profiles.For example, the Agua Caliente trail profile begins at an elevation of 5420'.It ends at 5420'.It goes up in the middle, but it is nearly impossible to tell how far -- there are no other elevation marks besides the first and last.This pattern is repeated on a number of different profiles, and is the only thing that prevents me from giving 5 stars.

Those familiar with reading topo maps may be able to decipher altitudes, but for the rest of us the profiles are useless on many hikes.

Journies past superb scenic mountain vistas
Now in a thoroughly updated second edition, Tucson Hiking Guide by experienced Tucson hiker Betty Leavengood offers thirty-four hikes grouped by mountain range, and ranked from easy to difficult. Most of these journies past superb scenic mountain vistas are only a short drive from downtown Tucson. Maps, photos, elevation/distance profiles, trail access information, historical notes, personal anecdotes, and much, much more fill this solid and thorough guide from cover to cover enabling anyone to see and experience the natural splendor of the Tucson area on foot.

A guide good enough to read as BOOK!
Each trail has a profile, topo map, and other trail data includingdistance and difficulty.Descriptions are complete and very well done. There is a good balance of trails surrounding Tucson.Honestly though... research is outstanding!Trail history digs deep to find out how the trailnames came about.Information on the Pontatoc Trail name set my mind atease having grown up in Oklahoma.Several trails sparked my interesthaving seen little information previously in print.Highly recommended forall and a must have for Tucson residents- joe bartels Webmaster -HikeArizona.COM

The definitive guide for hiking the Tucson area
This is not your ordinary hiking guide, this guide not only gives explicit directions to trail heads and details of what to look for on the trails; Betty's thorough research gives fascinating insights into local history aswell. Hiking these trails it is not uncommon to see hikers carrying thisbook, for it is recognized as the definitive hiking guide for this area.

the authoritative book on hiking in Tucson
I lived several years in Tucson and was an avid hiker.As such I am very familiar with the trails and mountains of which Betty Leavengood writes.Betty provides all of the necessary hiking information (distances, elevation, topo maps), but what sets this book apart from others are the historical anecdotes which are part of each trail description.Betty's keen knowledge of history brings the trails to life! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Great tool for a fantastic vacation in Big Bend
Gives a great synthesis of hikes of all levels in the park.Well-organized and thus very easy and quick to use.

Big Bend NP Hiking Guide
It does the job it was purchased for, ie finding trails in Big Bend National Park

Excellent, handy useful resource!
My husband & I just returned from a fantastic trip to Big Bend National Park.We used this excellent, handy, easy-to-use book as our primary resource for deciding what hikes we were capable of taking in the park.The book proved very useful in showing numerous shorter, easier hikes that older people like us with foot and back problems could take as well as longer, harder trails for those who want them and are able.It also gave very interesting, accurate, readable, and useful descriptions of such matters as how to drive to the trailhead and whether parking is available there, some things (mainly scenery & geological features) one is likely to see on the trail, trail length, elevation gain, trail traffic etc., to allow use to decide which trails would most interest us. Further, it contains some useful black and white photos. And it provides some information about neighboring Big Bend Ranch State Park which we also at least drove through.Thanks in large part to this book, we were able to enjoy some the best hiking of our lives despite our current physical limitations.I only wish we had visited the park a decade ago or more when we could have done some of the more strenuous trails described as well. I would recommend this book for virtually anyone planning a visit to Big Bend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Perfect condition and perfect timing!
This is a great book. A friend and I had a trip to Big Sur planned and the book came several days before so that I was able to study up and enjoy the area even more!

Very Good
This book isn't great, but it is very good.

Pros
1.It is inspiring.I feel like I want to go do the hike after I read the description
2.Good pictures.Some have people in them and these are done very well.
3.Good descriptions.These aren't little one page jobs.

Cons
1.Pictures - The pictures are black and white, not color and I think color pictures can mean everything.But this does not detract that much from this fine book

Clear, On Track, Vital
The book was wonderful to have on our trip to the Central Coast. Objective information with enough opinion and subjective information to help us decide where, how, when for each hike. The back of the book with the top list organized by theme was very helpful. One way the book could have been better is with a cross-reference chart... so if you want both "ocean" and "redwoods" as themes you could look it up, instead of a bunch of page flipping. The author does a good job appealing to a wide range, level of hikers, rare in a guide book. ... Read more

Book Description
This is a canyon hiking guide to the Colorado Plateau, which covers the southeastern half of Utah, the northern half of Arizona, the western 1/5 of Colordo, and a small part of NW New Mexico.This new 4th Edition has been undated significantly beyond the 3rd.The author went back to almost all canyons, or at least to the trailheads, to check out the mile post markers, etc.Also, about half a dozen less-interesting canyons or hikes from the 3rd Edition were eliminated; while about a dozen new & more challenging hikes have been added, plus another 32 pages. This 4th edition contains 320 pages and 191 fotographs, about 90 of which are new.

The new canyons are from scattered locations in southern Utah, primarily in Zion National Park, and the Escalante River, San Rafael Swell & Robbers Roost country, along with major updates on slot canyons on the Navajo Nation.Other big changes to this edition are the addition of about a dozen new technical slot canyons; that is, canyons where you need ropes and rappelling gear to get through.This adds another dimension to excitement and challenge, and opens many new hiking areas previously closed to many of us.All these technical canyons are now either bolted-up, or have slings or webbing around boulders, making them ready for rappelling.

The general direction for this book, is toward slot canyons, which everybody likes; but it retains easy & fun hikes to canyons with Anasazi ruins, another favorite.So if you're looking for petroglyphs or pictographs, and cliff dwellings or ruins, which some people try their best to hide, then this is your book.In the back of this book is a section listing the Best Hikes, including for the most part Slot Canyons, then best hikes to see Indian ruins, and Native American rock arts sites. Below is the Table of Contents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A must read for the canyon hiker !
Just looking at this book makes want you to go, let alone reading it ! Clear description of all the 120 hikes on this subjects :
- Location and acces
- Trail and route
- Elevation
- Time needed
- Water
- Maps
- Main attractions
- Best time to hike
- Author's experience, adding a personal flavour.

A phenomenal book
Controversy surrounds this hiking guide.On the one hand are those who criticize Kelsey for giving innacurate directions, exposing the pristine lands of southern Utah and northern Arizona to more people, and giving ridiculously fast hiking times.On the other hand are those who find this guide extremely helpful in exploring the Colorado Plateau canyon country, land which is open to all.I used different editions of this book for over a decade and found the book invaluable.This newer edition contains many beautiful color photographs and updated maps.

Admittedly, the book is a bit eccentric.Kelsey insists on giving directions in metric, though this is certainly helpful to the many foreign visitors who visit the Colorado Plateau.I agree that an index would help as well.But the amount of time and energy that went into the research for this book must have been staggering.I never had a problem finding a trailhead or route with Kelsey's directions and maps.And after one hike, I had a general idea of how my hiking times compared to Kelsey's.His books have always contained ample warning about potentially dangerous canyons like the Black Hole.

His book has helped me to explore canyons in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Excellent book
Color photos, through coverage of hikes, lots of tips for traveling the backroads to these trails.

The Best Available Guide for the Area
Michael Kelsey guide books inspire only two reactions--you love them or you hate them--and I must admit to being a fan. These are not the greatest guides ever written, those would be the Steck "Loop Hike" guides, but for this area of the planet NOBODY knows more than Kelsey. The "readability" could be better, and yes, there is no index, but this book will get you to explore places nobody else even mentions. Kelsey does appear in the "fotos" (Kelsey spelling--kind of annoying, really) but I find this provides helpful scale. If you are buying a guide book for artistic photos, buy Sandra Hinchman's book--Tom Till did most of the shooting. Alternatively, you could just buy one of Till's books--they are ALL spectacular! Kelsey's hiking times ARE quite fast, but he gives these in the "Author's Experience" section and provides more "realistic" times in the "Time Needed" section so I don't see the issue. As for the metric system, well the USGS has started printing topo maps in meters so you might want to get used to it now.... The bottom line is this--if you have the canyoneering experience to be thinking about exploring these areas this guide is your ONLY choice!

Kelsey's Guide to off the Beaten Path
Sure Kelsey has an ego thing about himself being in all his photos, and the hiking times are off by 50% (Add that 50%, however, no one else has come close to offering a guide to such remote places.I've used it to find indian ruins, weird in-the- middle-of-nowhere canyons, etc.Most of his info is quite accurate.People who can't find something through his descriptions probably would become lost looking for anything.Most places he mentions you'll never find another soul at...that's the best part. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Off the Beaten Path (sometimes literally!)
When I first saw this book I had to wonder if we really needed another guide to hiking in the Sierras.These are some of the most popular mountains in the United States.During a recent backpack trip along the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon National Park, I spent the night with some 60 people at Woods Creek Crossing.Later, at the junction between the John Muir Trail, Kersage Pass Trail, and the cutoff to Charlotte Lake I met about a dozen people; one person there suggested the Park Service install a traffic light.Still, Barry Parr's guide is a worthy addition to the numerous guidebooks covering the region, in part because by following his routes you can get to highly scenic but little known destinations all over the range.

Barry Parr divides the Sierras into ten distinct regions.Two of these, the north and south Gold Country (foothill regions) have received little coverage in other guides.Because of this, and the foothill hikes he mentions in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, this guide to Sierras includes more off-season hiking than most guidebooks.But even in regions that do receive a lot of coverage, notably Yosemite and trailheads in and around the Owens Valley, Parr manages to find some wonderful hikes where one can avoid the crowds.

In all, the book describes 140 walks.106 of the trails receive extended coverage, with nice topographical maps and detailed directions.The remaining 36 are shorter hikes with easy to find trailheads.He includes these as "honorable mentions."Most of the trails described are dayhikes.Some are short enough for families with small children, but most are fairly extensive and moderately strenuous.At least 1/2 the hikes in this guide will require you to be in good physical condition.Parr also throws in a few backpack trips so that hikers can explore some of the fabulous backcountry in this region.Some "classic" hikes (often found elsewhere) are included:the climb of Mt. Tallac in Tahoe and the Yosemite Falls trail come to mind.But for the most part, the routes described here are not that common and you will not face the crowds.The Rockefeller Grove of Sugar Pines in Yosemite, for example, is an easy to get to but a relatively isolated destination, even on crowded summer weekends.The Deadman Canyon backpack trip in the backcountry of Sequoia and Kings Canyon is also wonderful with far fewer crowds than other backcountry destinations.Finally, it should be noted that Parr includes a few cross country rambles through rough terrain.Isolation abounds on routes like these, but you will need to be an experienced hiker to attempt them.

On the whole, this is an excellent book, and Parr is to be commended for his good work.The diversity of hikes means people of all abilities, interests, and fitness levels will be able to find one or more walks in each region suited to them. Full of natural and local history, listing the major long distance trail routes in the Sierra, and describing lesser known trailheads, this book is a gem.Hikers who want to explore the truly wild side of the Sierras should be sure to get this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Truth in Advertising:A New Edition of California's Hiking Bible.
Every two years or so, hikers in California are blessed with a new edition of Ann Marie Brown and Tom Stienstra's California Hiking, by far the most complete hiking guide to the state.Keeping track of all the trails and updating when necessary is no simple task.Indeed, one of the authors proudly advertises hiking, camping, and otherwise exploring the out of doors almost half the year in an effort to keep this book up to date and to "avoid .. getting a real job." The 2008 edition is the largest in several years and includes over 40 new hikes.

What has stayed the same.California Hiking still divides the state into sixteen geographical regions and lists hikes in each area.Maps of each region are provided with directions to the trail heads, and regions are organized from North (Redwood Empire) to South (San Diego County and Southern Deserts).An introduction explains how to use the guide and lists favorite hikes of the authors in multiple categories, from best wildflowers and waterfalls, to best "difficult" hikes (the authors use a slightly different aphorism) ie., hikes you might not want to take your spouse on.Each hike includes a brief description, along with directions to the trailhead.Individual trail maps cannot be included in a guide as comprehensive as this one, but the authors provide information on where to obtain available maps, along with important details like entrance fees, permits, and local government agencies.

What is new.More trails!From one end of the state to the other, the authors have added new hikes:some twenty in the San Franciso area alone.I am personally looking forward to walking the recently opened Mill Creek trail, found just south of Monterey and Carmel. Old growth redwoods are one of my passions, and any new trails of this sort are welcome. Among the new hikes in Southern California, Gray's Peak and Black Mountain Lookout both offer spectacular overlooks. Also new is Runyon Canyon in Hollywood Hills and several new trails in the Sacramento area.A few trails have been dropped from this edition.The Cedars Creek Interpretive trail, for example, has fallen into disrepair and is no longer listed in California Hiking.But for the most part, the changes are in favor of more, not less, and this edition is worth purchasing for the new hikes alone.

Other changes include updating mileages and difficulty ratings.Those of us who are absolutely exhausted after climbing to the top of Yosemite Falls will be relieved to find that this trail is now rated a "4" on the difficulty scale (which runs from 1 to 5).The authors have also made extensive mileage updates to reflect new trail alignments.Deep Creek Hot Springs is now listed as 4 miles from a new trail head, and the Ewoldson trail, probably the single most beautiful hike in the Monterey area, is now listed at 5.3 miles to include a spur trail to a stunning overlook.

Over the years I have met a number of hikers who use this book as their hiking bible for the state.More than a few of them (myself included) dream of walking every trail listed.That would require a Herculean effort, of course, but it says a lot that the authors of this book have done so multiple times and given the rest of us what is surely the most comprehensive state hiking guide currently available in the United States.I cannot recommend this book highly enough. ... Read more

Book Description
Newest in a series of popular outdoor guides by Cosmic Ray, Hiking Phoenix details 50 of the best of the best day hikes in and around Phoenix. Clear, bold, easy-to-read and down-to-earth maps will connect you from freeway to trailhead and then guide you along the way as you explore the desert trails.

The hikes are for all levels of ability.The accompanying verbal descriptions include a quick view contour profile showing elevation change over distance so you can see what you are in for at a glance. Choose your hike with solid information about distance, time, difficulty, level of route finding skill, best season to hike, view wildflowers or whether to take along the family pooch.

There is a fun guide to the types of cactus found in this beautiful Sonoran desert, a chart depicting what to expect from the weather and a very helpful up-to-date overview map of the Phoenix freeway system.

Hikes range from urban trail areas like Camelback, Squaw (Piestewa) Peak, South Mountain, Pinnacle Peak and the Phoenix Mountains to trails all the way out in the White Tank, Usery and Superstition Mountains. To help you choose from so many hikes, there is a special icon used to depict a few certain trails that are super favorites, worth a far journey and not to be missed. There are also a half dozen cooler high country hikes with creeks and pools shown for when the Arizona desert gets cooking.

All in all, the book is done in a humorous, cartoony, entertaining style that will add to the enjoyment of any adventure.The bright attractive cover and rounded corners on this volume make it a perfect companion that fits in your pocket or pack, full of useful information on hiking in this most unique part of the planet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Book!
I make about 2 trips to Phoenix every year and this book has been great for finding fun hikes for my family.Cosmic Ray has many great tips and accurate descriptions of every trail that we have hiked.This book has made my family's trips to Phoenix so much more enjoyable.I highly recommend it if you plan any hikes in the Phoenix area.

Cosmic Ray Rocks
I have both hiking books--Best of Phoenix and Best of Flagstaff/Sedona.In fact, I am on my second copy of both as I have lent my first Phoenix copy to a friend (it disappeared) and wore out the first copy of my the Flagstaff/Sedona book.The maps are easy to follow and the topographical maps are awesome.Whenever I go hiking, I have two little girls (ages 1 and 4) in tow, so it is necessary to know the terrain inside and out before ever leaving home... Cosmic Ray is so detailed and so accurate that I never worry about being misinformed.Buy a copy for yourself and buy one for a friend... That way yours won't go missing!

beautiful places
I recently moved out here from the UK to Arizona.I was whining to my father (when he was visiting) that a lot of people had told me there's nowhere to go hiking around Phoenix and I was finding that hard to believe given how much open space there is around Phoenix.
Anyway, we were in a book shop when he pointed out this book.I bought it instantly and have so far enjoyed five of this guide's hikes . . . and have found some beautiful places thank's to Ray's help. I just wanted to thank the author for making me realise that not all of this country is owned and fenced off and there are some places you can go where you feel as if you're walking where no one else has!Great book.

excellent guide - very accurate
Ray's description and map of the hike at Pinnacle Peak is very accurate.Telling folks that dogs are not allowed, when flowers bloom and especially staying on the trail are great reminders for people. Ray has taken the time to obtain updated information. It is a great guide and we are using our copy constantly at Pinnacle Peak Park as hikers ask questions about other hikes in the area. Thanks for including Pinnacle Peak and the excellent write up on this area.

Love the humor and maps
We live near Casa Grande, Arizona. We just purchased Hiking Phoenix and used it hiking at Lost Dutchman State Park in The Superstition Mountains. We love the humor as well as the wonderful maps. Also, we love the cactus identification. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

An absolute must-read!
I found this book very informative and would suggest it to anyone who plans to visit Arkansas,as well as, the native Arkansan. There are so many trails listed that I was unaware of. Hats off to the authors! ... Read more

Book Description
This all-new, fifth edition describes 138 dayhikes and backpack trips in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, and Waterton national parks, as well as Mt. Robson and Assiniboine provincial parks. Here's the discerning advice you need to create rewarding adventures. This guide rates and reviews trips as Premier, Outstanding, Worthwhile, or Don't Do. 260 colour photos reveal this stunning wilderness. Trail maps for each trip enhance the comprehensive route descriptions ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Very good item
Althought the autor gives his personal point of view in all the hikes, I must recognize is very usefull and have a lot of spectacular pictures.

Superb guide for planning a vacation
If you're planning an itinerary in the Canadian Rockies and are looking for the best trails for you, this book is perfect.Rather than describe individual trails, it helpfully groups them into "trips".(If you have to hike 20 miles along a boring trail to get to another fabulous trail, the whole trip isn't as fabulous.)

This new edition includes color photos showing many trails' incredible beauty, as well as basic maps that show how the trails link together.You'll probably want to buy a real trail map, but if you're hundreds of miles away planning a trip, the maps in this book are incredibly helpful at figuring out where you might want to hike.Since both long and short trails are included, we also used it during our trip to see where we should stop along the road for a quick gorgeous hike.We had a wonderful vacation using this book.

excellent guide to the Canadian Rockies
I purchased this book to research where the best above-timberline scenery and scrambles would be in Banff and Jasper, and was not disappointed.I can't remember ever seeing a better guidebook -- some in the same league, like J. Gordon Edwards' book, but not a better one.Usually, the lack of good color photos is the major drawback to guidebooks, but the number and quality of the photos in this book is amazing, and the text is really helpful in getting a feel for what the place is like, above and beyond the simple mileages.Even if you're not hiking there soon, this is a great armchair book.

I might have rated this book only as 4 stars, due only to lack of topographic maps... but on reflection, if you're going to be out hiking, you'll be carrying topographic maps with you anyway, not an entire hiking book, so that's not really a drawback.

I noticed that one review compared this book unfavorably with Brian Patton's "Canadian Rockies Trail Guide."The latter is also an excellent book (I have both the 8th and a previous edition), but is more "factual" and less opinionated in tone, has black and white rather than color photos, and doesn't attempt to compare quality of trails with each other.Both that book and this one are very good (I have both and they complement each other), but the color photos and willingness to venture opinions (and just plain enthusiasm) are among the strong points of the Copelands' book.Highly recommended.

Best hiking guide for the Canadain Rockies
I purchased 5 or 6 books on the subject and this is far and away the best guide. Very detailed, reliable and practical info, basic maps in the back with references to Gem Trek topo maps for each hike. Definitely worth the price. Don't waste your time or money on other references. The book is a bit dense and heavy to carry, but (as the authors point out), just make copies of what you need and leave the rest at home!

Not a waste of time at all.
This was almost the only guide we consulted when my sister and I hiked trails in eastern BC and Alberta in 2005. I say "almost" because we also looked up schedules for the Canadian railways. You see, one of our cranky specifications on the trip was that we would not drive anywhere, nor would we fly into or within Canada. Our goal was to see only those trails and towns within reach of the railroad tracks. We succeeded marvelously and could probably have done just as well had we used only the Copelands' books. Apparently they too are train-and-hike aficionados. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Hiking Alabama
We have researched hiking books and bought some but this is the BEST we've found yet.It's very detailed and reader friendly.The maps are great!!If you want a GREAT hiking guide, buy this one.The biggest help throughout the book is the fact that you are given "ratings" of diffuculty and the mileage.Believe it or not, there are guides out there that do give give these 2 basic pieces of very much needed information. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Easy to Use
I have a long shelf full of southwest guidebooks.For the Las Vegas area, Beffort's book is the best choice for people unfamiliar with the desert.It has a good mix of easy and difficult hikes.

My sister and her husband recently visited Vegas while I was out of town.He was at a convention; she wanted to see something other than casinos.I turned her loose with a few suggestions and Beffort's book.She did three of the trips in the Spring Mountains and didn't get lost, uncharacteristic for her.The credit goes to good directions in the book.

Best guide to southern Nevada
This is definitely the best guide available for hiking in the southern Nevada region. This book includes a wide variety of hikes with great descriptions of the areas and how to get to them. It has ideas for hikes of various lengths and difficulties and as well as information on conservation and safety. It includes great maps and photos and lists areas not found in most other guides. If you want to explore areas within a 3 hour drive of Las Vegas, this is the most comprehensive book I have found. I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent hiking guide
We purchased this book for a vacation in Lake Tahoe, and it provided a wonderfully complete summary of the hikes, organized by region.The summaries at the beginning of each hike give you the mileage, terrain, and difficulty rating and were extremely helpful in selecting hikes for each day.The maps are better than many other hiking guides I've seen, because they show all nearby trails in relation to each other, not jut each individual trail.we purchased a US Forest Service map, which was nice to have, but we could have gotten by just with the maps in the book.

An Essential Guide for the Serious Hiker
Mike White has borrowed the very successful book format pioneered by Jerry Schad to produce 'Afoot & Afield Reno-Tahoe.'Like the original books in the Afoot & Afield series, this volume aims to provide a comprehensive listing of all the day hikes over a broad region within California and Nevada.The result is 175 hikes centered around Lake Tahoe but including the northernmost parts of the Sierra near Graeagle and extending south of Carson Pass.The hikes also vary tremendously in length, ranging from 1/2 mile nature walks to 18 mile all day treks along the Tahoe Rim Trail.All of the classic hikes in the region are described, including the climb to the summits of Mt. Tallac and Mt. Rose, the Tahoe Meadows trail, and beautiful Showers Lake.Literally everyone will be able to find something to suit their tastes in this book, but readers should be warned that White does tend to favor longer and more strenuous hikes.The average hike in this guide is about 7 miles long and includes some serious elevation gain.Nonetheless, White often offers shorter options for his routes so more casual day hikers like my wife and myself will still be able to make use of this guide.

Like other books in the 'Afoot and Afield' series by Wilderness Press, this volume includes a nice chapter on the local and natural history of the region.Route descriptions also feature occasional sidebars to highlight areas of local historical interest.Most important, this book includes excellent maps and retains two features that made Jerry Schad's original books in the series so successful.The first is that the broader region is subdivided into smaller areas so that readers can find hikes that are close to their campgrounds, condos, or casinos as the case may be.Second, each description begins with a capsule summary that quickly gives you details about distance, elevation gain, approximate hiking time, and difficulty for each trail.This is invaluable for tourists who have only a few days to spend in the area.

My last visit to Tahoe was primarily for the purpose of backpacking the Tahoe Rim Trail.I never finished the last 60 miles and have intended to return ever since.This book has further whetted my appetite.The Reno-Tahoe area is one of the most spectacular hiking regions in California and Mike White's volume is a fine addition to the books on the area.If you are planning a visit to the area, this book will be an excellent resource.

Top-quality guide
Informatively written by Reno local Mike White, Afoot & Afield Reno-Tahoe: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide is a satisfyingly in-depth outdoor hiking guide to the Reno-Tahoe region on the Nevada-California border. Intended for both visitors and residents, Afoot & Afield Reno-Tahoe covers general safety and practical guidelines for hikers plus in-depth examinations of more than 175 mountain hiking and mountain biking trips in the region. Routes vary in length from less than a mile to an 18-mile point-to-point challenge. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this top-quality guide for hikers of all skill and experience levels looking forward to enjoying the Reno-Tahoe wilderness. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Everything you want in a trail guide
What I like about this series and this particular guide is the wealth of useful information provided. Each hike is described comprehensively and the descriptions are supplemented with maps, elevation profiles, and mileages to key points. Plus all the usual info is provided about water, seasons, maps, etc. This gives all the information required to make informed decisions when planning a trip. A minor but nice point: the maps all are oriented with north up. Too many guidebooks provide maps with multiple orientations which can be confusing for the unwary.

Response to earlier review
I haven't read the book yet. It's being ordered. But I wanted to comment on the review by the person who lives 500 feet from the Gila, but didn't take the time to read the book title. The book is about the WILDERNESS. The Gila Forest is 3 million acres. The WILDERNESS is just over 500,000 acres. I look forward to reading the book soon.

Hiking New Mexico's Gila Wilderness
We used this book while hiking the Gila Wilderness. We are experienced day hikers and have bought many Hiking Books and have taken many hikes.This is by far the worst book from an accuracy perspective.The number one attribute of a hiking book is accuracy.This book is not accurate.From now on I will check where the authors live.The authors were not from NM and have no business writing about the Gila Wilderness.

Nearly Definitive
This is almost a definitive guide to hiking in the Gila Wilderness.I used to hike trails in the Gila Wilderness, and I wish I had had this guidebook. It has all the important information you need, such as which trails are still in use, where the trail might fade away, where the reliable water is, and how long to plan your trip for each trail.

It is chock full of useful information.For each hike, it gives an elevation diagram for the hike; detailed directions to the trail head; the best season to go; a table of how far key points are from the trail head; special hazards and considerations presented by the hike; the highlights of the hike expressed in a sentence; the difficulty of the hike; and the maps you will need. It also covers the facilities at the trail head, and gives options for side hikes. All this in addition to extremely detailed information about the hikes themselves, likely camping areas, reliable sources of water etc. And it does this for every significant trail in the Gila Wilderness!This is a significant improvement over Murray's book which gives sketchy information about fewer trails.

The tables and diagrams in this book are a model of what good guide books should contain.For example, there is a map showing all the USGS quad map locations for the Wilderness, a Map showing all trail head locations schematically, a table that allows you to choose a hike based on what type of hike you want, a detailed table of contents, and a gear checklist.The only thing it doesn't have are GPS coordinates.Of course, it might not be enough to own just this book, if the trail is very lightly used...you should bring USGS topo maps and a compass at the very least.There is a also a Wilderness Map and Visitor Guide for the Wilderness which is worth purchasing.

This book is obviously written after long and hard backpacking through the wilderness.The authors are extremely well-organized and systematic in the things they note, and in their presentation.Even so, after having been in this wilderness, I know there is much that is not in this book that is waiting for the reader to discover.The black and white pictures in the book can only convey a little of the flavor of the beauty that is there. You really have to experience this beauty for yourself.Armed with this book, I think you will be able to have a safer, and more enjoyable time while doing it.

...the Gila Forest (which is 3 million acres), [is] not ...the Gila Wilderness, [which is] a more protected area which is indeed 550,000 acres.A wilderness is a place where cars, and all forms of motorized transport cannot go. In contrast, cars can drive along forest roads....

Editorial Review killed the sale....
Just a note to any of you considering this book.I was browsing for new books about New Mexico when I came across this one and thought it would be a great reference for our guests- we live within 500 feet of the Gila on a working cattle and guest ranch- when I read the editorial review- 500,000 acres??? try 3 million! So while it might be a great book about the trails of the Gila the inital information is wrong in the review.There had to have been a lot of time and effort put into this book, so I hope the books authors catch the mistake. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Author's Message
I spent a year hiking and exploring the entire state of Washington for this trail guide. I hiked many of the trails, visited the trail heads, and talked to many local rangers and hikers. I made sure to include the best, most accurate information to help you pick a hike and hit the trail, from short day hikes to week long backpacking trips.

I believe a variety of hikers will find this guide helpful, whether you are looking for new hike ideas, enjoy exploring new areas of the state, or need information on that out-of-the-way trail you've been meaning to hike. And I think backpackers will find this guide indispensable.

Cheers, Scott

What it lacks in maps and illustrations it makes up for in information
While I would like to see a quick map of where I am considering hiking, it's nice to have a thorough guide for the whole state in one book.

If you love Washington and love to hike...
You need to get this book. It's indispensable in helping you choose what to hike, what to bring, what to leave at home, and what to expect when you get there (especially the little annoying hidden things, like parking fees). Seeing the maps of the hiking trails helped me a lot too. I hope you get this book before you go hiking because you might regret it if you don't.

Glove Compartment - MUST HAVE
This is the best hiking/camping book for Washington. It is small, just the right amount of information to get me there and get me excited. Great descriptions, it has definantly helped with my spring hiking and camping choices. Perfect for ever glove compartment!

Awesome!
Great book. Very thorough and informative. I actually bought one for a friend who was moving to Seattle, but I liked it so much I kept it for myself! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (13)

Review of "Hiking Ruins Seldom Seen"
Having grown up in the Southwest, I sometimes get a bit weary of all the newcomers who think they have to write a book about their "discovery" of this region. This book stands in contrast to many of those books in that it invites the reader to come along on the path of discovery.
The text is written clearly and competently edited. Directions to the sites are easy to follow, and the difficulty level of each hike is realistic if the adventurer is healthy and in good shape.
The information the author gives about the sites is fairly accurate, considering he is not a trained anthropologist. In fact, that may be an advantage in that the text is not cluttered up with a bunch of incomprehensible jargon; however, the author's explicit demand that those wishing to visit these sites show them complete respect should satisfy any professional in the field since they are notoriously picky about laymen visiting sites without the company of an expert.
In all, it's an enjoyable read that gets me excited about taking a hike.

You can find the same info on the internet
This book was okay, but you can pretty much find all of this info (and more) on the internet.Most of these ruins didn't really seem that "seldom seen" to me.However, if you don't want to do the research on the web, I would recommend this book as a good resource.

Good book for Arizona
The ruins are mostly in Arizona which really doesn't have the best ones.

I've hiked almost all fo these
I've hiked almost all of these hikes using this book. About half are accurate, the other half, forget it. You cannot find the trailhead. I was pissed off alot of the time because I drove miles out of my way and couldn't find the trail. Also, this book is old and the topography has changed quite a bit. SOme of his strenous hikes are not, but usually it is the other way around. He needs to drive these roads again, some of the "well graded" dirt roads are horrible, rough and rocky. Don't even think of going to White Mountain Tanks near Phoenix, it is a zoo. The Picacho Peak site was great, though.

Original and Well Researched
Let's face it, when it comes to hiking books, by-and-large they're not the most researched publications in the world. They tell you where to begin a hike, where to end, and a bit about what you'll see along the way, but almost nothing beyond the author's own observations.

Ruins Seldom Seen is the first hiking guide I've seen that is truly different. In addition to the usual practical information, the book provides information on the history of ancient Native American pueblos, cliff dwellings and rock arts sites. You learn which Indians occupied specific archaeological sites, when they were occupied, and what purpose the sites served (not all ruins were used for habitation). Clearly, the author has done his homework. If you don't believe it, just check the bibliography, which contains page after page of research papers written by professional archaeologists.

It's also refreshing to read a book about Indian ruins that isn't obsessed with "glamour" sites in the Four Corners area. Actually, the book does contain quite a few chapters on Anasazi cliff dwellings and rock art sites in New Mexico and southern Utah, but the emphasis is on ruins in Arizona that you've probably never even heard of let alone seen. I was amazed to learn there are cliff dwellings in the Sierra Ancha Mts., Superstition Mts. and other places in central Arizona that are every bit as fascinating as those further north. As for the many "hilltop pueblos" covered in the book, I was equally amazed to learn that so many of them even exist in the Grand Canyon state. Anyone who is not aware of such places has clearly not done THEIR homework.

Because of its originality wealth of historical information, I give the book Ruins Seldom Seen and enthusiastic "thumbs up."
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Customer Reviews (18)

Very Helpful
Comprehensive review of every hike in RMNP. Charts and maps are very helpful and will make our summer hiking trip to RMNP much easier to plan.
Wonderful photographs and detailed notes about each hike.

Detailed, informative, comprehensive.
Whether you are a serious hiker wanting to explore the remote regions of one of the treasures of the US Park system or just want a simple afternoon hike to see a little bit of Rocky Mountain National Park this book will provide all you need.It has excellent topo maps, great descriptions of the trails, lots of information on what to expect and lovely photographs to entice you on. It's printed on heavy, high quality paper in full color; it feels good to the hand. It would make a great gift for the friend who's heading off to explore RMNP!

Best Guide
This guide saved our group countless hours of research in finding the best and most efficient use of our limited hiking time while on our trip.One of the best guides on the subject.

Rocky Trails
One of the best if not the best hiking guides to the park. I have led and/or followed hikes to 30 or more locales in the park and find this book to have the most complete and accurate write-ups.............

Comprehensive guide book... overwhelming for a first visit.
Lisa Foster's guide book to RMNP is indeed complete, comprehensive, meticulous, and helpful.The amount of detail is excellent and her expertise is evident.

I found it overwhelming for a first visit to the park, however.My husband and I had only three days to dayhike, aiming for an average of 10 miles round trip, 2000 ft. climb each day, coming through the Fall River Road park entrance.It took me several hours studying Foster's book to select what seemed to be appropriate hikes and trailheads to start from.The book is primarily organized by destination, and the destination descriptions do not provide mileage and elevation change from trailhead -- this is instead provided in a helpful table at the back of the book.After a while, I found myself starting at the table in the back to look for suitable mileages, then flipping to the front of the book to read about the destinations and identify trail head locations on the maps.

This book seems better designed for experienced RMNP users who are looking for more information on how to reach all the named destinations in the park.Beginners like me would benefit from a "recommended dayhikes section" or something to help a first-time out-of-town user more quickly hone in on great hikes for a short stay.

Due to its comprehensiveness and solid construction, the book is heavy.I found it too heavy to hike with so I ended up copying notes by hand on some of the off-trail destinations and carrying those instead of the book.This worked, but I'd have preferred the book.Not sure how to improve this other than perhaps making the guidebook 3-ring with removable pages. ... Read more

Book Description
This comprehensive guide presents, in words and photographs, the very best hiking opportunities Utah has to offer. Some of the trails wind through deep redrock canyons, while others climb lofty snow-covered peaks. Visit a 700-year-old Anasazi cliff dwelling on the Colorado Plateau or discover a pristine alpine lake in the Uinta Mountains. About half of the hikes can be completed in one day, but many take more time-they range in length from 4.5 miles to 33.5 miles. Over 250 color and black & white photographs and 80 detailed trail maps are included to help you choose the adventure that is right for you! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Good trail descriptions and nice color photos
I haven't been to Utah to verify how accurate the trail maps are but the descriptions seem very detailed.It has many very nice color photos and ratings on how much he personally enjoyed the trail.It also has elevation gain and loss on the trail, time, and mileage.

Utah's Favorite Hiking Trails
This book is a fabulous review of Utah's excellent hiking opportunities. It is informative and stimulating!

Bad Maps
I've used this book extensively for climbing Utah trails.Though the book contains rich content, I would have expected it to include more information about alternative routes.For example, it only includes information on one (the longest) route up Mt. Nebo.

Secondly, the maps are inaccurate.I'm a seasoned climber and found the maps for Nebo and Kings Peak to not be accurate and not drawn to scale.We ended up getting lost on Kings as a result of using his maps.

Overall, the book is pretty good and perhaps the best available on the market.However, the map accuracy leaves a lot to be desired.

This book has it all...
great descriptions of the hike, recommendations on best seasons, really good maps, wonderful colour photographs, comprehensive driving directions and easy USGS quad map referenes - could it even be better than the incredible California Hiking?I bought Canyoneering the San Rafael Swell as well, and am sending it back because this book covers what I need in a much easier to read style - and is less likely to get me killed en route while rock climbing without a belay.Highly recommended.

WHO KNEW!
Who knew there were so many great hikes local to the Wasatch Front? And it gets better than that, this book has a hike for every season and every day of the year. From easy to difficult, senic to exercisic, you'll never get bored in Utah again. This book offers some of the tradional hikes Utah is know for plus many hidden treasures. At first I was a bit overwhelmed and didn't know where to start. There were so many interesting sites I wanted to do them all. Having done quite a few now I can't wait to do more. And you'll never get tired of the views, you can do your favorites hikes again and again, try one in summer and in winter. The book als has great descriptions of the plants and animals native to the area. So take it along and lean about your suroundings in a quite medow or under a shade tree. A must for the hiking enthusiest! ... Read more