100 Classic Hikes in Northern California: Sierra Nevada/ Cascade Mountains/ Klamath Mountains/ Coast Range and North Coast/ San Francisco Bay Area [Paperback]

John R. Soares (Author), Marc J. Soares (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2008 | Series: 100 Classic Hikes

This third edition brings the Soares' brothers classic guide to the 100 best of Northern California's hikes thoroughly up to date and adds elevation profiles for most of the 100 hikes. New color photos have been added and all facts, trail, and map details have been reviewed by rangers and trail supervisors. Appendices now include web contact information. A handy trails-at-a-glance chart indicates distance, level of difficulty, and seasonal considerations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Fraternal coauthors John and Marc Soares celebrate the beauty of Northern California's extensive wilderness, drawing from a varied collection of treks in the Sierra Nevada, Cascade, Coast, and Klamath Mountain ranges as well as the San Francisco Bay Area. Hike selections include the long trek to Caribou Lake that takes you "deep into the heart of the Trinity Alps"; the easy three-hour hike to Peener Lake; the trail to Cinder Cone, which leads you to surreal painted dunes; and the "isolated Lost Coast, "one of the most coveted get-away paradises in the country." Like the other volumes in the 100 Classic Hikes series, this easy-to-use guide includes at-a-glance information detailing trail length, hiking time, difficulty, seasonal considerations, and additional contacts. Color maps and commentary on each trail offer directions to trail heads, campsites, views, and swimming holes. Amateur botanists will appreciate the notes on trees and wildflowers, including the rare red snow plant. --Jenny Burritt --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Even if a person doesn't love the out-of-doors, the book is a great read for its color, design and photos." -- Reno Gazette-Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 235 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books; 3 edition (April 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594850623
• ISBN-13: 978-1594850622
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #179,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Travel > United States > Washington > North Cascades

More About the Author

I've been a successful full-time freelance writer since 1994, specializing in creating content for college textbook publishers and also in outdoors writing. My ProductiveWriters.com blog helps freelance writers win high paying assignments and get them done quickly so they have more time for the rest of their lives. I'm the author of Writing College Textbook Supplements, second edition, and Intelligent Productivity for Freelance Writers. I'm also the co-author of 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California, third edition, and author of 75 Hikes in California's Mount Shasta and Lassen Volcanic National Park Regions, revised edition, both published by The Mountaineers Books (Seattle).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 62 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The photos alone are worth the price of the book August 17, 2000

By David Simmons

Format:Paperback

I just got this book. It is the most beautiful hiking guide I've ever seen. There are nearly a hundred full-color photos, and even the maps are creatively colored. We leave it on our coffee table for easy perusal. It's an updated edition of 100 Hikes in Northern California, and it has thorough descriptions of all my favorite hikes, and many others my wife and I are planning to do this winter (in the Bay Area) and next summer (in the Sierra Nevada and maybe in the Trinity Alps). We have two other hiking books on Northern California, but this one is definitely our favorite. If you are only getting one hiking guide for the north state, this is it.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't be topped November 6, 2002

By Candace Scott

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an exceptionally well-designed book for hikers across the spectrum. Whether you're a neophyte or have climbed Denali, this book contains all the essential information you need to tackle the hikes listed. The photos are all in color and are breathtaking! You really get a sense of what each hike will look like before you undertake it. Every hike also has a color map to accompany the text description. The maps are easy to follow and instructive.

Equally pleasing is that the authors take the time to describe each hike in extensive detail, though they are never wordy. They list the elevation gains, give succinct but necessary directions to each trailhead and provide ample analysis of the strengths/weaknesses of each trek. The book is small and light enough to carry in your backpack, if you feel the need to consult it while on the trail.

I have over 50 hiking books in my library and it would be hard to imagine a more complete, more photographically stunning or better written guide. I enthusiastically recommend this gem!

31 of 37 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice photos and narrative, but lacking in practical aspects April 12, 2004

By muff

Format:Paperback

I agree with the other reviews in that this is a nice book to put on your coffee table and flip through. The photos are pretty nice, and the text descriptions make for a pretty entertaining read. However, if you are looking for a book with detailed logistics and good makes that will make for a practical companion on your hikes, this is NOT it. The maps are lacking (maps of the actual trails are decent, but there are no regional maps that aid you in finding the trail in the first place). Also, while the glossy paper makes for pretty photos, it's far too heavy for a practical guidebook that you'll want to carry with you.