Arizona Day Hikes: A Guide to the Best Hiking Trails from Tuscon to the Grand Canyon [Paperback]

Dave Ganci (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1995

Arizona Day Hikes is two books in one: a hiking guide featuring 100 of Arizona's best hiking trails and an authoritative guide to the natural history of the Grand Canyon State's landscape.
Dave Ganci provides a comprehensive overview of Arizona's three natural "provinces" - the Southern Deserts, the Central Mountains, and the Northern Canyons and Mesas - and shows the reader how to take a naturalist's approach to exploring scenic wonders. His knowledgeable discussions of landscapes, native species, and local conditions, accompanied by thirty line drawings, help hikers learn to identify and appreciate each region's geology, weather, plants, and animal life. Along the way, he teaches the best techniques for day-hiking and shows how the entire family can travel and enjoy each hike to the fullest.
Trail descriptions are graded for difficulty and organized geographically, from the Tucson and Phoenix areas to regions surrounding Prescott and Flagstaff. Also included are hikes starting at both rims of the Grand Canyon. The trails profiled here range from a half-hour to several hours in length, and all are easily accessible by car, making Arizona Day Hikes a passport to some of the most rewarding hiking opportunities in the American West.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dave Ganci is a writer, photographer, outdoorsman and a former director of the Arizona Outdoor Institute. His previous books include Hiking the Southwest and Desert Hiking. He lives in Prescott, Arizona.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Sierra Club Books (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871565978
• ISBN-13: 978-0871565976
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #924,951 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ganci prepares you for the hikes before the descriptions., December 31, 1998

By 

Joe Bartels "Author/Photographer HikeArizona.COM" (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arizona Day Hikes: A Guide to the Best Hiking Trails from Tuscon to the Grand Canyon (Paperback)

The first 62 pages are devoted to preparing the hiker. A complete listing to get you started. Descriptions of geology, climate, animals, and plant life prepare you for the environment you will be hiking. I really enjoyed the geology information. Each hike is rated by time, distance, elevation gain plus an effort rating. Areas of the entire state of Arizona are covered. Less popular hikes rarely published are included too. Well done!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Intro. to Hiking Book, August 14, 2007

By 

M. Miranda - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arizona Day Hikes: A Guide to the Best Hiking Trails from Tuscon to the Grand Canyon (Paperback)

I've used this book so many times over the last 10 years, it's wearing out. Great hike descriptions for many areas of Arizona. My only gripe now is that the book is hopelessly outdated and needs a reprint. So, if you choose to buy the book you should double-check directions and call that District's Forest Ranger for updates on that trail. We've added many freeway miles since 1995 and there may be a faster way of getting to your favorite hike now. Happy trails!

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Concise and interesting guide, February 26, 2004

By 

Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arizona Day Hikes: A Guide to the Best Hiking Trails from Tuscon to the Grand Canyon (Paperback)

Arizona is a great state to hike. Even without the magnificent hikes in and around the Grand Canyon, there are plenty of other trails to explore and enjoy. This book does it all! It 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!