Best Easy Day Hikes Joshua Tree (Paperback)

~ Bill Cunningham (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Desert Oases of California's fan palms, Joshua Tree forest on the valley floors, and the annual explosion of wildflowers in bloom are at your disposal in this guide to 20 of the best hikes in the park.

From the Back Cover

The distinct trees from which this park derives its name are but one of the many attractions of Joshua Tree National Park. Well known to rock climbers, drawn by the park's challenging rock formations, the park also offers incredible opportunities for hikers. The trails described in this compact guidebook will lead you to cool oases, fascinating historic sites and nature trails, and spectacular viewpoints. <b>Best Easy Day Hikes Joshua Tree</b> includes concise descriptions and detailed maps of 25 short, easy-to-follow trails within the park. The authors of <i>Hiking California's Desert Parks</i> have picked, with families and hikers of all ages in mind, the best short hikes that showcase the park's treasures. Outfit yourself with a generous supply of water and a wide-brimmed hat, and you will enjoy some of the best desert hiking California has to offer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Falcon; 1st edition (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560449780
• ISBN-13: 978-1560449782
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,823 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Always Fun, but not Always Easy, December 18, 2005

By	Fritz R. Ward "dayhiker" (Crestline, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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My wife and I visit Joshua Tree National Park every Thanksgiving Day. Hiking there seems more fun than cooking all day and we always have a wonderful time. Late fall skies there are cobalt blue and the hiking is always fabulous. Numerous trails to desert peaks, pretty rock formations, and of course whole forests of Joshua Trees await those who wish to explore this region and this book by Cunningham and Burke provides a good outline of where to begin.

Like other guides in the "Best Easy Day Hikes" series of Falcon Press, the emphasis here is on shorter hikes. If you are looking for long cross country rambles, other books might be more appropriate for your hiking tastes. Instead, readers here are treated to some of the "classics" in the park. Mastodon Peak (3 miles), Hidden Valley Nature Walk (1 mile) and the Barker Dam Loop (1.1 miles) are typical of the offerings in this guide. These trails are winners and most day hikers will enjoy them.

That said, not every hike listed in this book is truly "easy." The walk to Lost Palms Oasis is over 7 miles of moderately rough terrain and the hikes to Ryan Mountain and Inspiration Peak, while short, are very steep. In addition, some of the truly easy and scenic hikes in the park are not listed in this guide. The Oasis of Mara walk at the visitor center, a pleasant 1/2 to 1.5 mile loop is missing as is the scenic and wheelchair accessible Bajada Loop in the southern portion of the park. I'm sure these oversights will be corrected when the new edition of the authors' more comprehensive "Hiking California Desert Parks" volume comes out. In the meantime, this is a good resource for hiking in Joshua Tree. It is worth the price. Just remember that some "easy" walks are actually quite ambitious.